- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,199,451
- Reaction score
- 59
Roch Cholowsky priced himself out of the Major League Baseball draft his senior year at Chandler Hamilton High in 2023. Now, three years later, the UCLA shortstop could be the first overall pick on Saturday, July 11.
When he captured top post-season honors after leading the Huskies to a second straight state title in 2023, Cholowsky was so committed to college that he gave a price tag on how much it would take for him to sign and not attend UCLA to play baseball.
Nobody took him in the 2023 draft.
"He turned down some money out of high school," said Mike Woods, Cholowsky's coach at Hamilton. "A lot of people were like, 'Why did you do that?'
"But Roch believed in himself. He felt that he'd make more after a few years in school and he was right. That's what's cool about the story. He bet on himself and he apparently won."
Cholowky's development in three years at UCLA put him on the fast track in this year's draft.
Most draft analysts have him taken among the first four picks, some as high as No. 1. The Chicago White Sox have the No. 1 pick.
In an ESPN mock draft, it has Cholowsky going No. 1 to the White Sox. Bleacher Report has Cholowsky going second to the Tampa Bay Rays. Major League Baseball predicts it will be between Cholowsky and Grady Emerson — an 18-year-old shortstop out of Fort Worth, Texas — for the top pick with an edge going to Cholowsky.
"I'm not too surprised," Woods said. "I knew he could be a high pick, no doubt."
Cholowsky has a chance to be the sixth Hamilton player to play in the major leagues. The most notable Hamilton alum is outfielder Cody Bellinger, who now plays for the New York Yankees.
Cholowsky isn't the only former Arizona high school baseball player who could go in the two-day draft.
Former Tempe Corona del Sol left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon of Arizona State is projected by MLB to go No. 30 overall to the Kansas City Royals. ESPN has Carlon going at No. 33 to the Rays. Former Mesa Mountain View first baseman Ezra McNaughton, who led BYU in nearly every offensive category last season, could go in the draft.
Queen Creek switch-hitting shortstop Jet Berry, an ASU signee, is among the top Arizona high school players who graduated this year as possible draft picks. ESPN ranks him as the No. 174 draft prospect.
"If he doesn't price himself out of the draft, he would go no later than the third round," Queen Creek coach Mikel Moreno said.
Queen Creek Casteel third baseman Ryne Barker and outfielder Ryan Harwood could hear their names called in the draft. Barker, a Texas Tech signee, is ranked 181st by ESPN. Harwood, a power-hitting 6 feet, 3 inches, 220 pounds, is considered a top-250 draft prospect. He signed with Texas A&M.
Chandler Valley Christian RHP Jaxen Maxey could be a late-round pick.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Hamilton SS Roch Cholowsky could be No. 1 MLB pick
Continue reading...
When he captured top post-season honors after leading the Huskies to a second straight state title in 2023, Cholowsky was so committed to college that he gave a price tag on how much it would take for him to sign and not attend UCLA to play baseball.
Nobody took him in the 2023 draft.
"He turned down some money out of high school," said Mike Woods, Cholowsky's coach at Hamilton. "A lot of people were like, 'Why did you do that?'
"But Roch believed in himself. He felt that he'd make more after a few years in school and he was right. That's what's cool about the story. He bet on himself and he apparently won."
Cholowky's development in three years at UCLA put him on the fast track in this year's draft.
You must be registered for see images attach
Most draft analysts have him taken among the first four picks, some as high as No. 1. The Chicago White Sox have the No. 1 pick.
In an ESPN mock draft, it has Cholowsky going No. 1 to the White Sox. Bleacher Report has Cholowsky going second to the Tampa Bay Rays. Major League Baseball predicts it will be between Cholowsky and Grady Emerson — an 18-year-old shortstop out of Fort Worth, Texas — for the top pick with an edge going to Cholowsky.
"I'm not too surprised," Woods said. "I knew he could be a high pick, no doubt."
Cholowsky has a chance to be the sixth Hamilton player to play in the major leagues. The most notable Hamilton alum is outfielder Cody Bellinger, who now plays for the New York Yankees.
Cholowsky isn't the only former Arizona high school baseball player who could go in the two-day draft.
Former Tempe Corona del Sol left-handed pitcher Cole Carlon of Arizona State is projected by MLB to go No. 30 overall to the Kansas City Royals. ESPN has Carlon going at No. 33 to the Rays. Former Mesa Mountain View first baseman Ezra McNaughton, who led BYU in nearly every offensive category last season, could go in the draft.
Queen Creek switch-hitting shortstop Jet Berry, an ASU signee, is among the top Arizona high school players who graduated this year as possible draft picks. ESPN ranks him as the No. 174 draft prospect.
"If he doesn't price himself out of the draft, he would go no later than the third round," Queen Creek coach Mikel Moreno said.
Queen Creek Casteel third baseman Ryne Barker and outfielder Ryan Harwood could hear their names called in the draft. Barker, a Texas Tech signee, is ranked 181st by ESPN. Harwood, a power-hitting 6 feet, 3 inches, 220 pounds, is considered a top-250 draft prospect. He signed with Texas A&M.
Chandler Valley Christian RHP Jaxen Maxey could be a late-round pick.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Hamilton SS Roch Cholowsky could be No. 1 MLB pick
Continue reading...
