The 2026 MLB Draft Is Two Months Away and the White Sox Have a Huge Call to Make

The 2026 MLB Draft is coming up in two months, and if there is one thing we know for certain right now, it is this: somebody has to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago White Sox. That somebody might be UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel just dropped the first mock draft of the season to break down exactly how this thing could play out.

A Wide Open Race at the Top

This is not some foregone conclusion. The race to go No. 1 overall is suddenly very intriguing, and it stretches all the way through the 40th pick. Plenty of teams still have major decisions ahead of them. High school state tournaments are still unfolding. College baseball postseason is happening right now. Everything is still in motion.

Cholowsky from UCLA is a name that keeps coming up in the conversation about who the White Sox will target with that top pick. But between now and draft day, the landscape could shift. Scouts will be watching closely. Evaluators will be taking notes. The combine that comes before the draft will be crucial for prospects trying to cement their stock or make a late run up the board.

Two Months to Sort It Out

McDaniel's first mock draft of the year projects what all 30 teams will do with their selections. It is a snapshot in time, but not the final word. There is still too much time left for decisions to work themselves out. Still too much baseball left to be played. Still too much uncertainty to lock anything in stone.

The Mariners fell to the Astros 4-3 on May 14, but that is today's story. The real story this time of year is what is coming next: who gets called up, who develops in the minors, and eventually, who gets drafted to help rebuild or reload a franchise.

Mark your calendars. The 2026 draft is coming, and the first real roadmap for how it might unfold is here.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.