MLB draft: UCLA's Cholowsky taken No. 1 by White Sox

LOS ANGELES - UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky was chosen No. 1 by the Chicago White Sox as the first top pick drafted out of UCLA since Gerrit Cole in 2011. Huntington Beach High pitcher Jared Grindlinger was chosen 12th overall by the Angels to start the MLB draft.

Here’s where Cholowsky, Grindlinger and several Southern California hopefuls landed on the first day of the MLB draft from rounds 1-4.

Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, SS, Chicago White Sox (1st pick, 1st round)

Cholowsky brings an intangible leadership essential to helping UCLA finish 52-8. Cholowsky batted .329 with 51 career home runs with the Bruins with a .448 on-base percentage and a .624 slugging percentage for a 1.072 OPS. He is a proven workhorse, having played in 178 career games. Cholowsky comes to the White Sox, who are tied for first in the AL Central. He is being compared to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, but with a better bat. Cholowsky will look to aid a White Sox organization that has found success with second-year Colson Montgomery (.222 batting average, 23 home runs, 53 RBI, 30 walks, 2.1 WAR through 89 games).

Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach, LHP/OF, Angels (1st round, 12th selection)

Grindlinger is unique in his ability to make action happen. Not only does he throw a quality fastball with a maximum velocity of 96 MPH, but he also throws a quality slider and a changeup. He proved to be a dynamic hitter as well. Grindlinger slashed .376/.440/.560 and finished 2026 with 41 hits, 10 doubles and 26 runs scored for Huntington Beach. Could he be a two-way player? A left-handed version of Shohei Ohtani? There’s plenty of time for the Angels to figure that out with Grindlinger, who is set to turn 18 years old on July 14. He is committed to play at Tennessee, where his older brother Ethan plays. But playing close to home might be too good an opportunity to pass up, with the Angels in dire need of another star to aid Mike Trout.

Trey Ebel, Corona, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (1st round, 25th selection)

The son of Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, Trey stood out with his bat speed and strong frame. Abel batted .417 with nine home runs, 10 doubles, three triples and 47 RBIs. Ebel is committed to Texas A&M and could still go the college route, depending on his fit within the Brewers organization. The time for Ebel could come sooner rather than later with Milwaukee not having produced an All-Star at shortstop since J.J. Hardy in 2007. Current position stalwarts include Cooper Pratt (.271 batting average, three doubles, seven RBI in 23 games) and Joey Ortiz (.218 batting average, three home runs, seven doubles, 22 RBI in 81 games).

Logan Reddeman, UCLA, RHP, Colorado Rockies (2nd round, 38th selection)

Reddeman was the ace of UCLA’s staff and carried an 8-0 record with a 2.87 ERA and 84 strikeouts across 59.2 innings. He carries above-average control with his fastball sitting between 95-96 MPH. The feel for his slider and changeup should only improve as Colorado attempts to find big league pitching. Colorado has the lowest-ranked staff with a collective 5.47 ERA and has allowed the fifth most runs this year in MLB.

Mason Edwards, USC, LHP, Athletics, (2nd round, 47th selection)

Command and quality movement drew the Athletics to Edwards, who was named the Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year after totaling 169 strikeouts and 2.07 ERA in 95.2 innings pitched. His slider-changeup combination, along with natural movement on his fastball, caused plenty of swings and misses. Edwards will have a chance to earn a spot in the Big Leagues sooner rather than later as the franchise transitions to Las Vegas.

Logan Schmidt, Ganesha, LHP, Cleveland Guardians (2nd round, 59th selection)

Left-handers don’t get any bigger or carry as much upside as Schmidt. His fastball sits at 97 MPH and he’s committed to LSU. Depending on the route Schmidt chooses, he’ll have time to develop within the Guardians’ organization. Cleveland took a swing, going with Schmidt, who will turn 18 next month. Power stuff and late run that translates to being a key top prospect.

Mulivai Levu, UCLA, 1B, Cincinnati Reds, (Competitive Balance Round B, 70th selection)

Levu, who hails from Irvine via Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, proved he could hit at an elite level in 2026. He batted .340 with 18 home runs, 12 doubles and 63 RBIs and was UCLA’s second-best hitter behind Cholowsky. Levu at 6 feet, has a compact swing that should eventually carry over to the Big Leagues. Underrated pickup early in the third round by the Reds.

Gavin Giese, Dana Hills, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (3rd round, 85th overall)

Giese is committed to the University of San Diego and being drafted in the third round, opting to forego his college eligibility is a strong option. Giese is 6-foot-3 with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and a slider, changeup and curveball combination. He showed high command and finished his senior season with a 1.76 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 13 walks over 10 appearances (10 starts). His line of work is there. Now it’s a matter of where he wants to see his game grow.

Roman Martin, UCLA, INF, Athletics (4th round, 111th overall)

Martin was another key piece in the middle of the order and became the Bruin off the board. Martin proved to be a quality batter with a .333/.446/.549 slash line. A Servite graduate, his ability to hit to all sides of the field should make him an everyday player either at third base or shortstop in the coming years.

Paul Gutierrez-Contreras, Cal State Fullerton, OF, NY Yankees, (4th round, 127th overall)

Contreras was named the Big West Field Player of the Year after a solid year hitting .346 with 14 home runs, two triples, eight doubles and 45 RBI. Contreras has a big league stature at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds and carries an athletic extension that plants home runs in the bleachers.

Julian Garcia, St. John Bosco, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (4th round, 130th overall)

Garcia is committed to Long Beach State but those plans could alter after being selected by the Brewers. Garcia throws in the low 90s but has cranked up his fastball to 97 MPH. A true gamer as well, Garcia finished his senior year throwing 10 or more strikeouts in six consecutive games and fanned 107 hitters with just 10 walks. Already a player with proven high command, the question is, will Garcia head to the big leagues or develop more with the Dirtbags?

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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 1:16 PM.