2026 MLB Draft Day 2 discussion

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CORAL GABLES - MAY 09: Louisville outfielder Zion Rose (32) runs to first base in the fifth inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Louisville Cardinals on May 9, 2026, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, FL. (Photo by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s the second day of the draft. Today will see the 5th through the 20th rounds, and can be viewed on MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. If you’re looking for a breakdown of yesterday’s action, look no further!

Royals select Louisville outfielder Zion Rose with the sixth pick in the 2026 MLB Draft
Royals select Mississippi pitcher Taylor Rabe with the 30th pick in the 2026 MLB draft
Royals turn to high school talent, pitching to wrap up the first day of the 2026 draft

MLB Draft guru Keith Law had some very nice things to say about the Royals’ first day, too.

The Kansas City Royals played it a little differently this year, but I also loved their draft. They took Louisville outfielder Zion Rose at No. 6, and he will probably come in under slot. He’s one of the best pure hitters in this draft class and a sneaky-good athlete for a former catcher. Then they took right-hander Taylor Rabe, a late-rising starter from Mississippi who could move pretty quickly through the minors. Their third-round pick was left-hander Maxx Yehl, who came back from Tommy John surgery to become the West Virginia Mountaineers’ best starter this year. At worst, he projects as a good reliever.

The money they might save on Rose and Yehl (a redshirt junior) will go to second-round pick Jack Slightom, one of the hottest names in my conversations with scouts the last few weeks. He’s a high school righty with a very fast arm, a big frame and good characteristics on his pitches. High school outfielder Dominic Battista, their fourth-round pick, is a sleeper among scouts who have the Chicago area, as he’s a little undersized, but some folks love the swing and potential for power.

Law repeatedly referred to Zion Rose as one of the best pure hitters in the draft, and you don’t need any analysis at all to understand why the Royals would be interested in Taylor Rabe as a guy who can hit 100 MPH with his fastball and doesn’t walk people. Can the Royals continue to impress Law and others on the draft’s second day? There’s only one way to find out!

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