White Sox select Roch Cholowsky with first overall pick in MLB draft

The White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the first overall pick in Saturday’s MLB draft.

The expected top choice when the Sox won the draft lottery last December, Cholowsky fended off challenges from Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. Cholowsky, 21, hit 21 home runs and slashed .320/.452/.636 for the Bruins this year, which was actually a slight downturn from his 2025 production when he homered 23 times and slashed .353/.480/.710.

Regardless of who the Sox picked Saturday, they were going to add to a team with a competitive and intriguing young core. The Sox entered the day 48-45 and tied for first place in the American League Central.

“From an organizational standpoint, you look at our major-league team, what we’ve been able to do with these position players, the development of the hitting program has been real,” Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley said earlier this week. “So when you look at where we’re choosing, what we’re trying to do, I do think the candidates will help justify where we’re going to go with this.”

Cholowsky is the Sox’ first No. 1 overall pick since they selected Harold Baines in 1977. The Sox also took catcher Danny Goodwin first in 1971, but he did not sign.

The Sox have picks 34 and 41 over the first 50 selections. The 34th overall pick was acquired late Friday night from the Pirates as part of a trade that sent former first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh.

This story will be updated.