Who Will The Chicago White Sox Take? MLB Draft 2026 Deep Dive
Who Will The Chicago White Sox Take? MLB Draft 2026 Deep Dive
A deep dive into who the Chicago White Sox are likely to select with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft and how it fits their rebuild.
The Chicago White Sox have an opportunity to draft the next face of the franchise with the 2026 No. 1 pick, and for the South Siders, it can’t come soon enough.
It wasn’t that long ago when the White Sox looked poised to dominate the American League Central in the 2020s. Armed with a nucleus of Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez, the White Sox had the backbone of a competitive franchise with players under team control.
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Fast forward and Cease is long gone, traded after the 2023 season, and now a Toronto Blue Jay. Jiménez, a 2020 Silver Slugger at 23, was traded in 2024 for next to nothing and will try to make the Blue Jays roster this year after not playing an inning of Major League Baseball in 2025.
Then there’s Robert. Once viewed as the next superstar when he debuted in 2020 and mentioned in the same sentence as Ronald Acuña Jr., Robert signed a big extension with the White Sox. After an All-Star 2023 season, Robert has produced 1.4 WAR over the last two seasons and played in a total of 210 games.
He had been on the trade block seemingly since the moment Cease was dealt. But after his 2025 season with a .223/.297/.364 slash line, he’d never had a lower value. The New York Mets answered the White Sox's trade demands and sent prospects Truman Pauley and Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Ronald, and a former Top 100 prospect.
These three players — and did we mention Garrett Crochet? — reflect more than anyone else what has happened with the White Sox. Just 60 wins in 2025. Chicago lost more games than any team in the modern history of baseball in 2024 with 121 losses. The 2023 team won 61 games.
The amazing thing about the 2024 debacle is the White Sox weren’t allowed to get a top-10 pick in 2025 because they had won a draft lottery pick the year before.
Well, now they got it and then some with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
And lucky for them, it’s shaping up to be a rather easy pick. Let’s dive into the Chicago White Sox’s 2026 draft plan.
What The Chicago White Sox Roster Has Now
The White Sox surprised some in baseball by landing one of the best young Japanese hitters in a while with a two-year, $34 million deal for outfielder Munetaka Murakami. He was a Triple Crown winner in Japan in 2022 and is one of the most popular players in his home country.
Murakami’s signing, though short term, was a sign that maybe the White Sox are turning the corner on this rebuild. Shortstop Colson Montgomery was one of their top prospects last year and debuted in 2025, playing 71 games and hitting 21 home runs.
Kyle Teel also debuted; he was the headliner in the Crochet deal. The catcher hit .273 in 78 games for Chicago.
There is a lot to like about the White Sox’s young core to start the season, and that’s not even mentioning that the other big piece of the Crochet trade, Braden Montgomery, could push to make the big league roster. He’s the White Sox’s No. 1-ranked prospect and starred for Texas A&M at the 2024 College Baseball Showdown.
“I want to be a big leaguer” - @b_mont_
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Montgomery would join another former top prospect when he debuts in Edgar Quero, who debuted himself in 2025, playing in 111 games.
What The Chicago White Sox Farm System Looks Like
The White Sox farm system ranked No. 17 at the end of the 2025 season, but that’s because Teel, Braden Montgomery and Colson Montgomery all debuted. The White Sox started 2025 with the No. 6 farm system.
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It’s not surprising to see most MLB teams having loads of talent at shortstop, one of the most-drafted everyday positions there is. But the White Sox not only had Colson Montgomery just debut, but two of the top three players in the system are shortstops: 2025 No. 10 pick Billy Carlson (19) and Caleb Bonemer (20). Neither may be ready to contribute until 2027 or 2028, though.
The bright spots for the White Sox’s system could be a pair of stud pitchers ready to debut in 2026. Noah Schultz, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound lefty, was the first high school pitcher the White Sox took in the first round in 21 years when they drafted him in 2022. He had a strong 2024 season, and now at 22, he and his 99 mph fastball are going to push to make the team. He’s the No. 2-ranked prospect for the White Sox.
Behind him is former College Baseball Showdown standout Hagen Smith, the Sox’s No. 5-ranked prospect and another lefty. Smith starred for Arkansas at the 2024 College Baseball Showdown, where he obliterated Oregon State in his start. Taken fifth overall in 2024, Smith reached Double-A in 2025 and had a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts. There’s a good chance we see him sooner rather than later in Chicago.
Who Will The Chicago White Sox Take In The 2026 MLB Draft?
Well, this might be the easiest projection in the draft this year. The White Sox will take Roch Cholowsky of UCLA and not look back. Sure, you have Colson Montgomery, who was just called up. Yes, you have Billy Carlson and Caleb Bonemer already in the system. Someone is probably changing positions in the future because Cholowsky is the consensus No. 1 pick on just about every mock draft and the No. 1 prospect on FloBaseball’s composite rankings.
