9 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

That's the first thing I did haha. It's there. It's under Futures. He's +400 now though.

Not there for me in Futures. Always errors out when I search "MLB Draft" or any of the top picks names. RIP.

4 hours ago, DirtySox said:

Not there for me in Futures. Always errors out when I search "MLB Draft" or any of the top picks names. RIP.

Where are you located? Maybe draft bets aren't allowed? I couldn't bet on the NFL draft in Pittsburgh this year

42 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Where are you located? Maybe draft bets aren't allowed? I couldn't bet on the NFL draft in Pittsburgh this year

Virginia. Has to be that. Came to that conclusion when sleuthing earlier. Enjoy your Emerson winnings. 😉

8 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Cholowsky also has hit/power combo and is a plus defender. If Emerson's hit tool is actually a 55 and not a 65-70, he's just not a star.

I surmise from all of this that Emerson has a much higher hit potential than Roch; otherwise Roch would be well ahead for #1.  What’s Roch’s likely outcome if things go well? Dansby?  I’ll go with riskier upside bat.     

That said, I’d be surprised if Roch isn’t the pick.  

Edited Monday at 10:45 PM2 days by GreenSox

39 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

I surmise from all of this that Emerson has a much higher hit potential than Roch; otherwise Roch would be well ahead for #1.  What’s Roch’s likely outcome if things go well? Dansby?  I’ll go with riskier upside bat.     

That said, I’d be surprised if Roch isn’t the pick.  

I like the Tulowitzki/Correa comp better than Swanson.

KLaw on a WGN podcast said he’s reasonably confident the pick would be Emerson if draft was today.

The thought when we win the lottery was roch was the guy because he could come up with this team within 1 year and be part of this window of prospects.

Now we have an infield of mune, vargas, colson, chase and gonzo who are all good capable infielder. Plus Sam is really a 2b. So we don't have that need for a mlb tray guy who plays the IF.

Roch and Emerson are pretty close in the board but grady had the higher upside and fire the timeline better for the organization. Where would roch play? OF? You got braden, peters and sam. Plus you have Carlson and bonemer in the next couple years in your IF.

Go with Emerson. It makes more sense in the big picture.

The draft can’t come soon enough. I get twisted in circles weighing Roch, Emerson, and Lackey… can only imagine how the front office feels.

It will be nice to see the pick and evaluate the draft as a whole - read the opinions ranging from b**** doom fest to pie in the sky celebratory.

Alexi Ramirez days left folks.

6 hours ago, fathom said:

KLaw on a WGN podcast said he’s reasonably confident the pick would be Emerson if draft was today.

Disastrous.

6 hours ago, Ozzie for Manager said:

The thought when we win the lottery was roch was the guy because he could come up with this team within 1 year and be part of this window of prospects.

Now we have an infield of mune, vargas, colson, chase and gonzo who are all good capable infielder. Plus Sam is really a 2b. So we don't have that need for a mlb tray guy who plays the IF.

Roch and Emerson are pretty close in the board but grady had the higher upside and fire the timeline better for the organization. Where would roch play? OF? You got braden, peters and sam. Plus you have Carlson and bonemer in the next couple years in your IF.

Go with Emerson. It makes more sense in the big picture.

I don't see Carlson in the mix.

6 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Disastrous.

That's an overreaction. My pick would be Roch but to say taking Emerson is disastrous, is not based on the actual scouting.

7 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Disastrous.

Why? Look at all the recent top prospects. High schoolers who move quickly to the big league. Mcgonigle, Griffin, etc. Roch still has questions as he did not dominate in a weak Big Ten. Emerson may have higher upside and if he's the pick that would be the reason.

14 hours ago, fathom said:

KLaw on a WGN podcast said he’s reasonably confident the pick would be Emerson if draft was today.

LETS GOOOOOO!

1 hour ago, HoosierSox said:

Why? Look at all the recent top prospects. High schoolers who move quickly to the big league. Mcgonigle, Griffin, etc. Roch still has questions as he did not dominate in a weak Big Ten. Emerson may have higher upside and if he's the pick that would be the reason.

Lackey >> Both.

Regardless, I don't get how Emerson could have jumped either guy and not sure I can be convinced otherwise.

The fact that we have so much internal division amongst who is the desired pick is all the evidence one should need to know that Roch is no longer the slam dunk 1.1 we thought he would be during the draft lottery.

2 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Lackey >> Both.

Regardless, I don't get how Emerson could have jumped either guy and not sure I can be convinced otherwise.

He’s always been ahead of Lackey…

I’d wager some money that all this is posturing and the Sox are taking Roch with the 1.01.

