23 hours ago23 hr 1 hour ago, ron883 said:Thank you @Y2Jimmy0 and @Sleepy Harold for all the work you guys do with FutureSox. It's great especially around draft time.Ditto. Most threads that last this long and cover this many pages can get a bit tedious. But this thread has been great.
22 hours ago22 hr Give me one of the two college kids. Both are right-handed and play good defense. The good defense part gives them a solid floor, and the upside still exists to be all-stars. What more do you want even out of a 1/1? Nobody is a sure Hall of Famer out of the draft.
16 hours ago16 hr 20 hours ago, Sleepy Harold said:In regard to 1.1, all three would/will be underslot, it's just a matter of how much under they'll come in at. The Pirates supposedly have their comp pick available for some immediate help (believe I saw that they wanted bullpen help), but not sure if the Soxline up with them in that regard.They can have any reliever except for Taylor; heck, any 2 except for Taylor.
16 hours ago16 hr 8 hours ago, hogan873 said:One of the higher rated MI prospects could be dealt at the deadline for pitchingProjections land all three potential guys in the top 100 list at 19, 24, and 25 respectively.Whoever we pick will immediately become our top prospect.
16 hours ago16 hr 14 minutes ago, GreenSox said:They can have any reliever except for Taylor; heck, any 2 except for Taylor.So you are white flagging it then?
14 hours ago14 hr 1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:So you are white flagging it then?Fill in with Gonzalez, Iriarte, Pallette, whoever is throwing the ball well at the time. Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Bob Sacamano
14 hours ago14 hr Listen, up until the last 3 months has there been much of any argument about who is the top pick. Then after Roch and UCLA lost in the NCAA Tourney and he didn't have a very good showing at the plate during it everyone got on this Emerson kick. If they are now considered 1 and 1A give me the College kid over the High Schooler most every time.
8 hours ago8 hr 5 hours ago, brijames1957 said:Listen, up until the last 3 months has there been much of any argument about who is the top pick. Then after Roch and UCLA lost in the NCAA Tourney and he didn't have a very good showing at the plate during it everyone got on this Emerson kick. If they are now considered 1 and 1A give me the College kid over the High Schooler most every time.Consequence of draft being pushed back so far.
7 hours ago7 hr 17 hours ago, caulfield12 said:"and proven wooden-bat"stop right there!Proven wooden bat, OR high level NCAA production. But Gemini had a glitch for sure
6 hours ago6 hr 7 hours ago, brijames1957 said:Listen, up until the last 3 months has there been much of any argument about who is the top pick. Then after Roch and UCLA lost in the NCAA Tourney and he didn't have a very good showing at the plate during it everyone got on this Emerson kick. If they are now considered 1 and 1A give me the College kid over the High Schooler most every time.I’d be pretty solid on Roch if he played in the SEC, but with a little regressed year in the Big 10 from his sophomore year, there’s certainly food for thought that is fair to explore. We probably won’t complain either way, but it’s gonna be hindsight city for a long while
6 hours ago6 hr Grok also chose Emerson Yes, I can offer an independent analysis based on available scouting data, team context, and risk/reward profiles—beyond just aggregating pundit consensus. The 2026 MLB Draft begins July 11 (first round and more on Day 1), and the White Sox hold the No. 1 overall pick after winning the lottery. cbssports.com baseballamerica.comWhite Sox Context and NeedsThe White Sox have endured multiple terrible seasons (including a record 121 losses in 2024 and another poor year in 2025). They are in full rebuild mode, emphasizing high-upside talent that can contribute in 2–4+ years while building a sustainable core. Key existing pieces include young arms like Noah Schultz and recent draftees like Billy Carlson (SS, 2025), but the system lacks elite position-player depth at the top, especially impact bats who can stick at premium positions. mlb.comWith the #1 pick and a solid bonus pool (~$17.6M), they can afford to reach slightly for fit or take the highest-upside player available. They don’t need to prioritize “safe” MLB-ready contributors immediately—though college players offer faster timelines.Top Candidates for #1 OverallThe class features debate at the top among three strong but imperfect options: Roch