White Sox narrow No. 1 draft pick to three prospects

Chicago White Sox officials said they are focusing on three prospects as possible No. 1 picks in the MLB amateur draft scheduled for Saturday. The candidates are UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackaw and Texas high-school shortstop Grady Emerson.

White Sox vice president of amateur scouting Mike Shirley told reporters the organization is in active discussions with each player and emphasized that the decision will be based on long-term potential rather than current performance. > "It's not about what they are today, it's about what they're going to be two to three years from now when they show up here at the major league level," Shirley said.

Shirley highlighted Cholowsky's .320 average with 21 home runs as a junior at UCLA and noted Emerson's rapid improvement in his senior high-school year. He described Lackaw as a "supreme catcher who could define the position."

The scouting department is coordinating with player development and research staff to evaluate the prospects, and general manager Chris Getz has reiterated that the team will select the player they consider the best overall. > "It's not about the major league team. It's not about the money. It's about who is the best player," Shirley added.

The White Sox also said external factors such as potential changes to the collective bargaining agreement or NIL-related financial incentives will not dictate the top-overall choice. Shirley mentioned that some players are opting to stay in college for NIL earnings, but the club expects to address any impact after the first round.

The draft will take place on the same day the White Sox host the Oakland Athletics in a matinee game, adding to the excitement for a club that has rebounded from three consecutive 100-loss seasons.