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

[caulfield12]

19 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

 

 

Extremely athletic for a 6-foot-2, 215-pound catcher, Lackey isn't quick out of the batter's box but can flash plus run times once he gets going. He's very agile behind the plate and should become a solid receiver and blocker once he improves his focus and consistency. His strong and accurate arm is another asset, and he looked capable at third base while playing 13 errorless games there in 2025.

mlb.com

Looks like he can stick at catcher...

[Chick Mercedes]

 

[DirtySox]

 

 

[DirtySox]

 

 

[caulfield12]

3 hours ago, DirtySox said:

 

 

https://uclawire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ucla/baseball/2026/02/24/ucla-baseball-will-gasparino-better-start-roch-cholowsky/88827965007/

Scouting report at Texas before transfer... has he gained weight/muscle mass since then?

"Between his throwing arm, athleticism and instincts, Gasparino has the defensive chops to potentially stick in center field. The long-levered Gasparino is also a plus runner and a threat on the basepaths. He has legitimate five-tool upside and could be an opening day starter for the Longhorns."

 

That's the one thing Roch and Lebron are both missing...that plus plus speed.

Edited 21 hours ago by caulfield12

[PaleAleSox]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

https://uclawire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ucla/baseball/2026/02/24/ucla-baseball-will-gasparino-better-start-roch-cholowsky/88827965007/

Scouting report at Texas before transfer... has he gained weight/muscle mass since then?

"Between his throwing arm, athleticism and instincts, Gasparino has the defensive chops to potentially stick in center field. The long-levered Gasparino is also a plus runner and a threat on the basepaths. He has legitimate five-tool upside and could be an opening day starter for the Longhorns."

 

That's the one thing Roch and Lebron are both missing...that plus plus speed.

Are you saying the Sox should be thinking of him as the first pick? 

[DirtySox]

d

 

 

[caulfield12]

25 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:

Are you saying the Sox should be thinking of him as the first pick? 

No.

Let's see how both guys do the rest of the schedule before B10 hits...but 9 vs. 6 homers is probably pushing Gasparino into at least mid first round range athe the very least due the opposition level.

[caulfield12]

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=635870&vislive=msst

 

3-3 Tie in UCLA game...good battle

Miss State #4

Roch 0/3

Gasparino bomb #10

Edited 20 hours ago by caulfield12

[fathom]

There’s something about Roch’s swing I don’t like.  Tons of infield pop ups.

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, fathom said:

There’s something about Roch’s swing I don’t like.  Tons of infield pop ups.

What is his bat speed reading?

There's sort of this slowness or longness to his swing...maybe it's because a number of his homers have been on offspeed pitches.

Hitting .350 atm.

 

Gasparino .389 and Strosnider have a lot of helium ATM.

Can't forget Lebron, either.  "Just" at .317

He's looking like the real deal.

40 homers in dead ball era in Japan.

3B/OF, 26 is perfect age to come over

 

Edited 18 hours ago by caulfield12

[DirtySox]

1 hour ago, fathom said:

There’s something about Roch’s swing I don’t like.  Tons of infield pop ups.

I think it looks fine.

 

 

[caulfield12]

8-5 UCLA leading in extras

Cholowsky up to .366

still hitting

[Friend of Nordhagen]

5 hours ago, fathom said:

There’s something about Roch’s swing I don’t like.  Tons of infield pop ups.

His hands are busy, and he’s long through the ball. But he sure seems to be able to hit. Hitting velocity is the only question. 

[caulfield12]

49 minutes ago, Friend of Nordhagen said:

His hands are busy, and he’s long through the ball. But he sure seems to be able to hit. Hitting velocity is the only question. 

The dreaded Frank Thomas slider-speed bat.

We shall see with wooden bats against plus plus velocity.

[fathom]

50 minutes ago, Friend of Nordhagen said:

His hands are busy, and he’s long through the ball. But he sure seems to be able to hit. Hitting velocity is the only question. 

Reminds me a bit of Ryan Zimmerman at the plate 

[caulfield12]

just look at where the top college hitters are from May 2025 today...

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/45053078/college-baseball-best-hitter-rankings-mason-neville-alex-lodise-2025

Neville ended up a fourth rounder

Alex Lodise went to ATL second round, Sox have his cousin Kyle

Burruss otoh has held his value pretty well

Edited 13 hours ago by caulfield12

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

9 hours ago, fathom said:

Reminds me a bit of Ryan Zimmerman at the plate 

Reminds me a bit of Vaughn swing right after they made his tweaks post college 2021/2022 pre big leg kick.

[ptatc]

51 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Reminds me a bit of Vaughn swing right after they made his tweaks post college 2021/2022 pre big leg kick.

One of the podcasts discussed this phenomenon with college pitching versus pro pitching.

College pitchers mostly live on the outside corner due to lack of velocity so college hitter naturally gravitate to the inside out swing because it more effective. This also leads them to be jammed more with the pop ups when the pitchers do go inside.

The key is does the player have the ability to adjust to the velocity and swing change needed to hit pro pitching.

[WestEddy]

Josh Nelson does a full profile of Grady Emerson over at SoxMachine:

2026 MLB Draft: Firsthand look at the impressive Grady Emerson - Sox Machine