Roch Cholowsky, 21, the Chicago White Sox’s first overall pick in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, has inked a record-breaking rookie signing bonus.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Cholowsky agreed to a 10.35 million USD signing bonus with the White Sox, shattering previous records.
This 10.35 million USD payday marks the highest signing bonus ever for an MLB rookie. It surpasses the previous record of 9.25 million USD, set by Chase Burns (Cincinnati Reds) and Charlie Condon (Colorado Rockies) in 2024.
The slot value for this year’s first overall pick in the MLB draft was capped at 11.356 million USD.
Cholowsky, a shortstop, showcased his talents at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) over three years. In 178 games, he posted impressive stats: a .329 batting average, 52 home runs, 167 run batted ins (RBIs), and a stellar 1.072 On-base Plus Slugging (OPS).
His final collegiate season was particularly noteworthy, as he hit .320 with 21 homers and 60 RBIs in just 60 games, maintaining a robust 1.088 OPS.
MLB.com has dubbed Cholowsky the most promising college shortstop prospect since Troy Tulowitzki in 2005, setting high expectations for his professional career.