Final Mock Draft: With The 20th Overall Pick, The Red Sox Draft A Fast-Rising College Lefty

I take MLB mock draft rankings from major industry outlets like MLB Pipeline, ESPN, The Athletic (and many others) to form a consensus board, with a working hypothesis that using this approach will eliminate some of the noise and variance in MLB Draft mock rankings. This is the final mock draft board, locked in just before the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11.

Round 1: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State

Carlon is one of the fastest-rising college arms in 2026 in a demographic that has suffered from injuries and inconsistent performance. After contributing to the Sun Devils immediately as a freshman bullpen arm, Carlon improved his sophomore season significantly, cutting his ERA in half and flashing far more dominant stuff.

It's a good-looking delivery from Carlon. While there aren't outlier release traits, he hides the ball well during his delivery and has an ideal pitcher's frame at 6'5, 220 pounds. He's moved from the bullpen to a starting role in 2026. The results have been spectacular. Carlon had a 4.30 FIP through 83.2 innings of work this season while striking out 38% of hitters.

The stuff is as explosive as ever, his fastball sits 94-96 mph, but he's run it up to 100 mph. His slider is one of the best in the class, a mid-80s gyro offering that generates a ton of swing and miss. Carlon mixes in a curveball and a changeup, too.

There's still some refinement needed to the strike throwing, but Carlon's walk rate has improved from 11.3% in 2025 to 8.9% in 2026. Carlon is looking like a first-round prospect with starter traits who should move quickly as a pro.

Competitive Balance Round B: Kaiden McCarthy, RHP, Vermont Academy, VT

Kaiden McCarthy is one of my favorite prep arms in the class. He's on the younger side (he'll be 17 on draft day) and has been seen less than many of his peers, as he's from Vermont.

It's a bit of an undersized frame at 6'0, 190 pounds, but McCarthy is a dynamic mover and athlete. His fastball is already an above-average to plus pitch, hitting 99 mph, but typically sitting in the 94-96 mph range. There's a knuckle curve and slider in the mix for breakers, with an above-average changeup with good fade to round out a solidly constructed arsenal.

There are plenty of strikes with McCarthy in a delivery I like for its simplicity. He's a hidden gem in this class, for me.

Round 3: Jack Slightom, RHP, Lyons HS, IL

Slightom is a cold-weather arm out of Illinois, currently committed to Cincinnati, who has surged up draft boards towards the end of the cycle. A projectable righty at 6'4, 200 pounds, he's made strides in the last 12 months and should flourish in a pro system after splitting time between baseball and football in high school.

Slightom has some interesting release traits with a lower arm slot and above-average extension. It's a run and ride fastball that has been as high as 98 mph, but will likely sit in the 93-95 mph range, a significant step forward from his junior year. Slightom's primary breaking pitch is a sweeping slider that could use more firmness. He's also shown capacity for a changeup with tumble and fade.

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Check out our 2026 mock draft board, updated regularly, and with detailed player write-ups!