White Sox Select Top College Shortstop Cholowsky First Overall in MLB Draft

The Chicago White Sox have selected Roch Cholowsky, a highly touted shortstop from UCLA, with the first overall pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft. Cholowsky, 21, is widely regarded as the best college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki in 2005 and is projected to have a swift transition to the major leagues.

Cholowsky was a significant power threat for UCLA, hitting 44 home runs over the past two seasons. His selection over Grady Emerson, the consensus top high school shortstop, signals the White Sox's confidence in his immediate impact potential. He joins a growing group of talented infield prospects within the White Sox organization.

Adding to their draft haul, the White Sox also selected 18-year-old shortstop Landon Thome in the first round at pick number 34. Landon is the son of White Sox Hall of Famer Jim Thome, adding a notable legacy to the team's farm system. His inclusion further intensifies the competition within the team's shortstop depth chart.

The White Sox's infield prospect pool now includes Cholowsky, Thome, current major league starter Colson Montgomery, top prospect Caleb Bonemer, and Billy Carlson. This concentration of talent suggests a competitive future for the team's infield positions.

Elsewhere in the first round, the Tampa Bay Rays used the second pick to select Emerson, while the Minnesota Twins picked catcher Vahn Lackey from Georgia Tech with the third overall selection. Lackey, noted for his athleticism and developing power, is one of the few Black catchers in recent MLB history and follows in the footsteps of Twins legend Joe Mauer, who was also a first-round catcher.