The White Sox were given the gift of a lifetime when they won the first pick in the 2026 MLB draft lottery. In most years, getting the first pick doesn\u2019t mean much, as even some of the best players are a few years away from making an impact for the team that selects them.<\/p>\n
Additionally, some teams don\u2019t take the best player at first overall due to bonus pool restrictions, as if they can save money with the first pick, their philosophy is to spread that money over other picks so they can get better players in the later rounds with that saved money.<\/p>\n
However, this year is different. The White Sox have the ability to select a generational talent. While that term is used a little bit more frequently than it should be, the number one ranked prospect in this year\u2019s draft is the real deal. That player would of course be Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA.<\/p>\n
However, some of baseball\u2019s biggest draft analysts are taking it one step further. On Jim Callis\u2019s and Jonathan Mayo\u2019s MLB Pipeline Podcast, <\/a>they had some high praise for Cholowsky. When discussing where Cholowsky stands compared to prior college shortstops coming into the draft, they made the claim that he is the best college shortstop that they have ever covered in their career. To put that in perspective, Callis states that he has been doing this since 1989. That is high praise from people who cover the draft and prospects for a living.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd25 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel<\/a> to hear Chicago legends tell stories you\u2019ve never seen in headlines \u2014 real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.<\/p>\n Roch Cholowsky is identified as the best college shortstop prospect that @jimcallisMLB<\/a> and @JonathanMayo<\/a> have ever covered. https:\/\/t.co\/nF1P2lbUM5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 James Fox (@JamesFox917) February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n For once, it seems like something has finally gone the White Sox way, as they will now get a generational talent to join the already solid young core in Chicago. If that wasn\u2019t good enough, Cholowsky is on pace to have an even better season than last year, as he is currently hitting .400 with 6 homeruns and 12 RBIs to go along with a .500 OBP, a 1.100 slugging percentage, and a 1.613 OPS through 8 games. These are video game numbers.<\/p>\n No. 1 draft prospect Roch Cholowsky’s start to the season: 7 games, 6 homers. \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n (\ud83c\udfa5: @UCLABaseball<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/YkRv4Nkh4z<\/a><\/p>\n