Roch Cholowsky Is Already Making It Feel Like the White Sox Struck Gold
The Chicago White Sox have endured years of turbulence.
They have cycled through rebuild timelines.
They have reshaped leadership structures.
They have searched relentlessly for a cornerstone capable of redefining the franchise’s trajectory.
Now, as the 2026 MLB Draft approaches, there is a growing sense that the waiting might finally pay off.
And his name is Roch Cholowsky.
If the White Sox selecting first overall in July once felt like an opportunity wrapped in uncertainty, it now feels like destiny.
Because over the past week, the UCLA shortstop has transformed projection into performance.
And performance removes doubt.
Cholowsky entered the year widely viewed as the likely No. 1 overall selection.
Scouts have tracked him for over a year as a legitimate five-tool prospect.
He dominated college baseball in 2025.
He looks prepared to do it again in 2026.
Through his first seven games this season, the numbers are staggering.
He is slashing .393/.486/1.143 for the top-ranked Bruins.
Yes, that slugging percentage is real.
It is not a typo.
Opponents such as UC San Diego, Tulane, and TCU have tried multiple approaches.
None have found an answer.
Cholowsky has already recorded three multi-RBI games.
He has reached base at will.
He has punished mistakes.
And he has looked entirely comfortable doing it.
Power has always been part of his profile.
But this year, it appears to have elevated.
With another blast against TCU on Sunday, Cholowsky is already up to six home runs.
One of those home runs traveled directly over the center-field wall.
The ball reportedly left his bat at 103 miles per hour.
That is professional-level exit velocity.
That is impact bat speed.
That is first-overall-pick production.
He already owns two multi-homer games.
In the series opener against TCU, he delivered a five-RBI performance that felt like a statement.
It began with a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning.
The ball soared high into left field.
There was no doubt.
It was a no-doubter from contact.
Moments like that separate good players from potential franchise changers.
Last season, across 66 games, Cholowsky launched 23 home runs.
That total ranked him Top 5 in college baseball.
He entered 2026 with expectations sky-high.
Instead of shrinking under them, he has accelerated.
While it remains early in the season, he appears well on track to surpass that 23-homer mark.
The underlying metrics reinforce the breakout.
Plate discipline has improved.
Through 28 at-bats, Cholowsky has struck out only four times.
He posted a 9.3 percent strikeout rate in 2025.
That kind of contact profile combined with power is rare.
Elite prospects typically excel in one category first.
Cholowsky is excelling across the board.
The White Sox, who own the No. 1 pick, could not script a more reassuring pre-draft narrative.
Dominance in February and March does not guarantee July selection.
But sustained excellence makes the decision easier.
And Chicago has waited long enough for clarity.
Offensive production grabs headlines.
But Cholowsky’s defensive ability might ultimately define his ceiling.
He possesses a strong, athletic frame.
His movements at shortstop are smooth.
His arm strength plays comfortably across the diamond.
His instincts are advanced.
Evaluators consistently praise his internal clock.
He does not rush.
He does not panic.
He processes.
Shortstop remains one of the most demanding defensive positions in baseball.
A player who can impact both offensively and defensively at that position reshapes roster construction.
That is why comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki continue surfacing.
Tulowitzki combined power with elite shortstop defense at his peak.
The comparison is lofty.
It carries risk.
Prospect parallels can inflate expectations beyond reason.
But the stylistic similarities are undeniable.
Strong frame.
Right-handed power.
Confident field presence.
Cholowsky deserves evaluation on his own merit.
Still, when scouts consistently reference All-Star-level comps, it signals magnitude.
For the White Sox, magnitude is precisely what is needed.
The franchise has been searching for a transformational talent.
A player capable of anchoring a lineup for a decade.
A player capable of stabilizing the infield.
A player capable of energizing a fan base that has grown restless.
Cholowsky’s start to 2026 underscores that potential.
Living up to hype is one of the most difficult tasks in sports.
Expectations can suffocate.
Pressure can distort performance.
Yet through seven games, Cholowsky appears unaffected.
He looks composed.
He looks confident.
He looks ready for the spotlight.
The 2026 MLB Draft cannot arrive soon enough for Chicago.
Every home run strengthens anticipation.
Every crisp defensive play reinforces projection.
Every disciplined plate appearance reduces uncertainty.
For an organization that has struggled to gain traction in recent seasons, effortless dominance carries symbolic weight.
The White Sox do not just need talent.
They need momentum.
They need identity.
They need belief.
Roch Cholowsky is providing all three before even wearing a professional uniform.
If the trajectory holds, July will not be about speculation.
It will be about confirmation.
And confirmation is exactly what Chicago has been waiting for.
