PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Chicago White Sox are done playing for first.In the standings? Of course not. Led by All-Star third baseman Miguel Vargas, the White Sox have emerged as one of the top surprises and are in AL Central contention after enduring three straight 100-loss seasons.In the MLB draft? The White Sox have the No. 1 pick in the draft for Saturday’s event in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Game weekend festivities.The No. 1 pick belongs to Chicago — after it lost 102 games last season and won the draft lottery — and perhaps a future star that can help the White Sox win their first World Series title since 2005 will get selected in the top spot.There are no clear-cut No. 1 picks in this year’s draft much like current Philadelphia Phillies slugger and 2026 All-Star Bryce Harper was in 2010.The White Sox will likely pick one from the following three players: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson or Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey.MLB said Friday no amateur players are scheduled to attend the draft, which is the same as last year.
Here’s a look at the most enticing prospects for the White Sox and the rest of the teams drafting early in the first round.— Cholowsky. A 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter, he was a Golden Spikes finalist at UCLA and had a 1.088 OPS with 21 homers and 60 RBIs in his junior season.
