White Sox select Roch Cholowsky as first pick in 2026 MLB Draft
CBS MLB • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 11, 2026, 9:05 PM
Last updated Jul 11, 2026
The 2026 MLB Draft began on July 11, with the Chicago White Sox selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky first overall. Cholowsky, a standout hitter with a.329 career average, was widely regarded as the top prospect. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech saw notable success as two players, Vahn Lackey and Drew Burress, were picked in the top eight. The draft reflected a trend of teams prioritizing contact hitters over pitchers, with only three pitchers selected in the top 20. This marks a continuation of a pattern favoring batters in early picks.
- •White Sox select Roch Cholowsky first overall.
- •Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey and Drew Burress picked in top eight.
- •Only three pitchers selected in top 20 picks.
- •12 college hitters taken inside top 20, setting a new record.
- •Contact hitters prioritized over power hitters in 2026 draft.
- 9:05 PMCBS MLB — 2026 MLB Draft winners and losers: Georgia Tech gets plenty of buzz, pitchers keep falling down the board
"Meanwhile, Rob Manfred botched Roch Cholowsky's name and contact hitters are this year's pick du jour
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