​Rewriting the piece about Rob Manfred mispronouncing Roch Cholowsky at the 2026 MLB Draft, originally published by The Sporting News, with The Sporting News listed as a preferred source. Since mock drafts started circulating for the 2026 MLB Draft, UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has been viewed as a leading candidate for the top selection. On Saturday in Philadelphia, that projection became reality as the Chicago White Sox, riding a surprisingly competitive season in the AL Central, selected Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick, further adding a gifted infield presence to their system.
During the moment Cholowsky learned of his selection, tears welled in his eyes, a reaction that followed MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s mispronunciation of the shortstop’s surname. The following footage captures Manfred’s mispronunciation as Cholowsky’s name was announced at the 2026 MLB Draft. More coverage includes the full list of picks from the event. With no players in attendance for the in-person draft once again this year, Manfred still took the stage on Saturday afternoon to officially confirm the White Sox’s No. 1 choice.
Cholowsky had long been a frontrunner for the top pick, and Manfred stepped up to the microphone to make the selection official: “With the first pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox select Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA.” The issue lay in the pronunciation. Cholowsky’s name has a well-established pronunciation among UCLA fans and the broader scouting community, and Manfred’s reading diverged from that standard. Given Cholowsky’s status on MLB’s radar for more than a year, the moment drew online attention as viewers noted the discrepancy between the announced name and the familiar pronunciation.
In UCLA’s baseball media guide, Cholowsky’s name is documented with the pronunciation: “Rock” “chill-OW-skee,” indicating the correct emphasis and sounds for both his first and last names. In the broadcast, Manfred delivered the first name correctly, but pronounced the last name as “chuh-LEW-skee,” a deviation that sparked conversation among fans and analysts who had followed Cholowsky’s college career.
A clip of the moment provides the audible correct pronunciation of Cholowsky’s last name, highlighting the difference between the commissioner’s delivery and the established way Cholowsky pronounces it. Regardless of the mispronunciation, Cholowsky absorbed the moment from his home setup, surrounded by family and friends, and he cried upon hearing his name called as the No. 1 overall pick.
Cholowsky’s selection adds another top-tier talent to the White Sox organization, reinforcing their strengthening infield depth and potential impact for the franchise as they continue their ascent in the league. The event itself underscored the anticipation surrounding Cholowsky’s professional journey and the broader narrative of the 2026 MLB Draft, where onlookers watched to see how the top prospects would handle the spotlight and the momentous declaration of their professional futures.