UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was selected with the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft on Saturday, fulfilling a pledge he made before beginning his collegiate career.
Cholowsky, widely projected to be the top selection, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox. He becomes the first UCLA player to be selected No. 1 overall since Gerrit Cole in 2011. Cholowsky had previously bypassed a chance to be drafted out of high school, opting instead to refine his game at UCLA.
During his junior season, Cholowsky reaffirmed his status as one of college baseball's premier talents. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, an honor previously achieved by players like Barry Larkin and Luke Appert. This season, Cholowsky batted .320 with 60 runs batted in and a team-leading 21 home runs. He was also hit by pitches a program-record 25 times, a statistic noted as reflecting his formidable presence at the plate.
A professional scout described Cholowsky as having "all the tools" for a shortstop, comparing his profile to that of two-time All-Star Trevor Story. The scout highlighted Cholowsky's arm and glove as his best tools for the position, complemented by his range and power.
Cholowsky's baseball lineage includes his father, Daniel, a Hall of Fame infielder at Cal who was a supplemental first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991. Daniel Cholowsky transitioned to a career as a pro scout and served as a supportive influence on his son, according to Roch's mother, Tika Cholowsky.
"Never, ever did I see him — not once — get on Roch from the time he was little until even now after a game," Tika Cholowsky told the California Post. "I’ve seen parents get on their kids and say, ‘Why didn’t you do this?’ right after a game. Never once did I see my husband do that."
Cholowsky's journey began with childhood aspirations, including writing letters stating his ambition to play in Yankee Stadium someday. His decision to attend UCLA and his subsequent performance led to this moment, fulfilling his own early predictions.