We released Mock Draft 1.0 here at FutureSox on Thursday and the latest MLB Draft Notebook is available as well with some highlights on local players and bonus pool figures. The White Sox have the #1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and while the scouting department is doing the necessary work in the lead up to the event, it appears to be a two man race for the selection at this point.
With the lack of intrigue in the first round for the White Sox, I’m looking at the first five selections to give a snapshot of how things could potentially play out on draft day.
The White Sox have the third largest bonus pool with $17,592,100 to spend. With the 5% overage added, the club can spend up to $18.4 million. The first overall pick comes with a slot value of $11,350,600. The largest bonus handed out in the pool era is $9.3 million and that record likely breaks this year.
Clubs that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Teams that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, teams lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent. In 12 drafts under the current rules, teams have routinely spent up to the 5% but nobody has paid the penalty to go over.
On day three of the draft (rounds 11-20), players can sign for up to $150,000 without counting toward a club’s bonus pool money. For example, the White Sox selected Texas prep shortstop Matthew Boughton in the 11th round of last year’s draft and signed the now top 30 prospect to a bonus of $200,000. $50,000 of that counted against the club’s bonus pool.
This will be Mike Shirley’s 7th draft in his role as Director of Amateur Scouting for the club. The organization has selected Garrett Crochet, Colson Montgomery, Noah Schultz, Jacob Gonzalez, Hagen Smith and Billy Carlson with first rounders in that time. The White Sox have routinely spent up to the 5% overage in the draft.
These are the White Sox’s picks and slot values for the first 10 rounds of the 2026 MLB Draft
RoundPick Slot Value 1#1$11,350,6002#41$2,446,1003#77$1,086,6004#105$747,7005#137$547,7006#166$413,9007#195$325,1008#225$256,5009#255$217,00010#285$200,900
Chicago White Sox-R1 (1st overall): Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
Cholowsky starred at shortstop and quarterback for Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona and the White Sox had some interest in him during the 2023 MLB Draft. Three years later, the 6-2, 185 pounder is the overwhelming favorite to be the #1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. The right-handed hitter is one of the best college shortstop prospects ever after winning College Player of the Year as a sophomore.
The 21-year-old has an advanced feel to hit with pitch recognition and plus power. Cholowsky possesses four plus tools with average at best run times. He’s hitting .336/.477/.679 as a junior and he’s clubbed 44 college homers. In 2025, Cholowsky posted an average exit velocity of 91.5 mph with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.5 mph and a 90% in zone contact rate. His numbers in 2026 are essentially a mirror image.
Cholowsky pulls balls in the air consistently and is a plus defender at shortstop. He’s a team captain and possesses plus makeup as well. Roch is the son of longtime major league scout and former minor league player Dan Cholowsky. Underwhelming summers in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA are the only potential blemishes in a sterling prospect profile.
The bonus slot matters but if the White Sox want Cholowsky; they’ll figure it out. The bonus record in the modern draft is $9.3 million and the Pale Hose will break that record in July. It’s just unclear as to by how much at this point. Casey Wasserman of The Team represents Cholowsky and Grady Emerson and likely breaks the previous bonus record with each player.
Chicago White Sox-R2 (41st overall): Jack Radel, RHP, Notre Dame
Radel is currently ranked as the #94 overall player in the class at Baseball America but he’s expected to rise as the draft approaches. The 21-year-old has posted a 2.82 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 11 walks in 54.1 innings. Radel has made nine starts and has posted a WHIP well under one. He posted a 3.58 ERA in 2025 but he’s made major strides in regards to the strikeout numbers.
The 6-5, 250 pounder is a workhouse starter with a high 90’s fastball and low walk rates. The Notre Dame product also throws an 80-85 mph gyro slider as a plus offering. There’s an upper 70’s curveball and upper 80’s changeup in the righty’s profile as well. The White Sox are familiar with the South Dakota native and he’s an option for them if they choose this route.
The White Sox could choose to heavily over slot in this position with a prep player and fill up on college pitching in later rounds. The bonus pool space will give them flexibility to do either option. In this iteration, we’ll go with a quick moving college pitching for around slot value and use the financial flexibility throughout the draft instead.
Chicago White Sox-R3 (77th overall): Landon Thome, SS, Nazareth Academy; La Grange Park, IL
It’s no secret at this point that the White Sox would like to add Landon Thome to their organization. His father works for the club and has been scouting players for the organization all spring. He also assists at Nazareth Academy. Similarly to Jaden Fauske, Thome has been a member of the Sox’s Area Codes Team and they know him well.
This pick could be made at #41 overall as well but it would likely take back of the first round money regardless. Thome is #34 overall prospect at Baseball America and #42 for MLB Pipeline. The 6-0, 185 pounder is one of the best hitters in the prep class. The 18-year-old shows lots of pull side power with pitch recognition skills and bat to ball skills as well.
The left-handed hitter has had lots of summer showcase success against stellar competition and while he’s lauded for his baseball IQ and makeup, there are some defensive questions. Thome’s a below-average runner and likely ends up at second base or even left field. He’s committed to Florida State but making it to campus at this point would be a surprise.
Chicago White Sox-R4 (105th overall): Sean Dunlap, catcher, Crown Point High School (IN)
The Tennessee commit possesses present strength and bat speed with upside in a power over hit profile. The Northwest Indiana product is a 6-3, 205 pound backstop with average arm strength and good hands behind the plate. Dunlap is a premium athlete with tools and a big frame but there is some swing and miss in the profile.
Dunlap has displayed huge exit velocities and he’s a great athlete with solid run times. The prep catcher was a member of the White Sox’s Area Codes Team. The franchise know the Crown Point native well and the love for Midwest players is apparent. This would be a significant over-slot addition but the club has plenty of bonus pool space available for this strategy.
Chicago White Sox-R5 (137th overall): Gavin Swartz, RHP, Normal Community High School (IL)
Swartz is currently ranked as the #6 prospect in Illinois per Prep Baseball Report and he’s a righty who the White Sox are definitely familiar with. The 6-3, 185 pounder is a Normal, Illinois product and he’s committed to Indiana. The 18-year-old is an athlete with long limbs and projection remaining. His fastball sits around 93 mph with spin qualities and he possesses a breaking ball that could be plus as well. He has racked up lots of strikeouts already this spring.
Another member of the club’s Area Codes Team and someone who could move way up during the draft process. This would take another over-slot bonus but would be intriguing in round five with the run of the success that this scouting department has had choosing in that round.
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