Roch Cholowsky is officially a member of the Chicago White Sox organization.
After months of speculation, the organization has selected the star shortstop out of UCLA with the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Cholowsky, 21, was the overwhelming favorite to be selected by the White Sox back in February when they were awarded the first overall pick through the MLB Draft Lottery. In the months leading up to the draft, however, rumors began to circulate that the Sox could look in a different direction, perhaps prep shortstop Grady Emerson or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. In the end, they selected one of the most accomplished draft prospects in the last decade.
Cholowsky has a chance to feature four-plus tools as a player who can hit for both average and power, and has Gold-Glove upside as a defensive shortstop. While he is not known as the most explosive athlete, his lack of speed has not prevented him from making highlight-reel plays on defense. Cholowsky could have been a first-round pick back in 2023 out of high school, but opted to remain firm to his commitment to UCLA.
Here are MLB Pipeline’s tool grades for Cholowsky:
- Hit: 60
- Power: 60
- Run: 45
- Arm: 60
- Field: 65
- Overall: 65
And here is how MLB Pipeline scouts view the newest member of the organization:
Cholowsky, the son of former Minor Leaguer and long-time scout Dan Cholowsky, was a top 50 player as a two-sport athlete from the Hamilton High School program in Arizona that produced Cody Bellinger. His commitment to UCLA priced him out and he ended up the highest-ranked player not selected in the 2023 Draft. After a solid freshman year with the Bruins he vaulted himself to the top of 2026 Draft boards by posting a 1.190 OPS with 23 homers as a sophomore. He’s considered by some to be the best all-around college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki and has done nothing to diminish that take with a solid junior season.
A 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter, Cholowsky has the chance to have four plus tools when all is said and done. He routinely finds the barrel, doesn’t swing and miss or chase with an advanced approach at the plate. When he finds the ball out front, he’ll show off 70 raw power to his pull side, and that’s where his home run pop showed up in 2025. He’s not a runner, though he’s smart on the basepaths.
That lack of pure speed won’t impact him as a defender; he uses what he has in short spaces very well. That, along with his plus instincts, allow him to get to most balls at shortstop, where he profiles as a plus defender with a plus arm. A leader who was a high school quarterback, he serves as the head of his infield in the same manner. His tools and makeup make him look like the kind of player who could be big league ready in a hurry.
Cholowsky is the third-ever college shortstop to be selected with the first overall pick, and the first one since 2015 when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Dansby Swanson. Heading into this season, Cholowsky drew comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki, who was also lauded for his combination of plus tools and polish. In his sophomore season, he slashed .353/.480/.710 and was widely regarded as the best player in college baseball. His junior season was not quite as prolific, but he was still an excellent hitter, slashing .320/.452/.636.
Scouts expect Cholowsky to fly through the organization, with some believing that an MLB debut within the next calendar year is possible. He arguably has the highest floor of any prospect in this draft, with the potential to become a perennial All-Star-caliber shortstop. It is now up to Ryan Fuller and co. to help Cholowsky maximize his talent at the plate and reach that potential.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th and @PipelineTo35th for more updates throughout the 2025 MLB Draft!
Featured Photo: UCLA Baseball/X
