Guide to the 2026 MLB Draft: When the Red Sox pick, local players to watch, and first-round order

The White Sox are on the clock.

Teams have a chance to replenish the prospect pipeline this weekend, when the future stars of the game will hear their names called in the MLB Draft.

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The White Sox have an intriguing decision to make, whether to draft UCLA standout Roch Cholowsky or prep starlet Grady Emerson, both shortstops, first overall.

All eyes locally will be on a pair of pitchers: Bishop Feehan’s Brody Bumila and Vermont Academy’s Kaiden McCarthy. Both aces have mowed down the opposition this spring, attracting plenty of scouts up to the Northeast.

Here’s what you to know about this year’s draft:

When: Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia.

How to watch: NBC and Peacock will have coverage of the first 10 picks Saturday (1 p.m.). MLB Network will show selections No. 11-40 (2:30 p.m.), before turning over the action to MLB.com and MLB TV (4:30 p.m.). MLB.com and MLB TV will air Sunday’s proceedings (11:30 a.m.).

The first selection for the Red Sox will be at No. 20, the first of their three picks Saturday. The Sox scooped up No. 67 from the Brewers in the trade for Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler. They also own the No. 96 selection.

The team’s bonus pool allotment is $8,219,200.

The Phillies gained the No. 135 selection as compensation for losing Ranger Suárez in free agency. The Red Sox forfeited their second and fifth picks for signing Suárez, who is an American League All-Star.

Boston’s picks with assigned slot values for Rounds 1-20, per soxprospects.com.

• No. 20, first round ($4,373,900)
• No. 67, competitive balance B ($1,317,300)
• No. 96, third round ($815,700)
• No. 156, fifth round ($454,100)
• No. 185, sixth round ($352,900)
• No. 214, seventh round ($278,700)
• No. 244, eighth round ($227,200)
• No. 274, ninth round ($205,400)
• No. 304, 10th round ($194,000)
• No. 334, 11th round ($150,000)
• No. 364, 12th round ($150,000)
• No. 394, 13th round ($150,000)
• No. 424, 14th round ($150,000)
• No. 454, 15th round ($150,000)
• No. 484, 16th round ($150,000)
• No. 514, 17th round ($150,000)
• No. 544, 18th round ($150,000)
• No. 574, 19th round ($150,000)
• No. 604, 20th round ($150,000)

Shortstop | Age: 21 | Previous team: UCLA

The 6-foot-2-inch righthanded hitter is one of the most complete shortstop prospects in a long time. He’s a plus-hitter who oozes power. Defensively, his arm and glove are both excellent, meaning he possesses the tools to stay at the position long-term.

The ABCA/Rawlings 2025 player of the year and two-time Big 10 player of the year is also a two-time first-team All-American.

Shortstop | Age: 18 | Previous team: Fort Worth Christian (Texas) HS

The younger brother of Mariners’ top prospect, Colt, Emerson was named the Gatorade National Baseball player of the year. He’s a complete player who hits for average, power, and possesses plus-speed. He is a natural with the glove and scouts project that he’ll stick at shortstop in the majors.

The consensus top-ranked player in the Class of 2026, Emerson slashed .532/.648/1.013 with seven home runs, 50 RBI and 31 stolen bases through 28 regular season games at Fort Worth Christian.

Catcher | Age: 21 | Previous team: Georgia Tech

The fast-rising backstop did not receive any Division 1 offers until his senior season, but will join former Red Sox Jason Varitek as a first-round catcher selection who played for the Yellow Jackets. Lackey slashed .397/.519/.772 as the constant in a terrific Georgia Tech lineup.

He’s got a strong and accurate arm behind the plate, and won ACC defensive player of the year.

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Pitcher | Age: 18 | Previous team: Bishop Feehan

The Globe’s Athlete of the Year and recipient of the Will McDonough award, Bumila was widely anticipated to be a first-round pick prior to news of a UCL injury.

The flame-throwing 6-9 lefthander routinely hits triple digits on the radar gun, striking out 108 in 46 innings, while allowing just eight hits and seven earned runs this season.

Pitcher | Age: 17 | Previous team: Vermont Academy (VT)

There has never been a high schooler from Vermont drafted and make it to the major leagues. McCarthy, potentially a day-one selection, could change that.

Committed to Tennessee, McCarthy has bucked the trend of evaluators not visiting the Green Mountain state. He can hit 99 miles per hour and keeps the ball in the zone.

McCarthy has been counseled by Rick Porcello, the 2016 Cy Young winner with the Red Sox.

Pitcher | Age: 22 | Previous team: Georgia

A product of the Groton School, the 6-3 righthander produced a 4-1 record with a 4.43 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 63 innings over 18 appearances for the Bulldogs, who made the College World Series.

His fastball sits in the mid-90s, but can top out at 98 m.p.h. He combines that with a slider that features plenty of sweeping movement, yet primarily sticks to those two pitches, which helps to project him as a reliever when he begins his professional career.

Pitcher | Age: 21 | Previous team: Vanderbilt

Born in Methuen and raised in Londonderry, N.H., the righthander was Vanderbilt’s opening day starter this season. He finished with a 4.96 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 85⅓ innings.

He was the 2023 New Hampshire pitcher of the year at Londonderry high school.

Pitcher | Age: 21 | Previous team: LSU

A towering 6-9, 251-pound presence on the mound, Rizy played baseball and basketball at Worcester Academy. A relief pitcher for the Tigers, Rizy sported a 4.22 ERA in 20 appearances.

He is playing for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer, his second summer on the team.

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