2026 MLB Draft Thread...White Sox Control Draft/Roch the House

[DirtySox]

A Cholowsky/Emerson discussion sure is interesting. If Roch is who we think he is, do you risk passing on that for a similar but left handed profile with perhaps a slightly higher ceiling and more speed? You then also have to take into account our player development and the ability to unlock that ceiling along with the slower time to the bigs inherent with a prep selection. Do they want a more immediate impact for a hopefully burgeoning contention window? But you also potentially could cut a deal with Grady and have a few more million to play with.

The risk averse part of me feels like you have to go with Cholo if he performs. You can't miss on this.

We are going to have some fun discussions over the next few months. 

Edited yesterday at 02:47 AM by DirtySox

[caulfield12]

Pick two  FIND the best CF prospect and pay him a bundle

 

Dream guy to fall but pretty unlikely...

"On the offensive side of the ball, Sawyer Strosnider is a name that intrigues me. The TCU outfielder is a draft eligible sophomore and has all the tools in the world. He is a tremendous athlete with a sturdy 6’2 200 pound frame. Despite that size, he projects to be a center fielder in pro ball.

Strosnider has plus speed and power. There are some hit tool concerns, but they are not extreme. He did hit .350 in his freshman year at TCU last season. The one thing he will need to solve is left handed pitching. He only hit .204 against lefties his freshman year. Even if you have all the tools, being unplayable against left handed pitching limits the ceiling.

Right now, MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the 10th best prospect. There is real 5 tool upside here. If he solves his issues against lefties, the Nats may not have a chance to take him due to his upside. However, if he falls to pick 11, he is a name to watch."

from a Nationals fanboard

[caulfield12]

CF draft candidates  rounds 2/3

1. Caden Sorrell Texas A&M, OF mate of LaViolette

2. Eric Booth Jr.  Vandy recruit

3. Trevor Condon Etowah GA

4. Blake Bowen  Oregon State recruit

5. Brady Harris Florida

6. Tre Broussard Univ.Houston

7. Jake Brown LSU, OF mate of Curiel

[caulfield12]

16 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

A Cholowsky/Emerson discussion sure is interesting. If Roch is who we think he is, do you risk passing on that for a similar but left handed profile with perhaps a slightly higher ceiling and more speed? You then also have to take into account our player development and the ability to unlock that ceiling along with the slower time to the bigs inherent with a prep selection. Do they want a more immediate impact for a hopefully burgeoning contention window? But you also potentially could cut a deal with Grady and have a few more million to play with.

The risk averse part of me feels like you have to go with Cholo if he performs. You can't miss on this.

We are going to have some fun discussions over the next few months. 

Can anyone make the case for Justin LeBron?

[DirtySox]

28 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Can anyone make the case for Justin LeBron?

I like him, but there are some red flags for pick #1. He really struggles with spin and off-speed stuff. Will see how he fares this year, but he really struggled in conference play. Never say never though.

Edited yesterday at 03:29 AM by DirtySox

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

Gimme Thome! Lol

[DirtySox]

It kinda warps my brain that Jim's kid is a SS. Probably won't stick there though.

Quote

61. Landon Thome - SS

Ht: 6'0" | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R

School: Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. Committed/Drafted: Tennessee. Age At Draft: 18.6

Thome is the son of Hall of Fame first baseman Jim Thome, and he stands out as one of the more impressive pure hitters in the 2026 class. A 6-foot, 185-pound lefthanded hitter and shortstop, Thome has a slightly-open setup in the lefthanded box with a steep and uphill bat path that comes with a loose, easy operation and tons of pullside power. He has above-average raw power now and, perhaps unsurprisingly given his name, the ball does often sound different coming off his barrel. He has performed for multiple summers at a high level, takes quality at-bats and at the 2025 Area Code Games was one of only a few players to show in-game home run power. He’s a fine runner, but might be stretched at shortstop, as he shows actions that could be a better fit for second base or third base at the next level. Thome is committed to Tennessee.

 

Edited yesterday at 03:44 AM by DirtySox

[Squirmin' for Yermin]

16 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

It kinda warps my brain that Jim's kid is a SS. Probably won't stick there though.

 

I really like the write up. Good IQ, bat and kid

[southsider2k5]

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

A Cholowsky/Emerson discussion sure is interesting. If Roch is who we think he is, do you risk passing on that for a similar but left handed profile with perhaps a slightly higher ceiling and more speed? You then also have to take into account our player development and the ability to unlock that ceiling along with the slower time to the bigs inherent with a prep selection. Do they want a more immediate impact for a hopefully burgeoning contention window? But you also potentially could cut a deal with Grady and have a few more million to play with.

The risk averse part of me feels like you have to go with Cholo if he performs. You can't miss on this.

We are going to have some fun discussions over the next few months. 

This stuff usually plays itself out in the spring.  The good news is, if the race is still that tight in June, the Sox can use it as a negotiation tactic. 

[DirtySox]

Come back @Harold's Leg Lift ! We need to celebrate. 🥲

[southsider2k5]

45 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

It kinda warps my brain that Jim's kid is a SS. Probably won't stick there though.

