compare cholowsky and lackey in terms off hitting only If you're evaluating hitting only and ignoring defense, position, arm, leadership, etc., I'd still give the edge to Roch Cholowsky over Vahn Lackey, but it's closer than it first appears. Pure Hitting GradeTool Cholowsky Lackey Hit Tool 70 60-65 Power 60-65 60 Plate Discipline 65 70 Contact Quality 70 65 Overall Bat 70 65 Why Cholowsky Gets the NodHe has a longer track record of elite production against top competition. Scouts consistently praise his bat-to-ball skills, pitch recognition, and ability to impact the baseball to all fields. He won multiple national Player of the Year awards in 2025 and followed it up with another dominant offensive season in 2026. Many evaluators view him as the best pure college hitter in the draft class. Why Lackey Is So InterestingIn 2026 he posted an outstanding offensive line, hitting over .400 with more walks than strikeouts, which is exceptionally rare for a power hitter. His strike-zone control may actually be slightly better than Cholowsky's right now. Some scouts believe there's still untapped offensive upside because he's made a huge jump this season. If My Goal Was..."Who is the better pure hitter?" Cholowsky Lackey "Who is more likely to become an All-Star offensive player?" Cholowsky Lackey "Who is more likely to outperform expectations offensively in pro ball?" Much closer. Lackey has the stronger breakout profile and could end up making this debate look silly in five years. For the White Sox specifically, if I strip away defense and positional value and focus solely on who I think produces the most MLB offense over his career, I'd take Cholowsky by a small but meaningful margin. His hit tool is the cleanest in the 2026 draft class.