Roch Cholowsky to White Sox, Watch Highlights of No. 1 Pick in 2026 MLB Draft

The Chicago White Sox have made UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB draft.

Cholowsky was announced as the top choice by the White Sox on Saturday after a stellar three-year college career.

Amid debate leading up to the draft about Cholowsky, Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey as the best player in the class, Cholowsky stood out because of his consistent college production and advanced skill set.

Baseball America included Cholowsky in their ranking of best scouting tools for college players in the 2026 class as both a top-five hitter and defensive infielder.

The 21-year-old Cholowsky hit .329/.448/.624 with 52 homers in 178 games with the Bruins. He made history winning back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2025 and '26.

Barry Larkin (1984-85) and Luke Appert (2001-02) are the only other players who received the award multiple times.

Cholowsky is also the first Big Ten player ever selected No. 1 overall in the MLB draft. He is the first UCLA player to go with the top pick since Gerrit Cole in 2011.

The White Sox won the top choice in the draft lottery, marking the first time they have picked No. 1 since 1977 when they got Harold Baines.

Baines went on to have a 22-year MLB career and made the Baseball Hall of Fame. The White Sox will be thrilled if that ends up being the outcome for Cholowsky as he embarks on his pro career.