Brewers Select High-Octane College Lefty at #23 in Latest 2026 MLB Mock Draft

[Jamie Cameron]

It's time to check back in with another Brewers mock. The MLB Draft is just five weeks away. This class is as muddled as any I've covered, though it's plenty deep in talent. You can find our mock consensus board here. Let's check in on some player profiles it's currently mocking to the Brewers with their first few picks in July.

At #25, the Brewers Select: Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State 
Carlon is one of the fastest-rising college arms in 2026, in a demographic that has suffered from injuries and inconsistent performance. After contributing to the Sun Devils immediately as a freshman bullpen arm, Carlon improved significantly during his sophomore season, cutting his ERA in half and flashing far more dominant stuff.

It's a good-looking delivery. While there aren't outlier release traits, he hides the ball well during his delivery and has an ideal pitcher's frame at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. He's moved from the bullpen to a starting role in 2026. The results have been spectacular. Carlon has a 3.82 FIP through his first 50 innings of the season, while striking out over 39% of hitters.

The stuff is as explosive as ever. His fastball sits 94-96 MPH, but he's run it up over 100 MPH in recent starts. His slider is one of the best in the class, a mid-80s gyro offering that generates a ton of swing and miss. Carlon mixes in a curveball and a changeup, too.

There's still some refinement needed to the strike-throwing, but Carlon's walk rate has reduced from 11.3% in 2025 to around 9% in 2026. Carlon is looking like a first-round prospect with starter traits who should move quickly as a pro.

At #66, the Brewers Select: Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford HS, AL
Maniscalco is a switch-hitting shortstop who has drawn Eli Willits comparisons. He attends the same Alabama high school as recent Marlins second-rounder Carter Johnson, and is currently committed to Mississippi State.

Maniscalco will be one of the youngest prep players in the class. He's a reclass from 2027 and will be 17 years and 2 months old on draft day. It's a good overall offensive profile with solid bat speed and good bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate. Given Maniscalco's age, it's not hard to envision him adding strength and additional impact at the plate.

In the field is where he truly shines. Maniscalco has a good chance to stick at shortstop long term, with smooth actions, a quick first step, an excellent internal clock and a plus arm. He's one of the better defensive prep shortstops in this class, behind Aiden Ruiz. There are both tools and skills in a strong all-around profile.

At #102, the Brewers Select Cooper Sides, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS, CA
Cooper Sides is a projectable prep right-handed pitcher out of California, currently committed to LSU. He has a huge frame at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, with burgeoning stuff that has taken a step forward in velocity in the past 12 months.

His fastball is already above-average, sitting 95 mph from a low three-quarter slot. There's a quality sweeping slider that goes with it, with tight break and demonstrating good spin rates. That pitch sits in the low 80s, while Sides will mix in a curveball in the upper 70s and a mid-80s changeup to round out a four-pitch mix. While the curveball and changeup need refinement, there's the makings of an exciting arsenal as he enters pro ball.

Sides throws plenty of strikes, enough for above-average control. Some like him as the best prep arm in the state. It's easy to envision him being a problem after a few years of pro development.

 

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[nathanj42]

Maybe fix the headline

[brewmann04]

I thought we had pick 23 

[gregmag]

3 hours ago, nathanj42 said:

Maybe fix the headline

Please!  My life has been kind of chaotic, and I was like, “Wow – the draft is today?“

[BrewerFan]

This would be... the exact type of draft I'd like to see. I'd even be fine with another prep arm in Rd 2. 

 

But they all seem... pretty expensive. Not the types you get any discounts on... maybe the types you pay a bit more on. Setting aside my ignorance on their asking prices, I love that trio. 

[Team Canada]

2 hours ago, gregmag said:

Please!  My life has been kind of chaotic, and I was like, “Wow – the draft is today?“

updated.