2026 MLB Draft Primer: Who Could the Braves Target at No. 26?
The Braves have two first round picks in this year's draft, and that could change everything.
In the latest installment of this draft series, we get to talk about something Braves fans do not get to experience very often: a second, first-round pick.
Thanks to Drake Baldwin’s National League Rookie of the Year campaign last season, the Prospect Promotion Incentive program awarded Atlanta an extra first-round selection. When everything settled, that pick landed at No. 26 overall.
Having two first-round picks is a significant opportunity. Atlanta gets another chance to add a player many evaluators consider a top-50 talent while continuing to strengthen what has quietly become one of baseball’s fastest-rising farm systems.
Once you get outside the top 10 or 15 selections, the number of realistic possibilities grows in a hurry. I will focus on players who have either been connected to Atlanta or prospects I genuinely believe fit what the Braves value, but there is always a chance the eventual selection is someone not mentioned here.
2026 Braves Today Draft Guide
Ben Blair, RHP, Liberty
Ben Blair is one of the better college pitchers in this draft class, even if he hails from a mid-major. The Liberty right-hander quietly put together one of the stronger seasons in college baseball and feels like the type of arm Atlanta has targeted in the past.
Blair posted a career 3.58 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. His 2026 season was his best yet, finishing with a 3.53 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, a 28.9% strikeout rate, and an outstanding 4.3% walk rate with the Flames.
He is not someone who lives at 99 miles per hour, but he comfortably works in the low- to mid-90s and can reach 97/98 when he needs to. His delivery is a little unconventional, and when you pair that with a lower release point, it gives hitters fits at the plate. Blair attacks with a sinking fastball, cutter, slider, and a quality changeup.
Some evaluators believe he could eventually land in the bullpen, but I think there is more starter upside than he gets credit for. Put him in an organization with Atlanta’s track record of pitcher development, add another pitch or squeeze out another mile per hour or two of velocity, and there is plenty to dream on.
Trevor Condon, OF, Etowah
Yes, I may be a little biased here, but Trevor Condon out of Etowah High School is one of my favorite targets in this entire draft class. And before anyone asks, no, he is not related to Charlie Condon.
Condon has always been known for using the entire field and for his elite speed, but over the past year, he has started to develop real power as well. At 5’11” and around 180 pounds, he is not the biggest player on the field, but there is still room for physical development. He also brings that legitimate plus speed to the basepaths, and with continued refinement to his routes, I have little doubt he can stick in center field.
What stands out most is how he plays. There is energy, confidence, and emotion in everything he does without it feeling forced. It may rub some folks the wrong way, but it’s hard to find players willing to play with that kind of passion for the game. Those qualities can change the momentum of a game just as much as the physical tools themselves.
He is committed to Tennessee, but I would be surprised if he ever steps on campus. Personally, I think there is a real chance another team takes him before No. 26, so if Atlanta wants him, they may need a little help from the board. Shoutout Woodstock, Georgia.
Daniel Jackson, C/OF, Georgia
For the second time in three years, the Golden Spikes Award winner hails from the University of Georgia. After Charlie Condon won in 2024, Daniel Jackson took home the award this year for the Diamond Dawgs, along with the Dick Howser Trophy and Buster Posey Award as well. When you consider that he was the starting catcher for Georgia this year, Jackson posted one of the most impressive college seasons we have seen in recent seasons.
After posting a 1.059 OPS at Wofford in 2024, the Atlanta native transferred to UGA where he would make an impact but would not be nearly what we would see this past season. During his Golden Spikes Award-winning season, Daniel Jackson slashed .379/.473/.803 with a 1.276 OPS, 20.1% strikeout rate, and 13.8% walk rate. He became just the third player to win the SEC Triple Crown, and the sixth ever player in college baseball with a 25-home run, 25-steal season, the first ever as a catcher.
If there is one problem with Jackson, it’s deciding just where he profiles in the field at the next level. In 2025, he spent most games in the outfield (21), while also getting time behind the plate (13) and first base (2) as well. In 2026, however, he became the Bulldogs’ everyday catcher. He certainly can stick behind the plate, but some teams may preserve his legs by letting him spend more time in the outfield rather than catching every day. Regardless of where he plays, I believe the bat will play at the next level.
Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford
After reclassifying, Rocco Maniscalco enters this draft as one of the youngest players available. The Oxford, Alabama shortstop is committed to Mississippi State, but after the way his stock has climbed over the past few weeks, it is becoming harder to imagine him making it to campus.
He turned plenty of heads at the combine, recording multiple throws across the diamond at least 97 miles per hour and multiple exit velocities north of 108 miles per hour. That is extremely impressive for a player who should be preparing for his senior year of high school, not entering the MLB.
Maniscalco is also one of the better defensive shortstops in the class and adds even more value as a switch hitter. The present power is not as advanced as some of the other prep bats, but considering his age, the projection is enormous. As he continues to mature physically and learns to elevate the ball more consistently, I think there is legitimate potential for 20 home runs and 40 doubles.
Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Liam Peterson is the biggest name on this list. If everything had come together consistently at Florida, he could easily have worked his way into the top 10 of this draft. Instead, he may be available right around Atlanta’s second first-round pick.
The junior right-hander started at least 15 games in each of his three seasons in Gainesville, compiling a career 5.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Those numbers are not eye-popping, but they are weighed down by his freshman season.
Last year he showed real progress, posting a 4.59 ERA, 4.01 FIP, a 30.2% strikeout rate, and a career-best 9.8% walk rate.
Peterson’s fastball is the calling card. It regularly reaches the upper-90s with outstanding life through the zone, and he complements it with a slider and changeup. Much like former Florida standout Hurston Waldrep, command has always been the biggest question. The encouraging part is that it has steadily improved, and if that trend continues, there is significant upside.
Taylor Rabe, RHP, Ole Miss
If Atlanta ends up taking a college pitcher at No. 26, Taylor Rabe would probably be my choice. After dealing with injuries in 2024 and barely pitching in 2025, Rabe entered this season with very little national attention. By the end of the year, he had established himself as arguably Ole Miss’ best starter. Yes, even ahead of Cade Townsend.
Across 11 starts and six relief appearances this season, Rabe posted a 3.55 ERA, 3.75 FIP, an incredible 34.2% strikeout rate, and just a 4.9% walk rate. Those are elite numbers, especially against SEC competition.
At 6’5”, he certainly looks the part on the mound. His fastball reaches the upper 90s, and he mixes in a cutter, breaking ball, and changeup. The combination of stuff, command, and pitchability took a huge step forward this season. A few months ago he was barely on anyone’s radar. Now, I would actually be surprised if he is still available when Atlanta is on the clock.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville
The final player on this list is Louisville outfielder Zion Rose. The former catcher has transitioned into the outfield and has become one of the more electric players in the country.
In his three seasons at Louisville, he slashed .358/.438/.585 with a 1.023 OPS, 24 home runs, and 65 stolen bases. Despite an injury-filled season, he batted a whopping .417 this year across 173 plate appearances. He is notoriously difficult to strike out, as evidenced by his 8.7% strikeout rate in 2025.
Rose is one of the better pure athletes in the class. His twitch and power combination is evident the second he walks off the bus. There are some who think he could return behind the plate eventually, but odds are he will profile as a mashing corner outfielder at the next level. With that profile, Rose will need to continue to lift the ball to his pull side, where his power explodes off the screen.
Prediction: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Atlanta has never shied away from betting on premium stuff, and if Peterson's improved command is real, he offers arguably the highest ceiling of anyone likely to be available at No. 26.