The post White Sox to select 1st overall in 2026 MLB Draft appeared first on Sox On 35th.
The White Sox had the best odds to get the first overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft Lottery at 27%. And, if you believe in miracles, the organization certainly got one today.
This evening marked the fourth time Major League Baseball has held a Draft Lottery, and previously, the White Sox have selected 15th (Jacob Gonzalez – 2023), 5th (Hagen Smith – 2024), and 10th (Billy Carlson – 2025).
For the third time in team history, the White Sox own the first overall pick in the MLB Draft.
This is the first time the White Sox will pick first in the draft since they selected Harold Baines in 1977 and just the third time in team history (shoutout to Danny Goodwin in 1971, who was technically the first ever to be selected first overall by the White Sox, but didn’t sign with the team).
Who could the White Sox pick 1st Overall?
The overwhelming favorite to be the #1 overall pick: UCLA SS Roch Cholowsky, who is considered to be one of the best draft prospects in recent memory. He features a unique combination of speed, power, and defense, and in his sophomore season, he hit .353/.480/.710 with 23 homers in 66 games. He was also strong two years ago as a freshman, hitting .308/.399/.500 across 52 games. He was a semi-finalist for the 2025 Golden Spikes award, and is widely viewed as the pre-season favorite to win the award in 2026. Some scouts view him as the best college position player draft prospect since Troy Tulowitzki in 2005.
If the White Sox end up going in a different direction, Texas Prep SS Grady Emerson and Alabama SS Justin Lebron are widely viewed as the next best prospects in the 2026 draft class. Emerson is seen as one of the best pure hitters in the draft, who can also hit for solid power and has an excellent glove at the shortstop position. Lebron was one of the most dynamic players in college baseball last season, slashing .316/.421/.636 with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases. He is a better athlete than Cholowsky, and while he has some more questions about his hit tool when turning pro, his ceiling might be just as high.
A couple of darkhorses to also keep an eye on are LSU OF Drew Burress and Coastal Carolina RHP Cameron Flukey. Burress was one of the most productive hitters in college baseball last season. He was a semi-finalist for the 2025 Golden Spikes award, slashing .333/.469/.693 with 19 home runs and 10 stolen bases. His stock would likely be higher if he weren’t undersized, as he is listed at just 5’9. Flukey, on the other hand, is a 6’6 righty who can spin the baseball as well as anyone in this class. After a shaky freshman season, he solidified himself as the ace of the Chanticleers staff, holding a 3.19 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 101.2 innings. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, can throw a plus curveball that has a ton of downward break, and also can mix in a slider and a changeup that are above-average offerings.
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Featured Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The post White Sox to select 1st overall in 2026 MLB Draft appeared first on Sox On 35th.