MLB Draft Analysts Just Dropped A Stunning Claim About Roch Cholowsky

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’t mean much, as even some of the best players are a few years away from making an impact for the team that selects them.

Additionally, some teams don’t 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.

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’s draft is the real deal. That player would of course be Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA.

However, some of baseball’s biggest draft analysts are taking it one step further. On Jim Callis’s and Jonathan Mayo’s MLB Pipeline Podcast, 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.

Roch Cholowsky is identified as the best college shortstop prospect that @jimcallisMLB and @JonathanMayo have ever covered. https://t.co/nF1P2lbUM5

— James Fox (@JamesFox917) February 26, 2026

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’t 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.

No. 1 draft prospect Roch Cholowsky's start to the season: 7 games, 6 homers.

(: @UCLABaseball) pic.twitter.com/YkRv4Nkh4z

— MLB (@MLB) February 23, 2026

After the White Sox select him with the first overall pick, I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it to AA by the end of this season. That would set up a potential major league debut in 2027. He’s that good. 

The White Sox may have to get creative, as they already have a promising young shortstop in Colson Montgomery, so it could cause a bit of roster shuffling. However, you can never have too many talented players. The White Sox will figure it out. Somebody can move around, but it will get figured out. There is no reason not to select him in this draft due to already having a young and promising shortstop.

If all goes right, there is a chance that with this pick, Cholowsky goes down as one of the greatest players to put on a White Sox uniform. That is the type of hype that he is generating right now. These players don’t grow on trees and the White Sox got extremely lucky to get the chance to select him.