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White Sox Sign No. 1 Pick Cholowsky to Record $10.35 M Deal

7/15/2026

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Summary

White Sox Sign

Chicago White Sox signed No. 1 overall 2026 MLB Draft pick Roch Cholowsky to a rookie contract with a $10.35 million bonus on July 14, 2026, below the $11,350,600 slot value.
The $10.35 million bonus broke the previous $9.25 million record set by Chase Burns and Charlie Condon in the 2024 draft.
Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and a 1.088 OPS in 2026, prompting GM Chris Getz to praise his college impact.

Summary

White Sox Draft

The White Sox selected 11 players in MLB Pipeline’s Top-250, showing depth beyond the No. 1 pick.
Their bonus pool topped $20 million, letting the club apply over $1 million saved from Cholowsky’s deal to later-round signings like Landon Thome and Cole Prosek.
Scouting director Mike Shirley said the team will likely pass on 20th-rounder Connor Fennell unless a medical issue opens a slot, while expecting to sign 20 of the 21 drafted players.

History

Historical Context

After the COVID-shortened 2020 draft—held June 10-11 and remote—Detroit, the league’s worst team in 2019, signed first-overall pick Spencer Torkelson on June 30 for a significant record $8.4 million bonus, the highest signing bonus in MLB draft history. In 2026 the Chicago White Sox offered Roch Cholowsky $10.35 million, $1.95 million above the 2020 record.

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White Sox Sign

Chicago White Sox signed No. 1 overall 2026 MLB Draft pick Roch Cholowsky to a rookie contract with a $10.35 million bonus on July 14, 2026, below the $11,350,600 slot value.
The $10.35 million bonus broke the previous $9.25 million record set by Chase Burns and Charlie Condon in the 2024 draft.
Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and a 1.088 OPS in 2026, prompting GM Chris Getz to praise his college impact.

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