Overview
- The Chicago White Sox used the first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft to select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, and the selection stands as announced.
- During the live draft broadcast in Philadelphia on Saturday, Commissioner Rob Manfred mispronounced Cholowsky’s name while reading the pick.
- Viewers and social media users immediately circulated clips of the mistake and criticized the league for a lack of basic preparation.
- Reports note the UCLA media guide lists the correct pronunciation and that neither the commissioner nor production appeared to consult that standard.
- There has been no widely reported public apology from MLB as coverage shifts to how the White Sox and the league will formally introduce Cholowsky and manage the early narrative.