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Draft  | Story | 12/10/2025

PG Draft: Post-Lottery Draft Targets

Tyler Henninger
Tyler Kotila
Photo: Roch Cholowsky (Ross Turteltaub/UCLA Baseball)
On Tuesday night, the MLB Draft Lottery took place, and the draft order has officially been set for July. With draft slots finalized, teams can now begin narrowing in on the prospects most likely to be available when they are on the clock. From polished college players to high-upside preps, several potential targets are already emerging as ideal fits based on past draft philosophy and finalized draft position. Let’s take a look at potential targets for the six teams that were awarded a lottery pick. 

1. Chicago White Sox

Potential Targets: 
 -Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
-Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Tex.)
-Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)



The White Sox took home the top spot at the MLB Draft Lottery, staying true to their spot, with the highest odds to earn the first-overall draft pick amongst lottery-eligible teams this year. This will only be the third time in the entire White Sox franchise history that they will make a first overall pick. The other two instances came when the White Sox selected Danny Goodwin in 1971 and Harold Baines in 1977. While Goodwin did not sign with the White Sox, Baines went on to spend parts of 14 seasons on the southside before being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They will get to make their third first-overall selection next summer, and while there’s still plenty of time for things to change, it feels that UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the frontrunner to be the 1:1 name. He’s been deemed the best amateur prospect by many and is the early favorite to be college baseball’s best player. If it is not Cholowsky, it’s likely to be prep standout Grady Emerson, who could wind up being selected by the White Sox. Emerson is one of the most toolsed up prep profiles with sky-high upside. Southpaw Gio Rojas may be sixth on the initial PG Draft Board, but it's not out of the question for the lefty to make a move up the draft board. Time will tell, but it’s hard not to believe the White Sox will not take who they believe is the best talent on the board, putting any positional needs aside.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Potential Targets: 
-Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (Tex.)
-Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Schools (Fla.)
-Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)

The Rays haven't had a pick this high since they selected BJ Upton with the 2nd overall pick in 2002. The organization has leaned toward the prep side with their first round selections in recent years and should be in a good spot to get a quality prep here. A pair of high school shortstops in Grady Emerson out of Texas and Jacob Lombard out of Florida are the two that appear at the top of the board currently. Both are potential high caliber players with tools on both sides of the ball. Emerson may have the better hit tool, while Lombard may have more power long term. If the Rays were to sway away from the position player side, prep left-hander Gio Rojas may be a target. While it is rare for prep arms to go this high, Rojas has the profile that may make a team do it. The fastball can overpower hitters, there is feel for secondaries, and the athleticism is obvious. Obviously picking second the Rays should have a bundle of talented players to pick from with plenty of prep targets that fit their mold. 

3. Minnesota Twins

Potential Targets: 
-Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
-AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia
-Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.)

The Twins dropped one spot, holding the second-highest chances to land the first overall draft pick in the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery. They will choose third, which will be the highest draft choice since they selected Royce Lewis with the 1st overall draft pick in 2017. The Twins have gone college the last two seasons, but selected Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in 2023. The Twins could land a perennial collegiate performer in Drew Burress, especially if he posts another year of gaudy performance. AJ Gracia could be poised for a big year in his new home in Charlottesville. Gracia could move his way up the board as the spring plays out. If the Twins wanted to focus in on a prep talent that could fit their mold, Jacob Lombard could be a potential target at three. Lombard is arguably neck and neck with Grady Emerson, while Emerson will likely be off the board first, there’s no denying that Lombard has plenty of tools and athleticism. 

4. San Francisco Giants

Potential Targets: 
 -Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
-AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia 
-Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

The Giants were one of the big winners of the lottery, jumping all the way up to 4th overall. Outside of Bryce Eldridge in 2023, San Francisco has consistently selected a college player with their first overall selection. If they choose to go the same route here, there could be a few high-end options. Drew Burress might not be available at this point, but if he is, the Giants are sure to be interested. The Georgia Tech outfielder has put up monster numbers throughout his collegiate career and could see a quick path to the big leagues. AJ Gracia is another college outfielder that could be a target. The big left-handed hitter has feel for the zone with a high on-base ability and intriguing power potential. While they have not selected a pitcher with their first pick since 2021, Liam Peterson out of Florida will be a potential option. The big righthander has all the tools to be a successful starter at the pro level and could be the first arm off the board. I expect them to go the college route here and they should have a quality pool of players to select from. This will be the highest selection that Giants have had since they took Joey Bart 2nd overall in 2018.

5. Pittsburgh Pirates
Potential Targets: 
 -Derek Curiel, OF, Louisiana State
-Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)
-Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep (Fla.)

