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High School Phenoms of the 2026 MLB Draft

The 13 prep players drafted in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft — the longest-runway, earliest-entry-point cards in the class.

July 13, 2026

AgentGrail Team

Sports card analyst

Updated July 14, 2026

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Thirteen of the 2026 MLB Draft's first 37 picks came straight out of high school — the profile with the longest runway to the majors, and historically where early card-collecting pays off most if it pays off at all. Here's every prep pick from Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A.

Draft dates: July 11–12, 2026 (Philadelphia)

Players covered: 13

With catalog cards already: 12

2026 MLB Draft — quick reference
Pick	Team	Player	Pos	School
2	Tampa Bay Rays	Grady Emerson	SS	Fort Worth Christian (TX)
7	Baltimore Orioles	Eric Booth Jr.	OF	Oak Grove HS (MS)
12	Los Angeles Angels	Jared Grindlinger	OF	Huntington Beach HS (CA)
13	St. Louis Cardinals	Trevor Condon	OF	Etowah HS (GA)
14	Miami Marlins	Jacob Lombard	SS	Gulliver Prep (FL)
16	Texas Rangers	Gio Rojas	RHP	Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
21	San Diego Padres	Coleman Borthwick	RHP	South Walton HS (FL)
25	Milwaukee Brewers	Trey Ebel	SS	Corona HS (CA)
29	San Francisco Giants	Carson Bolemon	RHP	Southside Christian (SC)
31	Arizona Diamondbacks	Blake Bryant	RHP	Citizens Christian HS (GA)
33	Tampa Bay Rays	Taj Marchand	SS	James Island HS (SC)
34	Chicago White Sox	Landon Thome	SS	Nazareth Academy HS (IL)
36	Philadelphia Phillies	Tyler Spangler	SS	De La Salle HS (CA)

None of these players have appeared in a Bowman, Topps, or Panini pro rookie-card release yet — every card referenced below is a pre-draft amateur-era issue (USA Baseball, college showcase). That's a feature for early collectors, not a bug: it's the cheapest entry point into a player's hobby history, before pro-card demand exists.

Player-by-player

Pick 2 · Grady Emerson — SS, Fort Worth Christian (TX)

Tampa Bay Rays took Grady Emerson, a shortstop out of Fort Worth Christian (TX), with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Already in the AgentGrail catalog: 50+ card entries across Panini Stars & Stripes / Stars & Stripes Prizm and/or Leaf's college-showcase lines (Vivid, Spectacular, Trinity). These are the pre-draft "amateur era" cards — his first true pro rookie card won't exist until he signs and Bowman/Topps or Panini issues a farm-system release. Browse what's live now via card search.

Pick 7 · Eric Booth Jr. — OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)

Baltimore Orioles took Eric Booth Jr., an outfielder out of Oak Grove HS (MS), with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

No AgentGrail catalog entries yet — Eric Booth Jr. hasn't appeared in a nationally-distributed Panini or Leaf product as of July 2026. Once a first card surfaces (most likely a late-2026 Leaf or Stars & Stripes release, or a Bowman/Topps card after signing), it'll show up in our card search.

Pick 12 · Jared Grindlinger — OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Los Angeles Angels took Jared Grindlinger, an outfielder out of Huntington Beach HS (CA), with the No. 12 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 13 · Trevor Condon — OF, Etowah HS (GA)

St. Louis Cardinals took Trevor Condon, an outfielder out of Etowah HS (GA), with the No. 13 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Already in the AgentGrail catalog: 10 card entries across Panini Stars & Stripes / Stars & Stripes Prizm and/or Leaf's college-showcase lines (Vivid, Spectacular, Trinity). These are the pre-draft "amateur era" cards — his first true pro rookie card won't exist until he signs and Bowman/Topps or Panini issues a farm-system release. Browse what's live now via card search.

