There’s no doubt that UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky is an elite prospect for the upcoming MLB draft but could one team be preparing to make a run at the infielder? Many mock drafts have Cholowsky going first overall to the Chicago White Sox but could another team in the top-five snag him?
Last month, USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale reported that the White Sox aren’t sure who they’ll take with the top pick, having plenty of exciting options to choose from. The White Sox have multiple young shortstops in their system, including Colson Montgomery at the MLB level.
“The Chicago White Sox remain uncertain who they will draft with the No. 1 pick in July, and insist they have not committed to taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the consensus top player in the draft. It’s also unclear, several executives say, whether the White Sox are Cholowsky’s top preference,” Nightengale wrote. “One GM, whose team drafts in the top five, believes there’s still a chance Cholowsky falls to them.”
Could that one GM be Zach Minasian of the San Francisco Giants? The Giants have the fourth overall pick in the draft and on Saturday, the Giants traded catcher Patrick Bailey for the 29th overall pick, giving the Giants more signing bonus money to work with.
After the White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins select before the Giants. Both teams are more frugal, and could opt to let the Giants spend a huge signing bonus on Cholowsky.
Cholowsky grew up in Vallejo, California as a Giants fan, rooting for another UCLA shortstop, Brandon Crawford. Cholowsky is still wrapping up his junior season with the Bruins but he could end up staying in California after his UCLA career wraps up.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Could one West Coast MLB team be prepping to select Roch Cholowsky?
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
