Washington Nationals Ready for 2026 MLB Draft

With the focus on the final series of the 2026 regular season, the Washington Nationals will also get a chance to look ahead into the future with day one of the 2026 MLB Draft set to kick off today.

Rounds one through four are slated to begin at 1 PM ET with four picks available for president of baseball operations Paul Toboni to turn to entering the draft. The Nationals' first pick will be the 11th overall selection in the first round followed by the 42nd overall pick, or third pick in the second round. Washington will then turn to picks 78 and 106 before day two begins at 11:30 AM on Sunday.

“I’m really excited for it. It's one of my favorite times of the year,” Toboni said of the upcoming draft. “It’s kind of how I grew up in the game, so to speak. Even with my current responsibilities not really mandating that I'd be involved a ton, I like going on our database and looking up the different players and watching video and all that.

The Nationals also have a bonus pool allotment of $12,278,300 to work with, but they'll also have a chance to upgrade the farm system just like Toboni and the front office have prioritized ever since they arrived in Washington.

While the Nationals have a chance to mark a homecoming with former Maryland and Texas A&M product Chris Hacopian,

ESPN also pointed to LSU centerfielder Derek Curiel as the projected first round pick followed by TCU centerfielder Chase Brunson in the second round. It would mark a sensible shift for the Nationals after drafting shortstop Eli Willits first overall in last year's draft before acquiring Gavin Fien, a top-12 pick from Fien's draft class, and Devin Fitz-Gerald as part of the MacKenzie Gore trade. MLB Pipeline, meanwhile, projected the Nationals add to the infield with Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese the projected pick after Jonathan Mayo noted "word is the Nats do like the Mississippi State third baseman" in the first round.

How soon the Nationals opt to turn to pitching help will be another question after half of the team's first eight picks in the 2025 MLB Draft was spent on the arm talent, while former fourth round pick Miguel Sime is set to join Willits in the upcoming All Star Futures Game. Still, all eyes are on how the Nationals upgrade the future and farm system.

Nationals picks: pick (round)

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