Reds 2026 MLB Draft: Complete list of picks, bonus pool, everything you need to know

The 2026 MLB Draft is a two-day event that begins on Saturday, July 11 in Philadelphia. The Cincinnati Reds have three of the first 70 picks in this year's draft and 21 selections total.

Rounds 1-4 will take place on Day 1, while Rounds 5-20 will occur on Day 2. The television coverage on Day 1 is split between NBC/ Peacock (1:00 p.m. ET - 2:30 p.m. ET) and MLB Network (2:30 p.m ET - 4:30 p.m. ET). MLB.com and MLB.TV will have live coverage from 2:30 p.m ET - 7:45 p.m ET.

The Chicago White Sox have the first overall pick in this year's draft, but their selection is far from a certainty. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is widely regarded at the best player in this year's draft, but many MLB insiders expect the White Sox to go in a different direction.

How many picks do the Reds have in the 2026 MLB Draft?

The Reds first-round pick this year will come at No. 18. The last time Cincinnati picked 18th, they selected Cam Collier in 2022 and followed that up by adding Sal Stewart at No. 32. Stewart's selection came by way of a Compensation Pick after Nick Castellanos left via free agency the previous spring. The Reds don't have a Compensation Pick this year.

Cincinnati's second selection comes 40 picks later at No. 58, and the Reds have a Competitive Balance Round B pick this year, which comes after Round 2 of the draft. All combined, the Reds have five picks in the first four rounds of this year's draft. Cincinnati will select 19th in every round from 5-20.

Who will the Reds select in Round 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft?

When it comes to the MLB Draft, the Reds have a type. Typically, Cincinnati's team execs and scouts prefer "up-the-middle" athletes. In other words, the Reds oftentimes target centerfielders, shortstops, pitchers, and catchers.

The Reds snagged shortstop Steele Hall with their first-overall pick in 2025, and right-handed pitchers Rhett Lowder (2023) and Chase Burns (2024) in the first round of back-to-back drafts. Cincinnati went off script with Collier's selection in 2022, after taking shortstop Matt McLain in Round 1 of the 2021 MLB Draft.

This year, opinions are vastly split on who the Reds will take at No. 18, but it's a good bet that it'll be a middle infielder or a pitcher. Some names to keep an eye on are Cameron Flukey (Coastal Carolina), Hunter Dietz (Arkansas), and Tyler Bell (Kentucky). If the Reds decide to go the high school route, popular choices might be Jared Grindlinger (CA), Trevor Condon (GA), and Carson Bolemon (SC).

How much bonus pool money do the Reds have for the 2026 MLB Draft?

The MLB Draft is slightly different from the NBA and NFL Drafts in that teams are allotted a specific amount of money to utilize for signing bonuses in Rounds 1-10. Some teams, rather than making a full-slot offer to a drafted player, will attempt to sign him for a lesser amount (under-slot value) in order to select a more highly-rated prospect later on in the draft.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ($19,130,700) have the largest bonus pool in the 2026 MLB Draft. This year, the Reds have $10,758,500 to spend on bonuses for their first 11 draft picks.

Buckle up, Reds fans. This weekend should be filled some intruiging selections. Will the Reds look to restock their farm system with high-upside prep prospects or more seasoned college players? Perhaps it'll be a mix of both. There's only one way to find out. Tune in this weekend to see the next crop of Reds' prospects you'll soon be getting to know better.

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