Roch Cholowsky isn’t wasting time with the Chicago White Sox. Just days after the UCLA Bruins shortstop was drafted first overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, Cholowsky signed to set a new record-setting signing bonus.
Cholowsky passed Chase Burns and Charlie Condon by signing a $10.35 million deal with the White Sox on Monday. Burns and Condon previously had the highest signing bonus at $9.3 million.
Even with Cholowsky breaking the record, the White Sox still got him below the slot value, with the first overall pick having a slot value of $11,350,600. Cholowsky is worthy of the honor, as the Bruins shortstop is viewed as the top college shortstop prospect in years.
All Cholowsky did with the Bruins was hit, batting .329 with 95 extra base hits in 178 career games with UCLA. Cholowsky was UCLA’s best player the past two seasons, helping lead the Bruins to be the No. 1 team in the country during the regular season before UCLA’s early NCAA tournament exit.
Cholowsky will have to work his way through the minor leagues but he has all the skillset to get to the major leagues in a hurry. The 6’2” infielder walked as much as he struck out (36 times) over 231 at bats in the 2026 season.
Even though UCLA’s season ended back in May, Cholowsky has been busy preparing for the draft. It hasn’t been announced whether or not Cholowsky will join a full season minor league team in 2026 or if the White Sox will wait until 2027 for Cholowsky to get back into everyday action.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Roch Cholowsky signs biggest signing bonus in MLB Draft history
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire | USA TODAY Network
