A survey of 21 scouting industry experts ranks UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the leading candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The Chicago White Sox hold that selection and are expected to choose him according to the poll. The draft is scheduled for July 11-12.
Cholowsky received 13 votes as the top prospect while Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey earned six. High school shortstops Grady Emerson and Jacob Lombard each received one vote for the top spot. Experts described Cholowsky as the best player in the class with a combination of elite performance and tools at a premium position. One scouting director said he has separated himself as a near-ready Major League shortstop. The White Sox are viewed as likely to select Cholowsky with 15 votes in his favor. Emerson received three votes as their possible choice while Jacob Lombard and Vahn Lackey each got one or two. The overall class received an average grade of just over 50 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale with comments noting strong depth but inconsistent performance from some college players.