This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by DirtySox

3 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

One of the best articles I’ve ever read

4 minutes ago, fathom said:

One of the best articles I’ve ever read

Some of the greater takeaways from me is that it sounds like he's going to be ditching the two strike approach he has in favor of more impact. He's also never worked with a hitting coach before, and that they have some cleanup work to do on the swing.

16 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Some of the greater takeaways from me is that it sounds like he's going to be ditching the two strike approach he has in favor of more impact. He's also never worked with a hitting coach before, and that they have some cleanup work to do on the swing.

Also interesting to me they discussed his ability to not only play SS, but 2B and 3B

49 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

Very cool article

54 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

This really was a great article, and props to the Sox for letting Jesse have that kind of access. That takes a very willing organization to be OK with that, and credit to the FO office and the marketing team for allowing that to take place, otherwise we obviously don't get this piece.

I really would like to know the sports performance convo around Thome.

If anyone wants to tune in.

2 hours ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

Hadn't seen this yet.

@DirtySox split this out here!

I can't imagine what this scenario would have looked like if Hahn/Williams were still steering this ship. Kudos to Getz and his team to being so open and transparent in this process. It's an awesome look.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by DirtySox

2 hours ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

I think this article is what has 100% sold me on Getz. Absolutely fantastic write up.

2 hours ago, fathom said:

Also interesting to me they discussed his ability to not only play SS, but 2B and 3B

I think you hurt his value significantly by moving him. Taking a 2B 1-1 would be bad process. I agree it's good to consider it, but don't love that possibility at all.

I enjoyed the read. Ill say this though, the Sox appear to view 2 strike numbers as solely approach driven - you can see that with Colson everyday. 2 strike numbers are also the outcome of having to swing at pitches you wouldnt normally swing at. They obviously/hopefully have numbers on swing speed and etc with 2 strikes to help drive here, but 2 strike numbers are a product of situation as much as approach. So it's not just a byproduct of how he's attacking in those counts. Almost everyone sees a decline in numbers with 2 strikes vs 1 and 2.

I also have a ton of skepticism around a model projecting athleticsm based on weight gains and losses. Especially one that correlates putting on weight with growth in perceived athleticsm. The inference that he wouldnt lose weight though is interesting as most players lose weight throughout the season (at least ones with off-season lifting programs) because they dont lift with the same frequency in season.

Buster was losing 15-20 pounds a season, and I remember talking to Joe at a showcase when I was 17 and he was telling me he always went into the season 5-10 pounds over where he'd end the year.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Look at Ray Ray Run

Agreed about not liking Roch at 2nd. Still think he ends up at SS and Colson at 3b. I keep saying that in a perfect world, having 7 of your 9 starters locked in with Mune (1b/DH), Vargas (1b/3b/dh), Colson, Roch, Antonacci (2B/LF), Bonemer (LF/2B) and Teel is an amazing start.

10 minutes ago, fathom said:

Agreed about not liking Roch at 2nd. Still think he ends up at SS and Colson at 3b. I keep saying that in a perfect world, having 7 of your 9 starters locked in with Mune (1b/DH), Vargas (1b/3b/dh), Colson, Roch, Antonacci (2B/LF), Bonemer (LF/2B) and Teel is an amazing start.

And somehow that's not even considering Peters or B. Montgomery.

I know Peters could just be a flash in the pan and Braden has more to do, but they're here and under control.

9 minutes ago, Quin said:

And somehow that's not even considering Peters or B. Montgomery.

I know Peters could just be a flash in the pan and Braden has more to do, but they're here and under control.

There’s a world where Braden is the best of all of them. IMO

17 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Said it before. Who would've thought I'd trust our hitting development much more than our pitching development these days.

31 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

it's funny just because it ends with them all committing to each other that he doesn't have to ascend any faster just because of college or needs of mlb roster.

40 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

#Rochtober?

4 hours ago, DirtySox said:

This is an awesome piece. Well worth the read. Jesse Rogers had inside access to the Sox discussing and essentially landing on Roch as an organization and what those conversations entailed.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358788/2026-mlb-draft-chicago-white-sox-no-1-overall-pick-decision-roch-cholowsky-grady-emerson

Just another article that reinforces what I said about how open and transparent the Sox are being with the philosophies. It started with Garfien interviewing just about every guy in the front office so if you pay attention you almost know them as much as you do the players and better than you knew the FO in the Hahn/ Williams era. There guys are all modern and media friendly.

2 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I think you hurt his value significantly by moving him. Taking a 2B 1-1 would be bad process. I agree it's good to consider it, but don't love that possibility at all.

I see nothing in this article or any other source that I've read that suggests the Sox intend to move him to 2B.

What they said was to note his versatility to play 2B, SS, or 3B. That is NOT the same thing as saying they're pegging him as their future 2B.

"He then emphasized Cholowsky's defensive versatility, noting his ability to play second base, shortstop or third base without any concerns."

Madrigal and Vaughn might not have survived the Sox clubhouse visits, had they been invited....

Would also have been interesting to see how/when they eliminated Lackey from consideration, as well as Flora.

Great article, but didn’t Roch say the Sox informed him that he’d be their pick on Thursday? So how was this discussion taking place on Friday?

1 hour ago, SoxBlanco said:

Great article, but didn’t Roch say the Sox informed him that he’d be their pick on Thursday? So how was this discussion taking place on Friday?

They didn't agree on the financials until Saturday morning. They were still unsure about the final price.