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

The White Sox selected junior 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.

With the 34th overall pick, acquired late Friday night from the Pirates as part of a trade that sent former first-round pick Jacob Gonzalez to Pittsburgh, the Sox selected Nazareth Academy shortstop Landon Thome. The son of Hall of Famer and former Sox slugger Jim Thome, Landon Thome was committed to Florida State.

The Sox also have the 41st pick, their third of the top 50.

This story will be updated.