Pick 14 · Jacob Lombard — SS, Gulliver Prep (FL)

Miami Marlins took Jacob Lombard, a shortstop out of Gulliver Prep (FL), with the No. 14 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 16 · Gio Rojas — RHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Texas Rangers took Gio Rojas, a right-handed pitcher out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL), with the No. 16 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 21 · Coleman Borthwick — RHP, South Walton HS (FL)

San Diego Padres took Coleman Borthwick, a right-handed pitcher out of South Walton HS (FL), with the No. 21 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 25 · Trey Ebel — SS, Corona HS (CA)

Milwaukee Brewers took Trey Ebel, a shortstop out of Corona HS (CA), with the No. 25 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Already in the AgentGrail catalog: 46 card entries across Panini Stars & Stripes / Stars & Stripes Prizm and/or Leaf's college-showcase lines (Vivid, Spectacular, Trinity). These are the pre-draft "amateur era" cards — his first true pro rookie card won't exist until he signs and Bowman/Topps or Panini issues a farm-system release. Browse what's live now via card search.

Pick 29 · Carson Bolemon — RHP, Southside Christian (SC)

San Francisco Giants took Carson Bolemon, a right-handed pitcher out of Southside Christian (SC), with the No. 29 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 31 · Blake Bryant — RHP, Citizens Christian HS (GA)

Arizona Diamondbacks took Blake Bryant, a right-handed pitcher out of Citizens Christian HS (GA), with the No. 31 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 33 · Taj Marchand — SS, James Island HS (SC)

Tampa Bay Rays took Taj Marchand, a shortstop out of James Island HS (SC), with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 34 · Landon Thome — SS, Nazareth Academy HS (IL)

Chicago White Sox took Landon Thome, a shortstop out of Nazareth Academy HS (IL), with the No. 34 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

Pick 36 · Tyler Spangler — SS, De La Salle HS (CA)

Philadelphia Phillies took Tyler Spangler, a shortstop out of De La Salle HS (CA), with the No. 36 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He's a prep-to-pro pick — the longest runway to the majors in this class, and historically the profile that rewards early, patient card collecting the most.

FAQ

When was the 2026 MLB Draft?

July 11–12, 2026, in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Weekend. The first round (plus Competitive Balance Round A) went on Day 1; rounds 2–20 followed on Day 2.

Do MLB draft picks have rookie cards right away?

Not in the traditional sense. A drafted player's first cards are usually amateur-era products (Panini Stars & Stripes, Leaf college-showcase lines) issued before the draft. His official pro "rookie card" doesn't exist until he signs and Bowman, Topps, or Panini issues a farm-system release — typically months later.

Are Panini Stars & Stripes and Leaf cards worth collecting for draft picks?

They're the earliest entry point into a player's hobby history, which is exactly why prep-to-pro shortstops and top college arms tend to hold long-term interest — but they're speculative by nature. Treat them as a low-cost way to get in early, not a guaranteed hit.

What exactly is the 2026 Panini Prizm Stars & Stripes Factory Set?

A USA Baseball Shop-exclusive factory set (released April 30, 2026) — a 200-card base checklist covering the 2025 USA Baseball Collegiate, 18U, 15U, and 12U National Teams plus the 16U/17U National Team Development Program, with 4 autograph cards per set on average across 6 different signature insert lines (numbered /100–/225) and exclusive parallels (Factory Set /39-or-less, Red Pandora /39, Black Pandora 1/1). Full details: 2026 Panini Stars & Stripes Factory Set Guide.

2026 Panini Stars & Stripes Factory Set Guide · Rookie Card Investing 101: How to Find and Grade the Best Rookie Cards · Is My Card Worth Grading? The Complete Sports Card Grading Guide · 2026 NBA Draft Class — Intel Watchlist

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High School Phenoms of the 2026 MLB Draft

Player-by-player

Pick 2 · Grady Emerson — SS, Fort Worth Christian (TX)

Pick 7 · Eric Booth Jr. — OF, Oak Grove HS (MS)

Pick 12 · Jared Grindlinger — OF, Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Pick 13 · Trevor Condon — OF, Etowah HS (GA)

Pick 14 · Jacob Lombard — SS, Gulliver Prep (FL)

Pick 16 · Gio Rojas — RHP, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)

Pick 21 · Coleman Borthwick — RHP, South Walton HS (FL)

Pick 25 · Trey Ebel — SS, Corona HS (CA)

Pick 29 · Carson Bolemon — RHP, Southside Christian (SC)

Pick 31 · Blake Bryant — RHP, Citizens Christian HS (GA)

Pick 33 · Taj Marchand — SS, James Island HS (SC)

Pick 34 · Landon Thome — SS, Nazareth Academy HS (IL)

Pick 36 · Tyler Spangler — SS, De La Salle HS (CA)

FAQ

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