MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred Mispronounces Top Draft Pick's Name on National Television

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mispronounced the name of the first overall draft pick during the 2026 MLB Draft announcement on national television. Roch Cholowsky, a UCLA shortstop selected by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in Philadelphia, responded to the on-air mistake with humor. The draft's opening selections were broadcast nationally on NBC for the first time.

The moment drew immediate attention from baseball fans and media observers during the live event at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Despite Cholowsky being widely regarded as the consensus top prospect heading into the draft, Manfred's pronunciation error became a notable talking point. When asked by reporters about the commissioner's flub, Cholowsky said he "heard Roch and kind of lost it," indicating he found the situation amusing rather than offensive.

The White Sox Selection and College Pedigree

Cholowsky recorded a combined batting line of .329/.448/.624 across his three seasons at UCLA, where he served as team captain. The White Sox, having won the draft lottery in December, viewed him as the most talented player available despite already having shortstop Colson Montgomery on their roster. Montgomery is in his second major league season, currently batting .222 with 23 home runs and 53 RBIs in 89 games this year.

The Texas shortstop Grady Emerson was passed over despite being considered another top prospect in this class. Emerson went to the Tampa Bay Rays with the second overall selection. The White Sox also secured UCLA captain Landon Thome, son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, with a compensatory pick at number 34. Thome, who plays shortstop and attended Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, adds to what the organization views as significant depth at the position.

Cholowsky expressed his enthusiasm for joining the White Sox organization during a video call with the team, saying there was "mutual love" between himself and the franchise. General Manager Chris Getz and his staff prioritized securing what they believed to be the draft class's top talent, regardless of the positional overlap with Montgomery.