Cholowsky, 21 at the time of the draft, is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound shortstop who was never drafted out of high school. Baseball America calls Cholowsky “one of the best college shortstop prospects in years.” He has hit .333/.446/.618 with 31 home runs and 31 doubles in two seasons at UCLA. He’s also a plus defender.
He is also someone who very well could be ready to join the big league club in 2027, given the trends of other top prospects. Last year, four of the top eight players taken debuted in the majors, with Nick Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick, winning the American League Rookie of the Year award. The No. 20 pick that year, Trey Yesavage, was arguably the best pitcher in the American League during the playoffs and started two World Series games.
How To Watch Roch Cholowsky And UCLA Baseball At The College Baseball Series
The No.1-ranked UCLA Bruins will face their toughest non-conference slate in the third week of the College Baseball Series when they play Texas A&M, Tennessee and Mississippi State at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
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Every game of the three-week College Baseball Series, which include the Shriner College Baseball Showdown to start the season on Feb. 13, is streaming on FloCollege, FloBaseball and the FloSports app.
2026 Shriners Children’s Baseball Showdown
Feb. 13, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech
- 4:00 PM ET: TCU vs. Vanderbilt
- 8:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. Arkansas
Feb. 14, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt
- 4:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. Oklahoma
- 8:00 PM ET: Arkansas vs. TCU
Feb. 15, 2026
- 11:30 AM ET: Vanderbilt vs. Oklahoma St
- 3:30 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas
- 7:30 PM ET: TCU vs. Oklahoma
College Baseball Series In Surprise, Arizona
Feb. 13, 2026
- 4:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St
- 8:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Arizona
Feb. 14, 2026
- 4:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Oregon St
- 8:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Stanford
Feb. 15, 2026
- 2:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Oregon St
- 6:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Michigan
Feb. 16, 2026
- 2:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St
Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2
Feb. 20, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Florida St
- 4:00 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Louisville
- 8:00 PM ET: Auburn vs. Kansas St
Feb. 21, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Louisville vs. Michigan
- 4:00 PM ET: Florida St vs. Auburn
- 8:00 PM ET: Kansas St vs. Nebraska
Feb. 22, 2026
- 11:30 AM ET: Auburn vs. Louisville
- 3:30 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Florida St
- 7:30 PM ET: Michigan vs. Kansas St
Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3
Feb. 27, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Mississippi St
- 4:00 PM ET: UCLA vs. Tennessee
- 8:00 PM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&M
Feb. 28, 2026
- 12:00 PM ET: Tennessee vs. Arizona St
- 4:00 PM ET: Mississippi St vs. Virginia Tech
- 8:00 PM ET: Texas A&M vs. UCLA
Mar. 1, 2026
- 11:30 AM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
- 3:30 PM ET: UCLA vs. Mississippi St
- 7:30 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Texas A&M
When Is The 2026 MLB Draft?
The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-July 14.
2026 MLB Draft Order
- Chicago White Sox
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Minnesota Twins
- San Francisco Giants
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Kansas City Royals
- Baltimore Orioles
- Oakland Athletics
- Atlanta Braves
- Colorado Rockies
- Washington Nationals
- Los Angeles Angels
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Miami Marlins
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Texas Rangers
- Houston Astros
- Cincinnati Reds
- Cleveland Guardians
- Boston Red Sox
- San Diego Padres
- Detroit Tigers
