Who will the Reds take with the No. 18 pick in the MLB Draft?
With the MLB Draft just one day away, let’s look at the most recently updated mock drafts and which players notable outlets have the Cincinnati Reds selecting with the No. 18 pick.
The last three drafts have seen the Reds select Steele Hall, who is already a top-100 MLB prospect, Chase Burns, who was selected to the 2026 All-Star Game, and Rhett Lowder, who has shown signs of becoming an impact pitcher in the Reds’ rotation.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds, Gio Rojas has a 60-grade fastball and slider. He threw 11 shutout innings for Team USA, helping it win a gold medal at the WBSC U-18 World Cup, according to MLB.com. His fastball has reached 98 mph with good movement, while his wipeout slider sits in the low 80s. He is currently committed to Miami (Florida).
The two-way prospect is better known for his bat despite having a 60-grade fastball that has reached 96 mph. At the plate, he is a contact hitter, but there is room for more power in his swing after reclassifying from the 2027 class to join this year’s draft class. Grindlinger is committed to play college baseball at Tennessee.
Peterson is 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds with a huge frame. His fastball received a 60 grade, while his elite slider earned a 65 grade. He was a three-year starter in Florida’s rotation. While he consistently sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, he has reached 98-99 mph. MLB.com says his slider and 12-to-6 curveball may be equally effective.
Robbins had a stellar 2025 season at Seton Hall, hitting .422 before batting .307 in the Cape Cod League. During his lone season at Texas, he hit 24 home runs. As his power has developed, his strikeout rate has more than doubled.
Helfrick hit 33 home runs during his sophomore and junior seasons at Arkansas. His defense is elite, while his bat received a 45 grade with 55-grade power.
Condon has a 60 hitting grade and a 70 run grade. MLB.com compared him to Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a left-handed hitter. His approach relies primarily on contact and making smart swings. He projects as a center fielder. Condon is committed to play at Tennessee.
My prediction: The Reds take Aiden Robbins as the most MLB-ready power bat available at that pick.