The Pirates have had a Top-10 pick in each of the last four seasons, and two first overall selections in the last six seasons. The Pirates' M.O. the last few years has been heavy on the prep stars, outside of Paul Skenes, which felt like a no-brainer after his season with LSU. It’s not out of the question for the Pirates to take a college standout, and if they do, it could very well be Derek Curiel, the draft-eligible sophomore with plenty of tools and a top-of-the-order type skillset, with some added juice as of late. If the Pirates stick to their narrative of prep talent, it would be a steal for them to walk away with Lombard or Rojas at this spot. Being able to snatch up Lombard at fifth overall should be viewed as an incredible get for them, even after selecting Konnor Griffin in 2024. It’s hard not to think that Rojas could be on the Pirates' radar as well, with plenty of upside on the mound and a unique operation with bat-missing stuff. It’ll be interesting to see how the board progresses, to get a better feel for who the Pirates could be in the market for come draft day.

6. Kansas City Royals
Potential Targets: 
 -Gio Rojas, LHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.)
-Caden Sorrell, OF, Texas A&M
-Derek Curiel, OF, LSU

The Royals were another winner of the lottery, jumping up 10 spots to 6th overall. This will be their 5th Top-10 selection since 2020 with an iffy success rate so far. While the organization is usually tied to athletic prep players nearly every cycle, the ones that would be worthy of a Top-6 pick may be off the board already by this selection. Prep left-hander Gio Rojas may not be available either, but if he is, the Royals would be jumping for joy. He is the best prep arm in the class and would be a great selection here. Look out for Caden Sorrell out of Texas A&M and Derek Curiel out of LSU as two potential college bats here. Both have been strong performers at the college level and could be a quicker rise to help an already competitive big league roster. With a successful selection, the Royals could use their lottery luck to boost them into World Series contention for years to come. 
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Draft | Rankings | 3/20/2026

2026 Draft Board: Top 300
Vincent Cervino
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The 2026 MLB Draft class is shaping up to be one of the better in recent memory and, potentially, the best class in the last decade. It’s led by UCLA superstar shortstop Roch Cholowsky, a true five-tool prospect who’s the early favorite for 1:1. One of the most popular pieces of industry feedback when constructing this list was some variation of “Roch is too low” or “go up on Roch” and he’s the best college prospect since 2019 when Adley Rutschman (Oregon State, Orioles) was the consensus No. 1 prospect. Similarly to 2019, there’s a superstar Texas prep shortstop at No. 2, in 2019 it was Bobby Witt Jr. (Colleyville Heritage, Royals) and this year it’s Grady Emerson. Both Emerson and Alabama’s Justin Lebron would have been solid 1:1 candidates in years where Roch Cholowsky is not eligible and both have All-Star potential....
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Juco | Rankings | 3/25/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 25

Blaine Peterson
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Another strong week of Juco baseball for teams in our Top 25, and as you may see, our field is the same from a week prior with each and every team handling business in their weekend sets to hold fast to their spots on the board. Some notable movement though inside the Top 5 with Gaston jumping up to number 2 after a 33-2 start to the 2026 season as well Cloud County cracking the Top 15 for the first time all year. Looking forward to watching conference play around the country as we approach the final stretch of the regular season. Rk. School Record 1 Johnson County (KS) 30-2 2 Gaston (NC) 33-2 3 Florida Southwestern (FL) 26-7 4 Walters State (TN) 26-6 5 Chipola (FL) 29-5 6 Florence-Darlington (SC) 29-6 7 Blinn (TX) 22-8 8 McLennan (TX) 20-7 9 Cochise (AZ) 28-6 10 Pearl River (MS) 25-7 11 Georgia Highlands (GA) 30-8 12 Southern Nevada (NV) 24-6 13 Northwest Florida (FL) 21-12 14 Cloud...
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College | Rankings | 3/25/2026

DII/DIII/NAIA Rankings Update: March 25

Nick Herfordt
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Every preseason, analysts and voters pour enormous effort into ranking the small college baseball landscape — poring over returning rosters, transfer additions, coaching changes, and historical trends to assemble the most accurate picture they can of who will be contending when the postseason arrives. And most years, they get it largely right. But the nature of college baseball, with its massive rosters, unpredictable development arcs, and ever-churning transfer portal, guarantees that a handful of genuinely elite programs will slip through the cracks every spring. A team loses too many seniors. A key transfer hasn’t yet suited up. A new coaching staff hasn’t had the chance to prove itself. The voters see the question marks and leave the blank space, and then the season begins and the blank space starts filling itself in — loudly. As the 2026 season heads into its...
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College | Story | 3/24/2026

College Players of the Week: March 24

Vincent Cervino
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March 24th Perfect Game/Player of the Week: Quinton Coats, IF, Cincinnati The Cincinnati Bearcats (19-7) are on the cusp of the Top 25 and are playing their best ball of the season. The offense has been the driving force behind their success, and it has been incredibly consistent having averaged 8.5-runs per game. In the middle of it all, Quinton Coats, is on pace for a historic season both within the program and on a national level. The 6-3/225 infielder from Olathe, KS has been launching home runs at a record pace and opponents seem to be powerless to stop his onslaught. With incredible strength in his hands, Coats creates easy loft and in 5 road games last week he collected 9 hits in 20 at-bats, with 4 home runs, 9 runs scored, and he drove in a total of 9 runs as well. As for his pursuit of history, the modern day BBCOR bat standard single season home run record is 34, set back in...
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College | Recruiting | 3/23/2026

