Day 1 of the 2026 MLB Draft Arrives with a Bang
As the 2026 MLB Draft kicked off, the White Sox made history by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky as the No. 1 overall pick. Cholowsky, a career .329/.448/.624 hitter with more walks (105) than strikeouts (100) in three years with the Bruins, was the consensus best available player. The White Sox didn’t overthink things or play bonus pool games, opting for the talented prospect who should move through the minors quickly.
The selection of Cholowsky marked a significant moment for the White Sox, and fans are excited to see him join the up-and-coming team on Chicago’s South Side. However, not everyone was pleased with the commissioner’s pronunciation of Cholowsky’s name. Rob Manfred, the MLB commissioner, struggled to get it right, pronouncing it as ‘Cha-loo-sky’ instead of the correct ‘Cholowsky.’
Despite the mishap, the White Sox were undoubtedly the winners of the day, securing their top prospect and setting the tone for a promising future. But who else stood out on Day 1 of the draft?
Winner: Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech had a phenomenal day, with two Yellow Jackets selected within the top eight picks. C Vahn Lackey (No. 3 to Twins) and OF Drew Burress (No. 8 to Athletics) were both chosen early in the draft, a testament to the program’s strong talent. The next college with multiple players selected was Ole Miss, with RHP Cade Townsend (No. 23 to Cubs) and RHP Taylor Rabe (No. 30 to Cubs) being picked. Two other Georgia Tech players, 2B Jarren Advincula (No. 45 to Angels) and SS Carson Kerce (No. 53 to Diamondbacks), were also drafted on Saturday. While the program is losing some excellent players, they’re also proud to see them become high draft picks.
Winner: Contact Hitters
A trend emerged early in the first round, with teams prioritizing prospects with strong bat-to-ball skills. Even if these players lacked power, their ability to make contact with the ball was highly valued. Among the high-contact hitters taken early in the first round are LSU OF Derek Curiel (No. 5 to Pirates), Louisville OF Zion Rose (No. 6 to Royals), and Virginia OF AJ Gracia (No. 9 to Braves). These players were picked a little earlier than expected, highlighting the importance of contact hitters in today’s game.
On the other hand, some players who were expected to be top picks fell due to their high strikeout rates. Florida high school SS Jacob Lombard went from a projected top five pick to the No. 14 pick (Marlins) because of his tendency to swing and miss. Similarly, Alabama SS Justin Lebron (No. 18 to Reds), who was considered a candidate to be the No. 1 pick going into last season, also saw his stock fall due to his high strikeout rate.
Loser: Pitchers
Only three pitchers were taken in the first 20 picks, a record low. UC Santa Barbara RHP Jackson Flora (No. 4 to Giants), Florida high school LHP Gio Rojas (No. 16 to Rangers), and Florida RHP Liam Peterson (No. 19 to Guardians) were the only pitchers selected in the top 20. This is a continuation of a trend where teams are pushing pitchers further down their draft boards and taking hitters early. A record 12 college hitters were selected inside the top 20 picks, highlighting the emphasis on bat-to-ball skills.
Winner: Rockies
The return of Paul DePodesta as the POBO in Colorado has been marked by a shift in the team’s approach. They’ve gone for upside, assuming injury risk to get top talent. The Rockies’ strategy paid off on Day 1, with the selection of Kentucky SS Tyler Bell (No. 10) and UCLA RHP Logan Reddemann (No. 39). Bell is a switch-hitting shortstop who does it all, and Reddemann has top 10 stuff despite arm fatigue ending his season in mid-April. The Rockies clearly were comfortable with Reddemann’s medicals, and their picks showed a willingness to take risks for high reward.
However, fans may not be as pleased with the draft experience. The first day of coverage was spread across three broadcast packages, making it difficult for viewers to follow their favorite teams. This fan-unfriendly approach has sparked debate about the accessibility of MLB’s product. Will the league listen to fans who want to watch their favorite teams without having to subscribe to multiple streaming services?
Loser: Fans Who Just Want to Watch
Good luck finding the draft across so many streaming services. Fans are getting frustrated with the lack of accessibility in watching their favorite teams. The draft was the worst version of this, with Day 1 coverage spread across three broadcast packages. NBC and Peacock started the coverage at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by MLB Network, MLB.com, and MLB.tv at 4:30 p.m. ET. MLB.com and MLB.tv also had their own coverage. This is a significant issue, as fans are being forced to subscribe to multiple services to watch their favorite teams. Will the league listen to fans who want to watch their favorite teams without having to subscribe to multiple streaming services?
