Chicago White Sox: Top draft pick hesitant to join

Imagn Images

Chicago White Sox: Top draft pick hesitant to join

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Apr 28, 2026 6:21 PM ET

The Chicago White Sox are set to have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

They might not get the No. 1 prospect.

UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is projected by most scouts to be the best player in the upcoming draft. However, Bob Nightengale of USA Today suggested some scouts favor Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey or Texas high school athlete Grady Emerson as the best player.

During an appearance on The Score’s “Mully & Haugh” show, Nightengale said Cholowsky has his doubts about joining the White Sox because of money.

“Works two ways too. He’s got to want to be in the White Sox, and he’s got to, they have to agree to the right signing bonus too. If he has some team say, you know what, we’ll give you about $4 million more than the slot. Well, he can tell the White Sox, ‘I’m not coming, I’m waiting for another team.’”

Chicago White Sox would have to pay Roch Cholowsky

Jun 17, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) throws to first base against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the third inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

Nightengale thinks Cholowsky could use the lockout as leverage and play baseball in Japan before reentering the draft.

“I think it’s just about money,” Nightengale said. “It’s like, okay, I know what the slot value will be, but what if I have some other teams giving me a bunch more money, a slot?

“He can certainly tell the White Sox, ‘Hey, I’m not signing with you guys. You’re going to waste your pick.’ So he can certainly do that. We’ve seen that before.”

The White Sox have some leverage over the college kid. But not as much as NFL teams have over prospects before the draft.

It would be embarrassing for Chicago to miss out on the best player because ownership is cheap. But that’s a real possibility with Cholowsky.

Still, there are other good options in the draft, and the White Sox could be happy taking Lackey or Emerson.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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