White Sox Poised to Draft Top Shortstop Prospect Roch Cholowsky

Cholowsky emerges as clear No. 1 pick in 2026 MLB Draft class

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Chicago White Sox hold the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, and it appears they are zeroing in on UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as their selection. Cholowsky has been hailed as the best all-around shortstop prospect to come out of the college ranks since Troy Tulowitzki, and his dominant performance so far this season has cemented his status as the top talent in the draft class.

Why it matters

The White Sox have the opportunity to add a potential franchise-altering talent to their already impressive farm system with the first overall pick. Cholowsky's combination of elite hitting and fielding abilities could make him a cornerstone piece for the organization as they look to build a sustainable contender.

The details

Cholowsky, a sophomore at UCLA, has been tearing it up so far in 2026, posting a 1.320 OPS with 8 home runs through 14 games. He hit .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs as a freshman, establishing himself as the clear top prospect in this year's draft class. Scouts have drawn comparisons between Cholowsky and former five-time All-Star Troy Tulowitzki, praising his well-rounded game and potential to be an impact player at the Major League level.

  • The White Sox learned they had the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft back in December.
  • The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled to take place in June.

The players

Roch Cholowsky

A sophomore shortstop at UCLA who has emerged as the clear top prospect in the 2026 MLB Draft class.

Troy Tulowitzki

A former five-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner, and two-time Silver Slugger who Cholowsky has been compared to as a well-rounded shortstop prospect.

Chicago White Sox

The MLB team that holds the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and is expected to select Roch Cholowsky.

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What they’re saying

“Cholowsky is the slam dunk top talent in the 2026 draft class. After hitting .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs as a sophomore, he has a 1.320 OPS with eight home runs through 14 games to kick off the 2026 campaign. He has been hailed as the best all-around shortstop prospect to come out of the college ranks since Troy Tulowitzki was at Long Beach State in 2005.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

The White Sox will continue to closely monitor Cholowsky's performance throughout the 2026 college baseball season as they finalize their plans for the first overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

The takeaway

By landing the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox have a golden opportunity to add a potential franchise-altering talent in UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, who has emerged as the clear top prospect in this year's class. Cholowsky's well-rounded skill set and lofty comparisons to former All-Star Troy Tulowitzki make him an ideal building block for the White Sox as they look to build a sustainable contender in the years to come.