ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel has released his first 2026 MLB draft rankings, with UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky leading the way as the consensus top prospect. The 21-year-old Cholowsky, who turned down first-round money out of high school to attend UCLA, has developed into a potential franchise cornerstone with his combination of plus power, defensive skills, and offensive instincts.

Cholowsky's emergence follows a breakout 2024 season where he hit 23 home runs with a 1.190 OPS, and he's maintained that momentum with three homers in his first four games of 2025. His 111 mph exit velocity on one blast nearly matched his career best. McDaniel projects Cholowsky as a Dansby Swanson or Willy Adames-type player with 25-homer upside, though some scouts worry about his contact rates against elite pitching.

The 2026 class is shaping up as above average, with Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson as Cholowsky's main challenger for the top pick. The class features strong college position players like Alabama's Justin Lebron and Georgia Tech's Drew Burress, while UC Santa Barbara's Jackson Flora has shown front-line starter potential with a 96-100 mph fastball. McDaniel's rankings use the future value system applied to professional prospects, with grades expected to evolve as the college season progresses.