- Chicago Cubs
- Seattle Mariners
- Milwaukee Brewers
The 2026 MLB Draft Top 100 Prospects
Rank Name Position Age School Commitment
1 Roch Cholowsky SS 20 UCLA --
2 Grady Emerson SS 17 Fort Worth Christian Texas
3 Justin Lebron SS 21 Alabama --
4 Jacob Lombard SS 18 Gulliver Prep Miami
5 Derek Curiel OF 20 LSU --
6 Tyler Spangler SS 18 De La Salle Stanford
7 Liam Peterson RHP 20 Florida --
8 Sawyer Strosnider OF 20 TCU --
9 Cameron Flukey RHP 20 Coastal Carolina --
10 Drew Burress OF 21 Georgia Tech --
11 AJ Gracia OF 21 Virginia --
12 Carson Bolemon LHP 18 Southside Christian Wake Forest
13 Gio Rojas LHP 18 Stoneman Douglas Miami
14 Ace Reese 3B 20 Mississippi State --
15 Jackson Flora RHP 20 UC Santa Barbara --
16 Chris Hacopian SS 21 Texas A&M --
17 Eric Becker SS 20 Virginia --
18 Tyler Bell SS 20 Kentucky --
19 Vahn Lackey C 20 Georgia Tech --
20 Logan Schmidt LHP 17 Ganesha LSU
21 Coleman Borthwick RHP 17 South Walton Auburn
22 Caden Sorrell OF 20 Texas A&M --
23 Blake Bowen OF 17 JSerra Oregon State
24 Chris Rembert 2B 20 Auburn --
25 Jensen Hirschkorn RHP 17 Kingsburg LSU
26 Gavin Grahovac 3B 20 Texas A&M --
27 Brady Harris OF 17 Trinity Christian Florida
28 Trevor Condon OF 17 Etowah Tennessee
29 Aiden Ruiz SS 18 The Stony Brook Vanderbilt
30 Gabe Gaeckle RHP 21 Arkansas --
31 Eric Booth OF 17 Oak Gove Vanderbilt
32 Kaden Waechter RHP 18 Jesuit Florida State
33 Caden Bogenpohl OF 20 Missouri State --
34 Will Brick C 17 Christian Brothers Mississippi State
35 Joseph Contreras RHP 17 Blessed Trinity Vanderbilt
36 Tegan Kuhns RHP 20 Tennessee --
37 Zion Rose OF 20 Louisville --
38 Savion Sims RHP 18 Prestonwood Christian Oklahoma
39 Maddox Molony SS 21 Oregon --
40 Joey Volchko RHP 20 Georgia --
41 Jarren Advincula 2B 20 Georgia Tech --
42 Cole Carlon LHP 20 Arizona State --
43 Chase Brunson OF 20 TCU --
44 Rocco Maniscalco SS 16 Oxford Mississippi State
45 Ryder Helfrick C 20 Arkansas --
46 Tommy LaPour RHP 20 TCU --
47 Ryan Lynch RHP 20 North Carolina --
48 Cole Koeninger SS/RHP 18 Keller Tennessee
49 Beau Peterson 3B 18 Mill Valley Texas
50 Landon Thome 2B/3B 18 Nazareth Academy Florida State
51 Lucas Moore OF 20 Louisville --
52 Daniel Cuvet 3B 20 Miami --
53 Denton Lord RHP 18 South Walton --
54 Kevin Roberts OF 17 Jackson Prep Florida
55 James Clark SS 18 St. John Bosco Princeton
56 Connor Comeau SS/3B 17 Anderson Texas A&M
57 Andrew Costello C 18 Cathedral Prep Wake Forest
58 Trey Rangel RHP 18 The Colony Texas
59 Jake McCoy LHP 20 South Carolina --
60 Keon Johnson SS 17 First Presbyterian --
61 Eli Herst RHP 17 Seattle Academy Vanderbilt
62 Henry Ford OF 21 Tennessee --
63 Blake Bryant RHP 18 Citizen Christian Clemson
64 Jason DeCaro RHP 19 North Carolina --
65 Gavin Gallaher 3B 21 North Carolina --
66 Archer Horn SS 17 St. Ignatius Stanford
67 Trey Beard LHP 21 Florida Atlantic --
68 Cooper Sides RHP 18 Orange Lutheran LSU
69 Sean Duncan LHP 17 Terry Fox (Canada) Vanderbilt
70 Hunter Dietz LHP 20 Arkansas --
71 Ethan Bass SS 18 Glenbrook North Wake Forest
72 Noah Wilson OF 18 McCallie Vanderbilt
73 Carson Tinney C 20 Texas --
74 Shane Sdao LHP 22 Texas A&M --
75 Aidan Knaak RHP 21 Clemson --
76 Owen Kramkowski RHP 20 Arizona --
77 Kade Lewis 1B 20 Wake Forest --
78 Gary Morse RHP 18 Orange Lutheran Tennessee
79 Tre Broussard OF 20 Houston --
80 Jorvorskie Lane OF 17 Grapevine Arkansas
81 Matt Ponatoski SS 17 Moeller Kentucky
82 Jake Brown OF 20 LSU --
83 Malachi Washington OF 17 Parkview LSU
84 Logan Hughes OF 20 Texas Tech --
85 Steven Milam SS/2B 21 LSU --
86 Brady Ballinger 1B 20 Kansas --
87 Blake Morningstar RHP 20 Wake Forest --
88 Ethan Kleinschmit LHP 20 Oregon State --
89 Brett Renfrow RHP 20 Virginia Tech --
90 Will Yow SS 18 St. Anne's-Belfield Virginia
91 Ricky Ojeda LHP 20 UC Irvine --
92 Dominic Santarelli 1B 18 St. Joseph --
93 Andrew Williamson OF 20 Central Florida --
94 Wilson Andersen RHP 17 Jesuit Mississippi State
95 Jason Amalbert SS 18 DePaul Oklahoma
96 Ethan Norby LHP 20 East Carolina --
97 Cade Townsend RHP 20 Mississippi --
98 Alex Hernandez 2B/OF 20 Georgia Tech --
99 Wes Mendes LHP 21 Florida State --
100 Cole Prosek 3B 18 Magnolia Heights Mississippi
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