- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,199,361
- Reaction score
- 59
Roch Cholowsky has been the consensus No. 1 prospect going into the 2026 MLB Draft.
Those projections held true on Saturday when the Chicago White Sox drafted Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Before Cholowsky, right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole was the only UCLA player in history to be drafted with the first overall pick in MLB history when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in 2011.
Coming out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, Cholowsky was considered a potential first-round pick for the 2023 MLB Draft. However, Cholowsky ultimately decide to play three seasons in college at UCLA instead.
“I feel like I’m ready now,” Cholowsky said, per MLB. “The last three years went by very fast, but it’s been a long three years of growing up and learning a lot about the game and learning a lot about myself. I feel like I’m ready to take the next step with my career.”
A star shortstop for UCLA, Cholowsky helped the Bruins become the nation’s No. 1 ranked team all season long in 2026. He also helped UCLA reach the Men’s College World Series for the first time in 12 years in 2025.
Cholowsky was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons as a sophomore and junior. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and won the Brooks Wallace Award given to the nation’s top shortstop in 2025.
This year, he was one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which is USA Baseball’s top amateur player award.
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) completes a double play against the Murray State Racers during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Cholowsky impacted UCLA’s program both on and off the field across the last three years. Now, he will begin his professional career with the White Sox.
Photo Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
The post UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky Goes No. 1 in the 2026 MLB Draft appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
Those projections held true on Saturday when the Chicago White Sox drafted Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Before Cholowsky, right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole was the only UCLA player in history to be drafted with the first overall pick in MLB history when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in 2011.
One of one.
Roch Cholowsky is selected in the #MLBDraft by the Chicago White Sox.#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/8tK9JobBP0
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) July 11, 2026
Coming out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, Cholowsky was considered a potential first-round pick for the 2023 MLB Draft. However, Cholowsky ultimately decide to play three seasons in college at UCLA instead.
“I feel like I’m ready now,” Cholowsky said, per MLB. “The last three years went by very fast, but it’s been a long three years of growing up and learning a lot about the game and learning a lot about myself. I feel like I’m ready to take the next step with my career.”
Cholowsky’s Career at UCLA
A star shortstop for UCLA, Cholowsky helped the Bruins become the nation’s No. 1 ranked team all season long in 2026. He also helped UCLA reach the Men’s College World Series for the first time in 12 years in 2025.
Cholowsky was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons as a sophomore and junior. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and won the Brooks Wallace Award given to the nation’s top shortstop in 2025.
This year, he was one of three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which is USA Baseball’s top amateur player award.
You must be registered for see images attach
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) completes a double play against the Murray State Racers during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Cholowsky impacted UCLA’s program both on and off the field across the last three years. Now, he will begin his professional career with the White Sox.
Photo Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
The post UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky Goes No. 1 in the 2026 MLB Draft appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Continue reading...
