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Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 8White Sox Weigh 3 Players for No. 1 Pick in 2026 MLB Draft
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 8Summary
- Chicago will choose first at 1:00 EST on Saturday, with ESPN reporting the White Sox are down to three finalists for the 2026 MLB Draft's top pick.
- Roch Cholowsky and Grady Emerson are viewed as the leading options, with evaluators calling the two shortstops essentially a coin flip for No. 1.
- Emerson's case rests on his youth and natural hitting ability, while Cholowsky is seen as the most polished college shortstop in at least a decade.
- Vahn Lackey remains in the mix as a safer high-floor alternative — an elite defensive catcher with upper-echelon exit velocity.
Insights
College star or prep phenom: who will the White Sox bet their future on with the first overall pick? Does Chicago's surprising success favor the MLB-ready prospect over the player with the highest long-term ceiling?