- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,193,086
- Reaction score
- 59
It’s been an up-and-down past few months for UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Cholowsky wrapped up his UCLA Bruin career with another terrific season but after a less than ideal showing in the NCAA tournament, there’s questions if Cholowsky will be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s MLB Draft.
We’ll be finding out soon enough where Cholowsky is headed, with the draft just two weeks away. MLB.com dropped Cholowsky in their ranking of 2026 MLB Draft prospects, with high school shortstop Grady Emerson moving ahead of Cholowsky for the No. 1 spot.
Even with Cholowsky in the No. 2 spot in MLB.com’s ranking, USA TODAY still projects for the UCLA infielder to go first overall to the Chicago White Sox. USA TODAY writer Gabe Lacques has Emerson going after Cholowsky, with the Tampa Bay Rays snagging him with the second overall pick.
While Cholowsky didn’t close out his college career the way he wanted to, Lacques still sees the talent.
“All indications are the White Sox are still deliberating this pick, and due diligence and bonus pool gymnastics – they have the third-highest lump to distribute, $17.592 million - will always transpire up until go time,” Lacques said. “In the end, the virtually minimal risk drafting a shovel-ready college shortstop instead of a catcher or prep shortstop should prevail.”
For his Bruin career, Cholowsky batted .329 with 52 home runs and 167 runs batted in over 178 games with UCLA. Regardless of who selects Cholowsky, the team will be receiving a high-floor option at shortstop that could develop into a future All-Star.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Roch Cholowsky drops in MLB.com's rankings, still projected to go first
Continue reading...
We’ll be finding out soon enough where Cholowsky is headed, with the draft just two weeks away. MLB.com dropped Cholowsky in their ranking of 2026 MLB Draft prospects, with high school shortstop Grady Emerson moving ahead of Cholowsky for the No. 1 spot.
Even with Cholowsky in the No. 2 spot in MLB.com’s ranking, USA TODAY still projects for the UCLA infielder to go first overall to the Chicago White Sox. USA TODAY writer Gabe Lacques has Emerson going after Cholowsky, with the Tampa Bay Rays snagging him with the second overall pick.
While Cholowsky didn’t close out his college career the way he wanted to, Lacques still sees the talent.
“All indications are the White Sox are still deliberating this pick, and due diligence and bonus pool gymnastics – they have the third-highest lump to distribute, $17.592 million - will always transpire up until go time,” Lacques said. “In the end, the virtually minimal risk drafting a shovel-ready college shortstop instead of a catcher or prep shortstop should prevail.”
For his Bruin career, Cholowsky batted .329 with 52 home runs and 167 runs batted in over 178 games with UCLA. Regardless of who selects Cholowsky, the team will be receiving a high-floor option at shortstop that could develop into a future All-Star.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Roch Cholowsky drops in MLB.com's rankings, still projected to go first
Continue reading...