Recruiting Notebook: March 23

Ryan Miller
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High speed look at the FF-SL from '27 SS/RHP Harry Chubb Jones Jr. (GA)... #BeastoftheEast @PG_Uncommitted @PG_Georgia https://t.co/zXWgDJjU0y pic.twitter.com/GUIUN4tWmw — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2025 Harry Chubb Jones Jr., RHP/SS, Class of 2027 Commitment: Alabama Jones recently flipped his commitment from Clemson to Alabama, landing Rob Vaughn and staff a high-end two-way talent in the ’27 class. The Georgia native possesses tremendous upside on the mound, working from a long and lean right-handed frame that displays projection and athleticism. Jones starts over the face before working to the belt and into a higher pronounced leg lift. He fires down the mound via a standard-length arm action and high three-quarters slot. Chubb’s fastball/slider combination and feel for the zone, with the heater showcasing run/ride traits and power into the high-90s....
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College | Rankings | 3/22/2026

College Top 25: March 23

Vincent Cervino
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Time flies when you are having fun and the fact that we are almost to the halfway point of the 2026 season, proves just how entertaining things have been to this point. In what was an ultra-impactful week on the national landscape, there are some clubs fading out of the limelight while others are emerging from the shadows and showing they are a force to be reconned with. Conference play always makes the big picture come into view and we are now getting a feel for who the true contenders may be as the grind begins. The UCLA Bruins (21-2) keep their stranglehold on the top spot in the land as they remain unchallenged since the start of Big Ten play and finished the week with a (4-0) record. The Texas Longhorns (20-3) did lose back-to-back games this week but showed their resilience by winning an intense road series against now No. 7 Auburn (19-4). Georgia Tech (19-5) also had a (2-2) week...
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High School | General | 3/23/2026

High School Notebook: March 23

Perfect Game Staff
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Talon Brown (‘29 CA) showing some intriguing stuff over 2.1 IP running the FB up to 89, living 86-88 while mixing in a BB at 77. FB heavy on the day w/ a limited pitch count. 6-4, 205-lb w/ an athletic operation working down the bump #PGHS pic.twitter.com/HkLmJHrB1W — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) March 14, 2026 Talon Brown 2029 RHP, Christian Brown features an advanced 6-foot-4, 205-pound, athletic, projectable frame.  The freshman has made two appearances on the young season working four-innings without allowing a hit or run and has struck out seven opposing hitters.  It’s an easy, downhill operation and the ball jumps out of the hand, using the four-seam often that has ride through the zone, sitting 85-88 and topping out at 89.  The breaking ball showed 11-5 shape with depth spinning it at 1900 RPM+.  Brown features an athletic...
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Press Release | Press Release | 3/19/2026

PG Teams Up with OZ Ball Tournaments PTY

Perfect Game Staff
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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME NAMES OZ BALL TOURNAMENTS PTY AS OFFICIAL AREA DIRECTOR IN AUSTRALIA, EXPANDING GLOBAL FOOTPRINT   Sanford, Florida (Thursday, March 19, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that it has entered into a new international partnership with Oz Ball Tournaments Pty, naming the organization as an official Perfect Game Area Director in Australia. The agreement establishes Perfect Game-licensed tournaments and showcases across major Australian markets, including Sydney, Brisbane/Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.     Australian events will operate under the Perfect Game brand, delivering the same...
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Press Release | Press Release | 3/18/2026

PG Introduces Individual Player Entry

Perfect Game Staff
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  667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME INTRODUCES INDIVIDUAL PLAYER ENTRY, EXPANDING ACCESS TO ELITE NATIONAL EVENTS   Athletes Can Now Compete in Select National Tournaments Through Structured ‘Team PG’ Rosters   Sanford, Florida (Wednesday, March 18, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced the launch of Individual Player Entry, a new initiative designed to provide athletes the opportunity to compete in select national events even if their primary team is not attending.   Through the program, players can now register individually and be placed on a structured “Team PG” roster, allowing them to participate fully in...
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Juco | Rankings | 3/18/2026

JUCO Top 25: March 18

Blaine Peterson
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This week brings a new top team to the rankings as Johnson County (KS), on the strength of 10 consecutive wins and a 26-2 record, claims the overall number 1 spot. The Cavaliers have made 3 consecutive trips to the JUCO World Series and have the talent to make it back there again this spring. Florida Southwestern and Chipola have seemingly separated themselves as the most consistent teams in Florida. Welcome to the top 5 to the Gaston Rhinos who will be one of the first teams to 30 wins this spring. Pearl River stays as the top NJCAA D2 team and Fresno City stays as the top Juco team in California; both are coming off undefeated 2 week stretches. Welcome back to the top 25 to John A. Logan who is now 20-7 overall and have played one of the toughest schedules of anyone. And for the first time in several years welcome to the top 25 to the College of Southern Idaho, the Golden Eagles have...
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