ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reports the White Sox are deciding between UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas prep shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey for the first-overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft.
No real surprises here. Emerson and Cholowsky are basically a coin flip for the top spot with some draft evaluators viewing Emerson as the favorite based on his age and natural hitting ability. He would probably be the top pick in most draft years. Cholowsky is regarded as the most polished collegiate shortstop in at least a decade with a real chance to be above average both at the plate and in the field. Lackey is an elite defensive catcher that also boasts upper echelon exit velocities and would represent the safest high-floor option. The White Sox will go on the clock at 1:00 EST on Saturday afternoon.
