The Chicago White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday. A consensus top prospect throughout the spring, Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 home runs for the Bruins this season and is considered the highest-drafted position player in UCLA program history.
Cholowsky’s Path to the No. 1 Pick
Roch Cholowsky’s selection follows a dominant season at UCLA, where he posted a slash line of .320/.452/.636. Beyond his power numbers, the 21-year-old demonstrated significant plate discipline, recording an equal number of walks and strikeouts at 36 each over 60 games. According to MLB Pipeline, his performance and physical tools have led some to categorize him as the most complete college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki.
The move marks a rare occurrence in the draft landscape. Cholowsky is the first college shortstop to be selected within the top three picks since 2015, when Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman went first and second, respectively. For the White Sox, the selection represents a long-term investment in their middle infield.
For more on this story, see Grady Emerson Surpasses Roch Cholowsky as No. 1 MLB Draft Prospect.
UCLA Historical Precedent and Prospect Pedigree
Cholowsky’s selection sets a new standard for the UCLA baseball program. He is the first Bruin selected in the top 15 picks since 2011, when Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer were taken at No. 1 and No. 3. Furthermore, he holds the title of the highest-drafted position player in UCLA history, surpassing Troy Glaus, who was the third overall pick in 1997.
His current status as the No. 1 pick follows an unconventional path. Three years ago, as a high schooler in Arizona, Cholowsky was ranked as a top 50 prospect but went unselected in the 2023 Draft. According to MLB Pipeline, his omission from the 2023 draft was not due to a lack of talent, but rather a strong commitment to attend UCLA and the associated financial requirements at the time.
This follows our earlier report, White Sox face tight No. 1 choice: Cholowsky or Emerson in 2026 MLB Draft.
Baseball Bloodlines and Professional Development
The White Sox are banking on a player with deep roots in professional baseball. Roch’s father, Dan Cholowsky, was the 39th overall pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991 and played eight seasons in the minor leagues, manning multiple positions including pitcher and catcher. Following his playing career, Dan transitioned into scouting and currently covers the Southwest region for the Cincinnati Reds.
This upbringing has contributed to what scouts describe as high-level instincts and baseball IQ. While the White Sox organization anticipates he could be ready for the major leagues quickly, the team’s selection also brought a lighter moment to the draft room. As noted by The Athletic
, there was initial confusion regarding the pronunciation of his name during the broadcast, though the player confirmed he had provided a video to the league to ensure the correct pronunciation—”Chill-OW-skee”—was used.
Read also: Cardinals Overpass White Sox in 2026 MLB Draft.
With the selection finalized, the focus now shifts to contract negotiations as the White Sox look to integrate their new shortstop into a system that has been aggressively building toward future competitiveness.
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