The 2026 MLB Draft is officially underway, with the Chicago White Sox opening the first round by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.
Chicago White Sox Select Roch Cholowsky First Overall
The White Sox Decision: Cholowsky Over Emerson
The No. 1 overall pick carried heavy anticipation, with the Chicago White Sox ultimately choosing Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA. According to MLB Pipeline, there were strong advocates for both Cholowsky and high school standout Grady Emerson, the Fort Worth Christian School (TX) shortstop who had surged into the top spot on draft rankings in late June.
While scouts reportedly favored the high-ceiling prep talent of Emerson, front-office leadership appeared to prioritize the more refined, collegiate-ready profile of Cholowsky, a Golden Spikes Award finalist. Following the White Sox’s selection, Emerson was taken second overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Pipeline analysts Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis noted that if Cholowsky went first, the Rays’ selection of Emerson seemed as close to certain as possible at the top of the draft.
First-Round Picks by Minnesota, San Francisco, and Pittsburgh
First-Round Selections Across the League
The first round featured a variety of collegiate and prep talent across the league. Following the top two picks, the Minnesota Twins selected Vahn Lackey, a catcher from Georgia Tech, followed by the San Francisco Giants, who chose UC Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora. The Pittsburgh Pirates opted for LSU outfielder Derek Curiel, while the Kansas City Royals selected University of Louisville outfielder Zion Rose. The Baltimore Orioles chose Oak Grove High School (MS) outfielder Eric Booth Jr., and the Athletics selected Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress.
Other notable first-round selections included University of Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia to the Atlanta Braves, University of Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell to the Colorado Rockies, and Texas A&M second baseman Chris Hacopian to the Washington Nationals. The Los Angeles Angels selected Huntington Beach High School (CA) left-handed pitcher/outfielder Jared Grindlinger, while the St. Louis Cardinals picked Etowah High School (GA) outfielder Trevor Condon. The Miami Marlins selected Gulliver Prep (FL) shortstop Jacob Lombard, the Arizona Diamondbacks chose University of Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, and the Texas Rangers took Stoneman Douglas High School (FL) left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas.
Texas Rangers Manage Speculation Regarding Gio Rojas
Uncertainty Surrounding Draft Class Depth
Heading into the draft, major outlets offered widely varying projections, highlighting the depth and unpredictability of the 2026 class. The Texas Rangers’ selection of Gio Rojas at No. 16 followed significant speculation; other major draft outlets had linked the Rangers to various players, including University of Arkansas lefty Hunter Dietz, University of Florida right-hander Liam Peterson, and University of Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron. Keith Law’s final mock draft had also mentioned Ole Miss right-hander Taylor Rabe as a possibility for the Rangers.
As the draft moves into its second day, Sunday, July 12, coverage for rounds 5–20 is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on MLB.com, MLB.TV, and MLB+. Teams continue to evaluate their remaining bonus pool money and slot values as established by MLB Pipeline to finalize their rosters for the coming season.
