With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the White Sox will choose between elite college shortstops Roch Cholowsky and Justin Lebron — and both are already making early-season statements.
If you’re like many Chicago White Sox fans, the 2026 MLB Draft is already circled on your calendar.
Chicago holds the No. 1 overall pick, giving the organization its choice of the nation’s top amateur talent in what evaluators believe is a stronger-than-usual draft class. For a rebuilding club trending upward, the opportunity to add another franchise cornerstone only adds to the momentum.
Early projections have narrowed the conversation to two names.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is widely regarded as the premier college shortstop prospect to emerge in the last two decades. His polish, defensive instincts, and advanced offensive profile have made him a favorite in early mock drafts.
However, Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron is firmly in the conversation. Several evaluators believe that with a strong junior campaign in 2026, Lebron could push Cholowsky — or even surpass him — as the top player on the board.
At this point, both players represent attractive outcomes. Either selection would give the White Sox an advanced college bat with the potential to move quickly through the minor leagues. Whoever Chicago selects would likely enter professional baseball as a top-20 — and possibly top-10 — prospect in the sport almost immediately.
With that in mind, there’s no reason for White Sox fans to wait until draft night to get familiar with these players.
The college baseball season opened this weekend, and both Cholowsky and Lebron made immediate impacts.
Cholowsky opened his season against UC San Diego by lacing a double, drawing a walk, and flashing his defensive ability with multiple highlight-reel plays at shortstop. He followed that up by launching a two-run home run in his first at-bat on Saturday.
Lebron was equally productive in Alabama’s opener against Washington State. He stole two bases, drew two walks, and hit his first home run of the season, showcasing the dynamic athleticism that has scouts intrigued.
If you want to form your own opinion about which direction the White Sox should go at No. 1, the best approach is to watch them yourself.
Most SEC baseball games — including the majority of Alabama’s schedule — stream on SEC Network+ and air on traditional ESPN family networks such as SEC Network, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ABC. A television subscription that includes SEC Network, including services like YouTube TV, typically provides access to SEC Network+ streams as well. It’s worth noting that ESPN+ alone does not grant access to SEC Network+ games without a qualifying TV provider.
For those looking to watch Cholowsky and UCLA, select games will air on Big Ten Network. Every UCLA game, however, will be available via Big Ten+, the conference’s subscription-based streaming service accessible online or through its mobile app.
Both Alabama and UCLA will play four to five games per week throughout the spring, providing ample opportunity to evaluate the two most likely candidates to become the next cornerstone of White Sox baseball.
The draft may still be months away, but the scouting process for White Sox fans has already begun.