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Yep. Teams wanted him late first/sandwich. He put out a number of around $4 mil. For comparison, Bondmer signed for about $3 mil

That isn’t really that relevant to the 2026 draft class. Usually the winners of that award are draft eligible the year they win. I do agree this time a year ago he was a lock at 1-1, though.

Guy wasnt even in the top 10 most likely to win college POY entering last season, let alone a shoe to be a future 1-1.

What was the reason Roch didn’t go pro out of high school? He was asking for too much money?

Shortstops who are this talented with this quick proximity to majors don’t usually end up on campus. This is a rare guy who fits what they’re trying to do perfectly. Of course the season still needs to be played but there’s no need to overthink this.

Those three years being his Freshman year of college, sophomore year of college, and now upcoming Junior. You can choose to disagree with it, but dude's name has been out there for a minute.

Ha! I did totally forget about the Buffalo Sabres! You're right - there are 8 MLB/NFL/NBA/NHL teams that currently play in the state of New York. So, NY state has lost 6 teams over the years (w/ 2 of those still playing in the NYC metro), but still have 8 teams playing within the state boundaries. ....and I'm only counting those 4 sports leagues, of course - not MLS, WNBA, etc.

Yeah I think Emerson has been the kid with the most hype for multiple years. Roch went to college for a reason, he massively improved his draft stock with his sophomore season. His high school class was loaded which seems to be fortuitous for us this many years later.

He has? Guy was the 17th ranked player in his high school class.

Haha not a good catch at all. I’ve never heard of the Buffalo Braves. I was saying NY state has 8 teams, and I assumed it was the Sabres you had forgotten. Or it’s possible one of the 8 doesn’t play in NY anymore. I’ve got: Mets, Yankees, Bills, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Sabres.

I assume you mean the Buffalo Braves, not the Sabres, but good catch! I had to look them up.....they're the LA Clippers now.

I think the thing here is that there are dudes who get the "oh he COULD be a 1-1 next year" and there are dudes in the Arod/Griffey type of category that spend YEARS ahead of time being talked about as THE #1 pick. It feels like Roch has been closer to the hype of the latter, versus falling into a bucket with like 3 or 4 guys who COULD be #1 in a different season. This dude has been labeled as the #1 pick (if he were available) for like the last 3 drafts (including this 1 going forward). I think the amount by which he has lapped the other guys in the next draft is why people are quicker to label him as THE #1 instead of a POTENTIAL #1 pick.

If you forgot the Sabres nobody could blame you.

I am pretty sure that by the time the Sox would open a new stadium when the lease is up, their money owed will be paid off. That isn't a problem for Jerry and Co.

This is an interesting look at the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL teams that Missouri has lost over the last 75 years. I can't think of another state that comes close. Maybe New York with the Giants (baseball), Dodgers, Rochester Royals (NBA), and Giants/Jets (NFL), with the last two teams, like the Chiefs, staying in the metro area. But the state of NY still has 7 teams from those 4 sports leagues.

I would be stunned if the Sox paid as much for an unproven pitcher as Imai will likely get. Though to your point, that could no longer be the case if Ishbia is involved.

There is always incentive for the state to kick in some infrastructure because the state does benefit financially from having the teams here, just by state payroll taxes, and they do tax visiting teams.

Yeah, it's a sizable amount remaining to be paid for the SF renovations, too - something like $500M. In contrast, there's "only" about $50M still owed on Rate Field, which is about the amount spent on a relief pitcher. I know the McCaskeys don't own Soldier Field, but they're the ones who have benefited from the 2002 renovations and they'll see the valuation of their franchise skyrocket if a stadium complex is built in Arlington Heights. While I can certainly see the Bears ending up in NW Indiana and taking whatever money the IN state govt throws at them, a stadium complex at Arlington Park would be much more valuable to the McCaskeys than any location they'd end up with in NWI. No offense to my fellow Sox fans in NWI, but that Arlington Park location is golden. My guess is that if they worked out a plan for the Bears to pay off that Soldier Field debt, they'd get that infrastructure/property tax deal done with the state fairly quickly.

Said it earlier, but this is such a silly thing to say in December. We have no idea what will happen over the next few months, and in baseball it's rare for some consensus guy to maintain a firm grip on #1. It wouldn't be crazy if the best year of Roch life was this past season. Happens in baseball all the time.

I think I heard on one of the Sox podcasts that just after Getz learned that a deal for Murakami was finalized, he called Ishbia. If so, I wonder if the Sox, with Ishbia backing, could beat out the Cubs and get Imai. That would really be the shot heard 'round the baseball world.

This is possible for sure but it's going to very unlikely that someone overtakes Cholowsky in this class. Guys like this just generally aren't available as collegians.

Merry Christmas/happy holidays to all

I certainly have no problem with picking the best choice. My point was that it's possible another college player is the best choice. Of course you need a strong 2nd wave of players but ideally you want it to be closer to 2 years behind the 1st wave or main core with MLB debuts in 2027 or 2028 when guys like Teel, Montgomery and whoever else emerges are strong fixtures in the lineup. Braden Montgomery ,Antonacci , Bonemer perhaps followed by the 1:1 pick and later by Carlson or another college kid from the 2026 draft. Murakami might only be around until he's traded if he can emerge as a guy who removes the doubts that led the Sox to be able to sign him. That could keep some young prospects incoming who may already be in A ball who were HS draftees .

Fucking get it together. We almost lost to a 3rd string scrub. We are gonna lose HFA and the division to the Chargers next week if we don't fucking wake up. Fucking get it together. This is a garbage win. Get it the f*** together