And Passan with the Flora option as a possiblilty

14 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

He’s always been ahead of Lackey…

yeah idk why Ray keeps missing or ignoring that

It begins. New Over-Slot mock. Emerson at the top getting buzzier. Twins not meeting with Roch at all for whatever reason is kinda wild. Will share the top 7. I love Tyler Bell at 2. Hell I wouldn't mind the Sox taking him at 1.

https://overslotbaseball.com/articles/mock-draft-v4-a5ded7c1-299c-4a61-8f0b-b2fc54b57e57/

1. ) Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian HS, Argyle TX to Chicago White Sox

Scouting Report

Bats: L, Throws: R

Several front office executives at this point have regurgitated the same information to me -- the majority of the White Sox scouting department and analytics departments prefer Grady Emerson to Roch Cholowsky. There are folks in the organization (including ownership, it seems) that prefer the idea of the marketable and fast-moving Cholowsky at the top, though. Reading the tea leaves, if the money is right, and ownership/brass sign off on the scouting departments evaluation of the players, Emerson would probably be the favored prospect in-house here. This could be considerably more straightforward if Cholowsky plays hard to get financially. I don't feel like this is any sort of slam dunk with a week to go. I'd put the odds at 55/45 Emerson.

2.) Tyler Bell SS Kentucky to Tampa Bay Rays

Scouting Report

Bats: B, Throws: R

Multiple sources of mine have suggested if Emerson is not available at the No. 2 pick, Bell is a very popular choice in-house. The Rays met with Cholowsky at the Combine, however linking the two has been a bit trickier than you'd expect at this late stage. Bell was already the team's second round selection in 2024, so the two parties are plenty comfortable with one another. Importantly, Bell did not turn in his medicals at the Combine, and has thus far shown no inclination to do so. If that remains the case, the Rays can cut as much money off this pick in their offer to Bell that they'd like. Would offering Bell $5.5 million to become the No. 2 pick in the Draft satiate both parties? I think it's possible. The Rays would then dominate the rest of the top three or four rounds with an enormous amount of money to spend on whatever high school talent they are interested in.

3.) Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech to Minnesota Twins

Scouting Report

Bats: R, Throws: R

The Twins are one of the more polarizing teams in this scenario. Would they take Roch Cholowsky if he was on the board? Minnesota and Cholowsky did not meet at the Combine. Did Wasserman turn the Twins' request down? Did the Twins not want to meet with Cholowsky regardless? There have been some rumors circling that Cholowsky's representatives are telling the Twins he is not interested in signing with the club, presumably because they feel confident they would have a rich deal with San Francisco behind them. The Twins have the first right of refusal. They could take Cholowsky, offer what they want, and dare him to go back to school. Worst case scenario is they end up with the No. 4 pick in the 2027 Draft. The Twins' attention on Lackey has been no secret. They're a fan. This would be one of the most fascinating picks in the draft if 1 and 2 go as stated.

4 Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA to San Francisco Giants

Scouting Report

Bats: R, Throws: R

When the Giants traded for the No. 29 pick in the 2026 Draft, rumors of this scenario taking place ran wild. At that time, it seemed highly unlikely. It felt like a fantasy land. In defense of the industry, shooting down those rumors revolved around the idea of the Giants paying Cholowsky down to this pick, not the White Sox and Rays simply prefrering other players. If the UCLA shortstop finds his way to the No. 3 pick, the Giants will undoubtedly put on a full-court press to keep the hometown kid on the West Coast. If Cholowsky is gone, Eric Booth Jr. is the most popular name I continue hearing with the No. 4 pick. San Francisco does like prep shortstop Jacob Lombard a good bit, however it sounds like a private workout between the Giants and Lombard was just okay.

5 Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara to Pittsburgh Pirates

Scouting Report

Bats: R, Throws: R

Of all the things moving up and down, left and right, upside down and right-side up at the top of this draft, one thing has remained relatively solid -- the Pirates love Jackson Flora. This isn't to say this is a done deal or anything of that matter, however it's a strong fit based on previous drafts and Pittsburgh's player development strengths. For what it's worth, the team does like Eric Booth Jr. a good bit, and spent a lot of time at his games this spring. But Flora is the presumed name here.

6.) Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Preparatory School HS, Pinecrest FL to Kansas City Royals

Scouting Report

Bats: R, Throws: R

While Lombard will be the mocked name here, don't be surprised if there is down-board name in this spot. Rumors have been running rampant that USC left-handed pitcher Mason Edwards could be a sneaky fit in this spot for a 75% or 80% deal. Royals' scouting director Brian Bridges loves his pitching and Edwards was arguably the most dominant pitcher in college baseball this season. It would also position Kansas City to spend big on high school talent with their later picks.

7.) Eric "EJ" Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg MS to Baltimore Orioles

Scouting Report

Bats: L, Throws: L

Death, taxes, and the Baltimore Orioles selecting a bat in the first round. This does feel like the floor for Booth Jr., and he could be off the board as high as 3 or 4. The Orioles will likely lean heavy on their model as they do most years. Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress checks a lot of boxes a model will like.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by DirtySox