Final Mock Draft: With The 6th Overall Pick, The Royals Draft A Productive College Outfielder

I take MLB mock draft rankings from major industry outlets like MLB Pipeline, ESPN, The Athletic (and many others) to form a consensus board, with a working hypothesis that using this approach will eliminate some of the noise and variance in MLB Draft mock rankings. This is the final mock draft board, locked in just before the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11.

Round 1: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

Burress has been the most consistently productive college hitter since he set foot on campus at Georgia Tech. There's no arguing the track record, but there's a limited catalog of impact bats in the big leagues who stood 5'9. Burress has a ton of moving pieces in his swing that can get a little convoluted and may be problematic against better quality pitching in professional baseball. It's good (not outstanding) bat-to-ball skills with tremendous quality of contact that have resulted in 44 home runs in his first two collegiate seasons. Burress rarely expands the zone and has walked significantly more than he struck out in his first two seasons in Atlanta. Burress has strong supplementary tools. A plus arm and above-average speed and defense give him a chance to stick in centerfield, at least in the infancy of his pro career. After a slow start, Burress finished 2026 with a .358/.473/.657 line with 16 home runs, a 15.8 BB%, a 13.8 K%, and a 143 wRC+. Burress will get a ton of credit in draft models for his performance in his first two collegiate seasons, but there are too many questions for me to select him in the top three.

Competitive Balance Round A: Logan Reddemann, RHP, UCLA

Reddemann has surged up draft boards after not featuring prominently on pre- or early-season lists. A transfer from San Diego, the 6'2 righty has turned a developmental corner for an outstanding UCLA team and is putting it all together in his draft-eligible junior season. Reddeman has a little bit of a jerky delivery to the plate. Even so, he keeps the baseball well hidden behind his plate until release, creating some deception for hitters and making the ball difficult to track. Reddemann is an excellent strike thrower, which, in concert with an uptick in velocity this year, has left B1G Ten hitters with little chance against his stuff. Reddemann relies on a fastball that sits 94-96 mph but can grab 98 mph. There's a sinker and a cutter too, to round out a trio of fastballs. Reddemann has a slider, which he throws in the low 80s, although it tends to blur with his cutter, and a high-70s curveball to round out a diverse arsenal of pitches. Reddemann managed a 2.68 FIP with a 35.7 K% and a stingy 4.7 BB% in 59.2 innings in 2026. A flexor strain prevented him from pitching down the stretch (including postseason play). If he can prove his health in pre-draft bullpens, he's likely to still be a first-round pick.

Round 2: Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy HS, IL

Landon Thome is the son of MLB Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who is currently an assistant coach with his son's Illinois high school team. Thome the younger is committed to Florida State. Landon sets up in the box in a relaxed, open stance. A shoulder-high hand set gives way to a smooth, loose swing. Thome has a chance to have above-average hit and power tools when it's all said and done. Right now, it's a hit over power profile, with strong bat-to-ball metrics, even as he has tapped into more pull-side power in the last 12 months. Thome's eventual defensive home is unclear. He has good defensive actions, but a fringy arm and lack of lateral quickness mean he will likely move off shortstop. Second base seems a likely long-term home. While the secondary tools aren't the loudest, Thome has a great feel to hit with the promise of additional power on the way. That's what I'd always prioritize in a prep hitter. He'll likely go in the first two rounds.

Round 3: Evan Dempsey, RHP, FGCU

Dempsey is a two-way player who has contributed on the mound and in the box for Florida Gulf Coast in his three years on campus. A true two-way college player, it's likely his ceiling is higher as a pitcher moving forward. In the box, Dempsey put together a .333/.412/.536 line with 10 home runs (28 extra base hits), a 9.4% walk rate, a 13% K%, and stealing 15 bases as 88%. Dempsey's offensive profile is hit over power, but his quality of contact is good, and there's likely more home run power in the tank, despite chasing too much at times. On the mound, he made 15 starts, tossing 88.2 innings in 2026. Dempsey managed a 3.20 FIP with an excellent 34.1 K%, walking just 7% of hitters. It's a good fastball that sits 93-94 mph but can get worked up to 96 mph. He throws two distinct breaking pitches, a curveball and a slider, building on his propensity and feel for spin. Dempsey will be just 20 on draft day and is likely to draw day one interest with evaluators believing his development may accelerate when he's only focusing on pitching.

Round 4: Jaxon Willits, SS, Oklahoma

Jaxon Willits is the older brother of Eli Willits, selected first overall by the Nationals in 2025. Jaxon is coming off an excellent year as the starting shortstop for an Oklahoma team that was a surprise national champion. Willits, the senior, is a 'more than the sum of his parts' type player. A prospect with high baseball IQ, lacking standout tools, but not having many deficiencies or holes in his game. A switch-hitter, he's more effective from the left side of the plate. Willits combines above-average bat-to-ball skills with excellent swing decisions, making for a hit tool that could be a 55, while the power is more fringe average. There are solid average supplementary tools across the board. Willits runs well, has good infield actions, and a solid average arm. He profiles as a versatile and hit tool-driven utility infielder at the next level.

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