The 2026 MLB Draft is about to get underway, and for card collectors, this is when we get to see the next crop of prospects we'll spend obscene amounts of money on chasing their Bowman 1sts. As is often the case, when in doubt...follow the money, and you can bet that collectors are not going to wait for 2026 Bowman Draft to see if they can get in early on some of the top names from the draft.
As to which draft prospects to bet on, that is complicated. There is no doubt that prospects picked by certain teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Mets) are going to be overvalued right out of the gate. Picks made by other teams (Marlins, Rockies, Rays, A's) are going to be operating at a minor deficit, at least at first. However, the prospects themselves and what they bring to the table matters the most, and there are a few general rules one can follow to get started.
These are the 2026 MLB Draft prospects that collectors should be targeting right away
To the surprise of no one, higher draft picks command higher premiums at the start. Even total busts will still get a one-year grace period from collectors if they are first-rounders, just to make sure they don't come around. It is also true that bats are in much higher demand than pitchers, and only the very top arms get a lot of attention early.
College players are also generally more well-known than high school players and come with their own fans right out of the gate. Given that there isn't a Seth Hernandez type in this draft class as far as we know, here is a look at some of the draft prospects that collectors should start doing their homework on based on those rules.
Roch Cholowsky - SS
This might be the most obvious name on the list, given that Cholowsky has been among the favorites to go first overall all year long. The UCLA shortstop is big league-ready with the glove right now, and he has consistently performed at the plate in college despite some concerns about his swing. You can expect him to, at minimum, perform well early on in his minor league career, and collectors are going to pay a premium as a result. Of note, Cholowsky does have some unlicensed Leaf and Panini autos already if you want to get a head start.
Grady Emerson - SS
While Emerson IS a high school player, he is an exception to our rule, given that he is right there with Cholowsky in terms of odds to go off the board with the first pick. Emerson is loaded with tools, can hit, should stick at short, and has a bunch of upside. Even if Tampa picks him, you can bet that Emerson will be a chase name in 2026 Bowman Draft (assuming that Topps doesn't hold him out of that, anyway).
Eric Booth Jr. - OF
So ... this is another high school bat, but one in a similar situation to Emerson's. In terms of raw tools, Booth Jr. might be the best total package in the draft. Collectors want to get in on the ground floor with guys that could be stars, and Booth Jr. checks that box. His draft position and team could change the calculus a little bit, but he will be a name to watch regardless of where he ends up.
Jackson Flora - RHP
Look, we are breaking our rule again....kind of. Pitchers are hard to collect simply because they are so risky as a demographic. However, as we have seen with Hernandez and Kade Anderson from last year's Bowman Draft, the very top pitchers in a draft class are still worth keeping an eye on and hoarding. Unless something wild happens, Flora should be the first pitcher off the board based on talent. Even if there are some under-slot shenanigans, he is the pitcher that is worth targeting first from this class.
Drew Burress - OF
Finally, we come back to the college bats that are often the drivers of early prospect hype from the draft. Burress is a widely known bat from a very good Georgia Tech team who is probably going to mash in the lower levels of the minors. There are real questions about his ability to handle quality breaking balls as a pro, but that won't keep him from commanding big bucks when his Bowman 1sts become available.
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