White Sox Draft Cole Prosek with 41st Pick in 2026 MLB Draft
FutureSox
After selecting Roch Cholowsky and Landon Thome with their first two picks, the White Sox remained focused on offense at No. 41.
Chicago selected Magnolia Heights, Mississippi second baseman Cole Prosek with the first pick of the second round in the 2026 MLB Draft. The official designation does not fully capture his defensive background. Prosek played across the infield and spent meaningful time behind the plate during his senior season.
MLB Pipeline ranked Prosek No. 27 in the class and Over-Slot had him at No. 45. ESPN placed him No. 30 while Just Baseball ranked him No. 31. Perfect Game had him No. 35 and Baseball America ranked him No. 39.
Prosek also earned recognition from Baseball America as one of the best high school hitters in the draft. His spring pushed him from No. 102 to No. 39 on the publication’s final board.
The White Sox viewed Prosek and Thome as the best left-handed high school bats remaining. Getz called Prosek “a special young bat with power” after the selection.
One of the Best Prep Bats in the South
Prosek finished his senior season with a .585 batting average and 18 home runs. He collected 76 hits and 19 doubles while driving in 79 runs.
At the MLB Draft Combine, Prosek recorded a 96.2 mph average exit velocity. His 90th-percentile mark reached 104.9 mph. Those numbers showed that his strength and bat speed translated against the rest of the draft class.
The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter has a simple operation at the plate. He uses a moderate leg kick before turning quickly through the baseball. His hands stay strong through contact and help him drive mistakes to the pull side.
Prosek’s bat path produces natural loft without forcing him into an all-or-nothing approach. He can drive pitches to the opposite field, though most of his home run damage comes when he gets the barrel out front.
Baseball America assigned 55 grades to his hit and power tools. Some evaluators believe he could eventually produce 25 home runs if both reach their higher projections.
Prosek’s offensive track record began well before his senior spring. He produced throughout the underclass circuit and continued hitting during major showcase events in 2025. Perfect Game named him MVP of its All-American Classic, where he performed against many of the best pitchers in the class.
His approach will require refinement. Prosek is aggressive and can expand the strike zone when he becomes too focused on pulling the baseball. The Athletic recorded a 25% miss rate during tracked events, which was higher than expected for a hitter with his reputation.
The broader record still supports the hit tool. Prosek did not pair that aggression with a concerning strikeout history. His barrel control allows him to cover enough of the zone to survive mistakes in pitch selection.
Chicago will likely work on narrowing those decisions without removing the intent that creates his power.
A Championship Career at Magnolia Heights
Prosek played for a Magnolia Heights program that has won eight consecutive MAIS championships. He delivered some of his best performances with a title at stake.
He homered twice during the 2025 championship game. One year later, Prosek went deep again and earned the complete-game victory on the mound as Magnolia Heights secured another title.
His fastball reached 93 mph during his time as a pitcher. That arm strength also gives the White Sox several defensive options.
Prosek earned Mississippi Player of the Year recognition from Gatorade, MaxPreps and Prep Baseball after his senior season. Baseball America later named him a first-team High School All-American.
The consistent production helped separate him from hitters who built their draft stock during one strong spring. Prosek had already performed against national competition before finishing his career with one of the loudest offensive seasons in the country.
Baseball also runs through his family. Prosek is the nephew of Milwaukee Brewers third-base coach Matt Erickson. That background gave him early exposure to professional instruction and the daily demands of the sport.
Prosek was committed to Ole Miss. Had he attended college, he would have been eligible for the draft again as a sophomore in 2028.
Where Does Prosek Play?
The White Sox announced Prosek as a second baseman, but his defensive development could move in several directions.
His hands and arm give him a chance to handle second base. The concern is whether he has enough lateral quickness to remain in the middle of the infield. Several evaluators believe third base is a cleaner fit.
Catcher presents the most interesting alternative.
Prosek spent significant time behind the plate during his senior season and handled enough quality pitching for scouts to consider the position a legitimate option. Baseball America viewed him as a real catching prospect. Over-Slot noted that several scouts submitted him to their clubs at the position.
The potential reward is a left-handed catcher with Prosek’s offensive ability would carry considerable value. His arm already fits behind the plate.
The development required would be substantial. Prosek has limited experience receiving high-level velocity and professional breaking pitches. Catching would also place more physical strain on a player whose bat is already his best attribute.
Other evaluators preferred third base for that reason. Keeping Prosek in the infield could allow the offense to advance without the added workload of learning to catch.
Chicago can delay the final decision. Prosek could work at second base and third while continuing to receive catching instruction at the Arizona complex. His performance behind the plate will determine whether the possible positional value is worth the added development time.
Regardless of where he settles, the White Sox selected the hitter first.
From Draft Riser to Second-Round Pick
Prosek began the spring with a strong offensive reputation but was not viewed everywhere as a top-40 prospect.
The 18 home runs answered questions about whether his strength would translate into game power. His continued contact success gave teams confidence that the production was not dependent on selling out for home runs.
By draft day, Prosek was receiving consideration from the back of the first round through the middle of the second. Chicago selected him in a range that matched the broader industry evaluation.
His final rankings also show how widely opinions varied. MLB Pipeline believed he belonged near the end of the first round. The Athletic ranked him No. 58. Most major outlets placed him between those two points.
The disagreement centered more on defensive position than offensive ability. Nearly every evaluation began with the belief that Prosek could hit.
Fitting in the Totality of the White Sox Draft Class
Prosek completed a run of three position players to open Chicago’s draft.
Selecting Prosek also continued Chicago’s recent investment in high school hitters. Caleb Bonemer, Billy Carlson and Jaden Fauske entered the organization through the draft before Prosek joined the group.
Prosek turned 19 shortly before the draft, which makes him older than many high school players in the class. His years of showcase experience could help shorten the adjustment to professional pitching.
The No. 41 selection carries a slot value of $2,446,100. His signing bonus has not been reported.
Prosek will likely begin his professional career at the Arizona complex after signing. The White Sox can use that time to evaluate him at several positions without rushing him into a full-season assignment.
His defensive home will shape the final profile. The reason Chicago selected him is already clear. The White Sox believe his bat can carry him.
