White Sox Secure Top Draft Pick, Cholowsky, Amidst All-Star Weekend Festivities
The Chicago White Sox kicked off the 2026 MLB Draft in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Weekend by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the No. 1 overall pick on Saturday. Cholowsky, a 21-year-old college prospect, was widely considered the top talent available and is the third No. 1 pick in White Sox franchise history, joining Danny Goodwin and Harold Baines.
Cholowsky’s impressive collegiate season saw him bat .320 with a .452 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage, including 21 home runs. He also demonstrated strong plate discipline with an equal number of walks and strikeouts in 60 games for the Bruins. This selection marks the highest a UCLA position player has ever been drafted, surpassing Troy Glaus, who was picked third in 1997.
The draft, which will span 20 rounds and include 613 players, saw other notable early selections. The Tampa Bay Rays chose high school shortstop Grady Emerson at No. 2, followed by the Minnesota Twins picking Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey at No. 3. The San Francisco Giants opted for college right-hander Jackson Flora at No. 4, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rounded out the top five with LSU outfielder Derek Curiel. Of the first 40 picks, 26 were college players, with shortstops and right-handed pitchers each accounting for 11 selections.
While the White Sox celebrated their top pick, the team also recently completed a trade with the Pirates, acquiring infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert. Meanwhile, other teams were active on the scouting front, with both the Yankees and Rays observing Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers during an Angels-Twins game on Friday. Jeffers, returning from an injury, posted a .294 average with seven home runs in 38 games this season.
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