 

6 foot and 185?  You sure that's his kid?

[DirtySox]

 

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

6 foot and 185?  You sure that's his kid?

[Bob Sacamano]

2 hours ago, DirtySox said:

It kinda warps my brain that Jim's kid is a SS. Probably won't stick there though.

 

Jim Thome played more games at SS than 3B in the minor league season after he was drafted

[caulfield12]

chill-OW-skee

 

Roch is pronounced “Rock,” of course. The last name is Cholowsky — please say “chill-OW-skee” on the South Side of Chicago. He loves Derek Jeter, and in 66 games last season at UCLA, he hit .353 with 23 home runs and 74 runs batted in.

[Springfield Soxfan]

11 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Pick two  FIND the best CF prospect and pay him a bundle

 

Dream guy to fall but pretty unlikely...

"On the offensive side of the ball, Sawyer Strosnider is a name that intrigues me. The TCU outfielder is a draft eligible sophomore and has all the tools in the world. He is a tremendous athlete with a sturdy 6’2 200 pound frame. Despite that size, he projects to be a center fielder in pro ball.

Strosnider has plus speed and power. There are some hit tool concerns, but they are not extreme. He did hit .350 in his freshman year at TCU last season. The one thing he will need to solve is left handed pitching. He only hit .204 against lefties his freshman year. Even if you have all the tools, being unplayable against left handed pitching limits the ceiling.

Right now, MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the 10th best prospect. There is real 5 tool upside here. If he solves his issues against lefties, the Nats may not have a chance to take him due to his upside. However, if he falls to pick 11, he is a name to watch."

from a Nationals fanboard

I could not agree more.  Go find some athletic prospects that can play CF. GREAT POST.  

[Chicago White Sox]

13 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

2028 projected Sox lineup

 

LF Baldwin*/Benintendi

CF ??? Everson Pereira for now...but doubtful he's the long-term answer.

RF Braden Montgomery

3B Colson Montgomery/Caleb Bonemer

SS Roch Cholowsky

2B Billy Carlson*/Sam Antonacci

1B C.Bonemer/C.Montgomery

C Teel/Quero

 

Need to get lots of speed/athleticism into LF and CF, since Billy Carlson would constitute the only plus runner across all the position players, other than possibly Baldwin (if he can actually stick long term as a starter.)

We’re extending Benintendi??

[Chicago White Sox]

12 hours ago, DirtySox said:

A Cholowsky/Emerson discussion sure is interesting. If Roch is who we think he is, do you risk passing on that for a similar but left handed profile with perhaps a slightly higher ceiling and more speed? You then also have to take into account our player development and the ability to unlock that ceiling along with the slower time to the bigs inherent with a prep selection. Do they want a more immediate impact for a hopefully burgeoning contention window? But you also potentially could cut a deal with Grady and have a few more million to play with.

The risk averse part of me feels like you have to go with Cholo if he performs. You can't miss on this.

We are going to have some fun discussions over the next few months. 

The ceiling on Emerson would have to be massively above Roch’s to pass on both the floor and proximity to the majors.  Seems like very unlikely, but there is a ton of time between now and the draft so you never know.

[caulfield12]

42 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We’re extending Benintendi??

I had 2027 and then changed it to 2028.

Zero desire to see him ever play again.

[zisk]

On 12/9/2025 at 1:07 PM, Ozzie for Manager said:

Tonight is the night.  Sacrifice chickens or your first born if you need to.  Everything is on the table. I have decided to pull out the reinsdorf voodoo doll.  

his heart is the wrong color.

[caulfield12]

Drafting is easy lol

1. Roch/Emerson

2. NCAA CF

3. Landon Thome

 

Ofc a million things might change in the next 7 months...but it's going to be a fun ride at least.

Something to dream on, finally.  Hope.

One has to believe at least 1-2 starting pitchers will leap to the forefront, and there will be inevitable injuries and various setbacks.

[SoxAce]

I personally like Emerson more because his ceiling is alittle higher than Roch. And as much as I love the young guys we have now and in the system we are heavily lacking in the speed department. Just do not have that dynamic game breaker on the basepaths yet. 

[caulfield12]

13 minutes ago, SoxAce said:

I personally like Emerson more because his ceiling is alittle higher than Roch. And as much as I love the young guys we have now and in the system we are heavily lacking in the speed department. Just do not have that dynamic game breaker on the basepaths yet. 

It’s not Braden.

Still too many questions with Baldwin that are unanswered.

Need Witt, Jr. or de la Cruz, not Tulo Lite.

 

Just worry they will take Roch and have him up as quickly as Vaughn and Madrigal…instead of having the time and patience to invest 2-3 years of development into Emerson.

Even the expedited timeline for a fast rising prep would be a 2029 arrival in Chicago.

Roch represents instant gratification for a long-suffering fanbase.

 

Doubtful Ishbia will have much of a say.  Roch returns the franchise to .500 much more quickly, increasing the share value, tv ratings, etc.

Edited 2 hours ago by caulfield12