The MLB Draft doesn’t quite carry the same hype as its counterparts in the other two major American sports leagues, but it still brings about the same hope for franchises and fanbases picking towards the top of the order.
In this year’s edition, the Chicago White Sox were rewarded with the No. 1 selection — whoever they take will surely a welcome addition to the system, especially with the club shockingly competitive in the postseason picture this season. There were several worthy options at the top of the board, but who did the White Sox end up taking with the first-overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft?
Who was picked first overall in the 2026 MLB Draft?
With a couple of shortstops and a catcher at the top of most mock drafts, the White Sox settled on one of the talented infielders with their first No. 1 pick since 1977. They selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the first pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, potentially adding a foundational piece to a team on the upswing.
Cholowsky is 21 years old and just spent three years with the UCLA Bruins, for whom he flashed a ton of upside for a program that was outright dominant over the last two regular seasons. The prospect slashed .320/.452/.636 for a 1.088 OPS last season.
Cholowsky was projected to go No. 1 in ESPN and MLB Pipeline’s final mock drafts and graded out nicely across the board in all tools except foot speed. He recorded just 14 stolen bases in his collegiate career and isn’t likely to be much of a threat on the basepaths in the pros, but outside of that, he should be a very productive player who could be ready for the MLB sooner rather than later. He brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds along with a fantastic mix of contact, power and plate approach.
Over his three seasons of college, he logged a career OPS of 1.072 with a mark of 1.000 or better in each of the last two campaigns. Over the last two years, he won Big Ten Player of the Year in both while recording 84 walks to 66 strikeouts, 153 runs, 134 RBI and 44 home runs. He bashed 20+ homers in each of those seasons and should provide plus power in the pros as well. Of course, fielding ability is also an essential part of the equation at shortstop. Cholowsky is reliable with his glove and could become a key piece of the big-league lineup ahead of schedule assuming his skills translate.
The White Sox are above the .500 mark as of draft day and have impressed at the plate with a standout lineup throughout the campaign. While Colson Montgomery has been a key piece at shortstop, he’s proven comfortable shifting to third base and becomes arbitration-eligible in 2029. There’s a world where Cholowsky and he are both able to coexist in the same future lineup, but the club now has a potential succession plan in place at a premium position as well.