Cholowsky (UCLA SS), Grady Emerson (HS SS, Texas commit), and Vahn Lackey (Georgia Tech C). Industry boards and mocks show Cholowsky as the slight favorite/former consensus #1, with Emerson closing the gap significantly and Lackey as a viable dark horse. espn.com nytimes.com espn.com• Roch Cholowsky (College SS, ~21 years old): Tools grades often in the 55 range across the board (hit/power ~55, field/arm strong). He’s a polished, athletic 6-2 right-handed hitter with plus defense at shortstop, good power (20+ HR seasons), and production in the SEC/Big Ten level (strong college track record). Low bust risk due to proximity and track record; he profiles as a potential plus regular or All-Star caliber shortstop. Concerns: Some reports note he “held serve” rather than dominating late, and pure ceiling might not be generational. espn.com nytimes.com• Grady Emerson (HS SS, ~18 years old): Highest upside of the group. Excellent hit tool (often graded highest), projectable power, athleticism, and arm strength. Left-handed bat from the prep ranks with advanced approach. Many scouts see him as the best pure hitter and most toolsy option, with potential to be a star shortstop. Risk: High school players have more developmental uncertainty and signability questions (though the slot money helps). He’s closed the gap on Cholowsky through strong senior-year/showcase performance. espn.com mlb.com• Vahn Lackey (College C, ~21 years old): Supreme defensive catcher with solid bat (hit/power ~55, athletic for the position). Catchers are scarce and valuable; a plus defender who can hit in the middle of the order would be a franchise asset. Good college production. Risks: Positional wear-and-tear (durability concerns long-term) and slightly lower overall ceiling than the shortstops. espn.comOther names like Jacob Lombard (HS SS), Jackson Flora (college RHP), etc., are top-5/10 but not strong #1 contenders.My Independent Recommendation: Take Grady Emerson at #1Best choice: Grady Emerson. Here’s why, weighing talent, fit, and rebuild realities:• Highest long-term upside for a rebuilding team: The White Sox need stars, not just solid regulars. Emerson’s combination of hit tool, power projection, and athleticism at a premium position gives him the best chance to be an MVP-caliber player. In a thin class at the absolute top, betting on the toolsy prep bat with momentum makes sense—especially with the financial flexibility to secure him.• Position and system fit: Shortstop is a premium spot. Adding another high-upside SS (alongside recent picks) creates depth/trade chips. Emerson’s youth aligns with a multi-year window.• Risk assessment: While college players like Cholowsky are “safer,” the floor/upside math favors Emerson for a bottom-dwelling team. Lackey is appealing for positional value but has the lowest ceiling of the three and inherent catcher risks. Cholowsky is excellent and the “safe” pick many expect, but he feels more like a very good #1 than a potential transcendent talent.• Draft realities: White Sox scouting comments indicate it’s genuinely a three-way race up to the end. Emerson has reportedly narrowed or surpassed Cholowsky on some boards. espn.com If signability or medicals create issues, pivot accordingly—but slot value should get it done.Cholowsky would be a very strong, low-regret alternative (and the choice if prioritizing immediate polish and defense). Lackey is the contrarian high-floor pick if they love the catcher profile.Bottom line: For a team with the #1 pick in a rebuild, swing for the highest-upside talent. Emerson best fits that mandate and gives Chicago the best shot at landing a future cornerstone. The class has good depth after the top few, so they should add more arms and bats in later rounds to complement this selection. The draft will be fascinating to watch unfold
2 hours ago2 hr 13 hours ago, hi8is said:Projections land all three potential guys in the top 100 list at 19, 24, and 25 respectively.Whoever we pick will immediately become our top prospect.Yeah, and if it's Roch or Emerson, they could deal someone like Carlson for pitching.
1 hour ago1 hr 1 hour ago, hogan873 said:Yeah, and if it's Roch or Emerson, they could deal someone like Carlson for pitching.You're not going to get controllable pitching for just Carlson right now....
34 minutes ago34 min 1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:You're not going to get controllable pitching for just Carlson right now....I agree. But he could be part of a trade.
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