The White Sox had the highest odds of any team to win the first overall pick at the MLB draft lottery. The odds were ever in their favor at 27.7%, giving them the first pick for the third time in franchise history. The White Sox ended the first day of the draft with five picks, adding a mix of youth and mature talent to their farm system. Here are the Chicago White Sox draft grades for all the day-one picks.
When the White Sox won the first overall pick, the expectation was that UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky would be the easy choice. While other top picks like Grady Emerson and Vahn Lackey had comparable seasons, Chicago took Cholowsky. The three-year starter is expected to make an appearance in the major leagues sometime in 2027. MLB Pipeline had him as their number two prospect going into the draft.
The number one pick brings his excellent defensive prowess and power hitting to a young contending team. The five-tool prospect had 52 homers, 167 runs batted in, a .329 batting average, and walked more than he struck out in his college career. A potential future Gold Glove shortstop, Cholowsky won consecutive Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2025 and 2026, and the 2025 Brooks Wallace Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate shortstop.
Draft Pick Grade: A+
Staying in-state, Landon Thome, the son of legendary White Sox first baseman Jim Thome, was selected by Chicago with the 34th overall pick. The reigning Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year hit .535 with seven homers, 29 RBIs, and 57 runs scored during his senior year. The shortstop has also shown his speed, stealing 49 bases in 50 attempts for Nazareth. While a shortstop in high school, Thome projects to play second or third base in the majors. MLB Pipeline had Thome as the 34th-ranked prospect going into the draft.
The grade for this draft pick must account for the cost of acquiring the selection. The White Sox traded infielder Jacob Gonzalez and reliever Brandon Eisert to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 34th overall pick and left-handed pitcher Jaden Woods. The biggest piece of the trade, Gonzalez, was a former first-round draft pick, but was blocked from starting for Chicago and was too productive to stay in AAA.
Draft Pick Grade: A+
Adding even more infield depth, the White Sox took the Ole Miss commit, Cole Prosek. While announced as a second baseman, Prosek profiles more strongly at third base and even began catching during his senior year. Ranked 27th on the MLB Pipeline Draft Board, the Mississippi infielder fell to the White Sox at the 41st pick.
Evaluated as more of a prolific hitter than fielder, Prosek hit .585 with 18 homers at the time of the MLB draft. The Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year also added 79 RBIs, 62 runs scored, and a 1.899 OPS. While not projected as a pitcher in the majors, Prosek was 7-1 on the mound with a 3.16 ERA for Magnolia Heights.
Draft Pick Grade: B+
After taking three straight infielders, the White Sox opted for a college starting pitcher in the third round. Chicago took University of Georgia pitcher Joey Volchko with the 77th pick. MLB Pipeline had the former Bulldog as the 68th-ranked prospect. While he exclusively started at Georgia, scouts project Volchko as a high-leverage reliever in the majors.
Throughout the 2026 college season, Volchko posted an 11-2 record in 18 games started for the Bulldogs. During these starts, he posted a 3.68 ERA with 46 walks and 119 strikeouts. While he is projected to be a reliever in the majors, talent evaluators believe that if he makes major strides with his mechanical consistency, he could see time as a back-end starter for Chicago.
Draft Pick Grade: B
The White Sox doubled up on their college starters by taking Eric Segura with the 105th pick. The three-year starter at Oregon State was ranked as the 196th by MLB Pipeline, making this pick widely considered a reach. Much like the Volchko pick, Segura is projected to be a high-leverage reliever in the majors.
In his final season with the Beavers in 2026, Segura posted a 6-2 record in 15 games started. During those games, he posted a 2.22 ERA with 27 walks and 82 strikeouts over 72 innings. If Segura wants to reach the majors as a starter, talent evaluators believe he needs better control over the strike zone and a more consistent slider.
Draft Pick Grade: C
The White Sox ended the first day of the draft with a mix of youth and experience at several different positions. The gem of the draft, Cholowsky, looks like he can debut in the majors as early as mid-2027, with the two pitchers not long after. Thome and Prosek will most likely skip college and work their way through the White Sox farm system. Overall, day one of the MLB draft fared very well for Chicago.
Overall Day One Draft Grade: A
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