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White Sox Choose Cholowsky #1; Jim Thome’s Son Drafted

7/13/2026

44 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Chicago White Sox used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, which featured 613 players, to select shortstop Roch Cholowsky from UCLA.
They also drafted Cole Prosek (Magnolia Heights HS, MS), Joey Volchko (Georgia), Eric Segura (Oregon State) and Alex Weingartner (New Jersey).
Landon Thome, listed among the top picks, is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who hit 612 home runs.

History

Historical Context

The MLB amateur draft began on June 8-9 1965 in New York, with the Kansas City Athletics selecting outfielder Rick Monday first overall and signing him for a $104,000 bonus—a response to the $200,000 bidding war that spurred the draft’s creation. By 2026 the Chicago White Sox used the same No. 1 slot, picking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, underscoring the draft’s lasting impact on franchise building.

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Story summary

The Chicago White Sox used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, which featured 613 players, to select shortstop Roch Cholowsky from UCLA.
They also drafted Cole Prosek (Magnolia Heights HS, MS), Joey Volchko (Georgia), Eric Segura (Oregon State) and Alex Weingartner (New Jersey).
Landon Thome, listed among the top picks, is the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, who hit 612 home runs.

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