White Sox 2026 MLB Draft Notebook 2.0
FutureSox
The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft will take place in Philadelphia during All Star weekend this July. This will be the fifth draft for the White Sox under the current rules and the second one under the revamped, two-day format. The draft is 20 rounds and the Chicago White Sox were awarded the #1 overall pick via the draft lottery. 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.
White Sox Picks and Draft Order Set
Righty Zac Gallen was the remaining domino left to fall in regards to draft compensation as the pitcher was saddled with a qualifying offer this winter. Ultimately, the veteran starter decided to re-sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the draft order was left unaffected. The 20 round draft order is officially set but bonus pools and slot values haven’t been announced yet.
With the #1 overall pick in tow, the White Sox are slated to have a significant amount of bonus pool space but they won’t have the biggest bonus pool as of now. In addition to making the first selection, they’ll also have the #2 overall pick in rounds 2-20. In the 2025 MLB Draft, slot values increased by 4.8% from the previous season. The top overall selection was worth $11,075,900 and if the bonuses increase once again in a similar fashion, the top pick this year would be worth roughly $11.6 million.
The rest of the selections for the White Sox are listed below with the bonus pool equivalent from last year and what that would look like with another increase bordering on 5%. I originally looked at the incoming class in Draft Notebook 1.0
| 2026 Draft Picks for White Sox | 2025 Pick Equivalent Bonus Slot | Pick Equivalent with 4.8 Increase |
| Round 1, Pick #1 | $11,075,900 | $11,607,543 |
| Round 2, Pick #41 | $2,386,900 | $2,501,471 |
| Round 3, Pick #77 | $1,060,300 | $1,111,194 |
| Round 4, Pick #105 | $729,600 | $764,200 |
| Round 5, Pick #139 | $523,900 | $549,047 |
| Round 6, Pick #166 | $403,900 | $423,287 |
| Round 7, Pick #196 | $314,500 | $329,596 |
| Round 8, Pick #226 | $248,700 | $260,637 |
| Round 9, Pick #256 | $210,900 | $221,023 |
| Round 10, Pick #296 | $195,300 | $204,674 |
While another 4.8% increase isn’t official, something in that neighborhood seems appropriate based on rising revenues and growth for the sport. This would put the White Sox’s bonus pool at $17,972,672 and allow them to spend right up to $18.8 million in total with the 5% overage.
The Tampa Bay Rays hold the second overall pick in the draft. They moved up in the lottery to select in that spot and they’ll occupy the 10th spot overall in rounds 2-20. The Rays also acquired the 33rd overall pick in the draft via a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. Pick #33 was originally a Competitive Balance A selection of the Orioles and it will be worth around $3 million. The Rays’ bonus pool could be worth over $20 million with the 5% overage.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a similar situation. They came into the MLB Draft Lottery with top five odds and they’ll choose #5 overall while also possessing the 5th overall selection in rounds 2-20. The Pirates also have a Competitive Balance A selection at #34 overall which should be valued around $2.8 million. The club also failed to sign their 2nd rounder Angel Cervantes last year and they’ll receive the 51st overall pick as compensation. The Pirates should also have $20 million to spend on the 2026 draft class.
It would be imperative for the White Sox to acquire another draft pick somehow. Competitive Balance selections are the only ones that can be traded and some of them have already been moved. Picks can also only be traded one time. In addition to Tampa Bay acquiring pick #33 from Baltimore, the Red Sox have acquired Milwaukee’s selection at #67 overall. The St. Louis Cardinals have also acquired #68 overall from Seattle and #72 overall from Tampa Bay in the Brendan Donovan exchange.
The Cleveland Guardians (#29), Kansas City Royals (#30), Arizona Diamondbacks (#31), St. Louis Cardinals (#32), Pittsburgh Pirates (#34), Colorado Rockies (#37), Detroit Tigers (#69), Cincinnati Reds (#70), Miami Marlins (#71), Sacramento A’s (#73) and Minnesota Twins (#74) all have selections that are eligible to be traded. There’s not a clear path toward pick acquisition amongst these teams for the White Sox unfortunately.
White Sox Looking for an Aircraft Carrier
The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft has been lauded as an especially good one. MLB Pipeline has their top 100 players listed as the college baseball season is underway. Baseball America has expanded their list to 200 players already. Kiley McDaniel’s list at ESPN is 64 players deep currently. Tyler Jennings of Just Baseball has separate tiers with the top 100 college players in the class here. Joe Doyle’s incredible work at Over-slot Baseball can be accessed with rankings galore as well.
These lists are all different, informative and wildly expansive. What has become clear however is the depth of this group in addition to the sheer impact available at the top of the class. Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron and Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson would be the top overall selection in most seasons and University of California at Santa Barbara righty Dylan Flora could make the annual college pitcher leap to the top.
None of those players possesses the top spot on the board currently however. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky won the Golden Spikes Award in 2025 and he’s the clear favorite to be the #1 overall pick this July. The former Hamilton High School two sport star was a top 50 player in the 2023 class but he ultimately made it to campus.
The 6-2, 200 pounder hit .353/.480/.710 with 23 homers for the Bruins in 2025. In a small, early sample this year, Cholowsky has looked the part while clubbing five homers and playing stellar defense early on. The 20-year-old is seen as the best all around college shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki but I’ve preferred looking at him as an Alex Bregman type who plays plus defense at shortstop.
