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2026 First Round Draft Poll

Poll: Who Would You Pick 1.1? 45 members have voted

  1. 1. Take your first round guy

    • Vahn Lackey
      4%
    • Grady Emerson
      22%
    • Roch Cholowsky
      73%
    • Other ( Specify in Comment )
      0%
      0

Poll closes on 07/11/2026 at 03:00 PM

Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Featured Replies

It’s time to get a real pulse on this boards 1.1 allegiances. Take YOUR pick!

  • Author

Surprisingly, Roch is getting over 80% in early voting results. One of the most respected draft day posters in SoxAce is the only Emerson vote and Lackey also currently has only one vote.

Looking like perhaps there actually is a near consensus for Roch outside of all the draft thread noise.

Surprised Roch is getting 80%. I agree its a closer race than it was going into the year but I also do think though that there is quite a bit of prospect fatigue going on though. I am hoping it is one of the SS by a mile though. I do not want Lackey at all.

I voted Emerson but would be very happy with Roch too. It's a 1A/1B thing for me

You can't pass on Roch and then have him go on to be star. If he flops it would hard to blame the Sox. After all he was the consensus smart pick. I guess it's a CYA situation. Besides he is the best player. Don't be fooled by some Johnny come lately.

Saw Keith moved Emersin to 4 with his final update, and moved Tyler Bell to 3.

A quote that matches my concern:

"His case is much more about his skills rather than plus tools or athleticism."

I want tools and upside at 1.

Edited by Look at Ray Ray Run

Looking at the compelling reasons here:

-Get the best player

-Get the highest ceiling

-Get the highest floor

-Save some money to add another high ceiling HS player (or two) down the line in rounds 3/4, or maybe even at the end of the draft.

With the lack of separation in the bunch, I would lean toward Roch, as it sounds like he is a slam dunk for being at least an average starting SS in MLB, even if he "misses". Emerson screams a floor of being a complete wash out if his hit tool doesn't pan out. With Vahn, the worry with catchers is always health and development time. I get the case for each of the three, but unless the signing dollars are different enough to force down something like a 2nd round pick into the 3rd or 4th round as an extra high signing, I think I am completely unscientifically going Roch.

Roch is the man.

i have seen the phrase "all-star" thrown out in a ton of ceiling projections for Emerson. Almost nobody uses that term for Roch, and this is your one shot to get a generational player...so I am going with the highest upside talent over a surefire starter (since we already have a staked infield currently). But honestly happy with either of them and even Lackey to a degree.

14 minutes ago, EloyJenkins said:

i have seen the phrase "all-star" thrown out in a ton of ceiling projections for Emerson. Almost nobody uses that term for Roch, and this is your one shot to get a generational player...so I am going with the highest upside talent over a surefire starter (since we already have a staked infield currently). But honestly happy with either of them and even Lackey to a degree.

I’ve seen Roch compared to Tulowitzki and Correa. If that’s what he ends up being, that’s a damn good player.

6 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’ve seen Roch compared to Tulowitzki and Correa. If that’s what he ends up being, that’s a damn good player.

This. Dude could be a perirenal all star. I think what we aren't seeing is superstar ceiling. There is a difference.

Rock is 1A and lackey 1B for me. I don't want anything to do with a HS SS that isn't generational, even if the long tail upside case is higher than Roch or Lackey the downside risk is much, much higher.

19 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Saw Keith moved Emersin to 4 with his final update, and moved Tyler Bell to 3.

A quote that matches my concern:

"His case is much more about his skills rather than plus tools or athleticism."

I want tools and upside at 1.

Who is number 1 then?

As I have stated before, Brooks is going to fight like hell to get Roch selected at 1.01 and we all know he has Jerry’s ear. And while Lackey has unique marketing potential per Caulfield by being “the first black catcher since Charles Johnson”, Roch has both the coolest first name ever and the most polish last name ever. Every man, woman, & child in Chicaogoland will adore this kid. When a player is both the most marketable, the most talented, and closest to the majors, don’t over think things and just take. I’m Team Roch and am confident the Sox are as well.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Who is number 1 then?

Roch and Lackey 1 and 2.

I want Roch, but I think they will take Emerson.

I’m pulling myself back - Roch or a pitcher.

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