Shortstops of the 2026 MLB Draft

Shortstop was the deepest position in the 2026 MLB Draft's first round — 10 of the first 37 picks, topped by UCLA's Roch Cholowsky going No. 1 overall. Here's every first-round shortstop, where he's from, and what's already collectible.

Player-by-player

Pick 1 · Roch Cholowsky — SS, UCLA

Chicago White Sox took Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop out of UCLA, with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He arrives with a full college track record, which usually means a shorter runway to full-season ball than a prep pick.

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 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 10 · Tyler Bell — SS, Kentucky

Colorado Rockies took Tyler Bell, a shortstop out of Kentucky, with the No. 10 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He arrives with a full college track record, which usually means a shorter runway to full-season ball than a prep pick.

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 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.

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 18 · Justin Lebron — SS, Alabama

Cincinnati Reds took Justin Lebron, a shortstop out of Alabama, with the No. 18 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He arrives with a full college track record, which usually means a shorter runway to full-season ball than a prep pick.

Already in the AgentGrail catalog: 20 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 20 · Jake Schaffner — SS, North Carolina

Boston Red Sox took Jake Schaffner, a shortstop out of North Carolina, with the No. 20 overall pick of the 2026 MLB Draft. He arrives with a full college track record, which usually means a shorter runway to full-season ball than a prep pick.

No AgentGrail catalog entries yet — Jake Schaffner 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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Related AgentGrail guides

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