White Sox Hold First Pick in 2026 MLB Draft Amid Top Prospect Debate
The 2026 Major League Baseball Draft begins on Saturday, July 11, with Day 1 starting at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Chicago White Sox own the No. 1 overall selection and face a choice among three highly‑rated prospects: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high‑school shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.
For the second year, none of the draft‑eligible players will attend the ceremony in Secaucus, New Jersey; they will watch the broadcast from private gatherings and provide reactions via live feeds. Analysts from The Athletic, FanSided, ESPN, Baseball Reference and others have released mock drafts, with most projecting Cholowsky or Emerson at the top and Lackey as a likely third‑round pick. Keith Law’s final mock puts Emerson at No. 1, while others favor Cholowsky. Bonus‑pool figures show the White Sox have $17.6 million available, the Rays $19 million and the Giants $17.4 million after a recent pick trade.
Other clubs, such as the Boston Red Sox, have already outlined their own draft strategies, noting three selections in the top 100 and a forfeited second‑round pick after signing Ranger Suárez. The draft will feature 135 picks on Day 1 and continue through Day 2 with rounds 5‑20.