Cholowsky possesses four plus tools with the potential for plus-plus raw power while being a plus defender at shortstop with an arm and hit tool to boot. The infielder only shows average run times but his makeup could be his fifth plus tool. He’s already a leader on and off the field, evidenced by the wonderfully written profile recently by Ira Gorawora of The Athletic.
There is some concern from fans and observers that a specific segment of White Sox’s fans are getting too excited about the inevitability of Southside Roch when the draft is still five months away. This is the time to get excited though. Draft nerds like me will always be excited about landing a number one pick. Landing the top choice in this particularly draft though brought extra appeal because players like this just aren’t commonly available in the baseball draft.
It’s true that the draft is months away and it’s also true that Mike Shirley and his amateur staff will do all of the due diligence necessary to make the correct choice. It would be a massive upset if the White Sox took anyone other than Roch Cholowsky at this point though. The franchise needs a star and this is an organization changing type player. Chris Getz knows that he needs an aircraft carrier and all of the losing in recent years could pay off in July.
Chris Getz nearly mentioned Cholowsky by name on a podcast earlier this winter with Chuck Garfien. Sox’ marketing boss Brooks Boyer brought him up unprompted with the 108 guys at their post Soxfest event last month as well. I don’t know if the club already has the Roch Cholowsky jerseys printed but the odds are pretty solid that he’ll be the starting shortstop for the Pale Hose on Polish Heritage Night in 2027.
Mini-Mock Draft
1. Chicago White Sox: Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA
The White Sox take the best player in the class and sign him to the largest bonus in draft history. They’ll still have some money to play with throughout however and local product Landon Thome is already being rumored as a prime target in the second round. Jim Thome works for the organization, the club took a player from Nazareth Academy last year and the club loves their own Area Code Team players as well.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Grady Emerson, SS, Fort Worth Christian HS (TX)
This should be a debate for Tampa Bay but Emerson would be the best player available in most classes. The 6-2, 180 pounder is a no doubt shortstop with a plus hit tool and 25 home run potential. The Rays have a ton of pool space and nothing can be ruled out here but this pick should be an easy one.
3. Minnesota Twins: Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama
Lebron is a great consolation prize for a team with the third overall pick. There are hit tool concerns here due to chase rate but Lebron is a definite shortstop loaded with plus tools. He possesses big bat speed in a power and speed combo.
4. San Francisco Giants: Jackson Flora, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Flora is expected to be the top college pitcher off the board in July and he doesn’t turn 21 until May. The Gauchos product is 6-5, 205 pounds with premium velocity, a plus breaker and feel to pitch. The righty is physical with projection remaining and he’s off to a hot start so far.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
The Pirates have plenty of pool space to play with here as they have two extra draft picks. Burress fits their timeline with a young core of players in the big leagues matriculating soon.
6. Kansas City Royals: Carson Bolemon, LHP, Southside Christian HS (SC)
Brian Bridges won’t be afraid to take a prep lefty in the first round. Bolemon is a 19-year-old southpaw who dominated the showcase circuit with premium stuff. He’s a projectable athlete with a sound delivery as well.
7. Baltimore Orioles: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Another toolshed offensive prospect for the Orioles. The 6-2, 200 pound left-handed hitter should stay in center field as a professional and the multi-sport athlete shows a great left-handed swing with huge power potential.
8. Sacramento A’s: Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
This is a dream scenario for the Athletics as they build a solid stable of young arms who should be quick to the big leagues. Flukey is a big, physical righty with a premium fastball and multiple plus offerings.
9. Atlanta Braves: Gio Rojas, LHP, Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
The Braves have taken prep pitchers in the first round before and Rojas might be the best one in the class. The 6-4, 190 pound southpaw possesses a high 90’s fastball with a plus sweeping slider. Rojas looks like a future frontline starter.
10. Colorado Rockies: Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep HS (FL)
This is a great outcome for the Rockies in this spot. As a club with an extra pick, Colorado can likely float a player to this spot. Lombard is a definite shortstop with massive raw power. He could be the best player from this class but the floor is low too due to some hit tool concerns.
11. Washington Nationals: Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford HS (AL)
17-year-old prospect who is a reclass from 2017 and fits a similar profile to 2025 #1 overall pick Eli Willits. The Alabama prep is a switch-hitter with an advanced approach and power potential. Maniscalco should stay at shortstop long-term as well.
12. Los Angeles Angels: Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Peterson should be a quick moving righty and this fits what the Angels have done in recent years. The 6-5, 205 pound right hander possesses plus stuff and he’s young for the class.
13. St. Louis Cardinals: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
Curiel could end up higher than this but the Cardinals can slide a prospect with their extra pool space. The LSU star could stay in center field and he can really hit. The draft-eligible sophomore hits left-handed and possesses power upside as well.
Is there a chance that one of the teams behind the Sox offer Roch more than the Sox? Could that be an issue or can the Sox still pick him and he holds out for more money?
I believe that if the Sox draft him and he turns them down he’d have to wait another year and they’d get the number 1 pick next year. That happened to the Astros a number of years ago. But if the Sox draft him they’ll already have talked with him and the money will have been discussed. Either way, no other team would get the chance to draft him this year.