The Draft

Yesterday, the White Sox won the draft lottery by securing the number one overall pick. UCLA shortstop and former golden spikes winner Roch Cholowksy is the likely pick at number one for Chicago. Cholowsky, who turns 21 in April, is coming off a 23-homer season with a 1.190 OPS for the Bruins. His advanced skill set is undeniably additive for any team, even those with established shortstops like the White Sox, who saw Colson Montgomery hit 21 home runs in just 71 games last year. He is undoubtedly set to make an immediate impact with any team he lands with. Cholowsky and the bruins are set for one final season, looking to match what they did last year and make the College Baseball World Series, and win it all. 

Reflection

The White Sox winning the draft lottery adds a new layer of excitement to the upcoming MLB draft, especially with a talent like Roch Cholowsky projected to go first overall. His combination of power, maturity, and production at UCLA makes him a rare college prospect who can impact a franchise immediately. Even with Chicago already having a promising young shortstop in Colson Montgomery, Cholowsky’s upside is too strong to ignore, showing how truly special his skill set is. It’s also interesting to see how his final season at UCLA will unfold, as he and the Bruins chase a College World Series title.