The sun sets, the page turns and a new draft cycle arrives upon the horizon. 2025 has come and gone, 2026 now imminent. Pole-to-pole prospects are rare. Seldom seen is a player who looks like the top prospect a year in advance and still manages to hear their name called first in the following year’s draft. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has few holes on and off the field. He’s as good a bet to buck that trend as anyone.
Indeed, heavy is the head that wears the crown. Few are talented enough to hold the throne an entire draft cycle. In 2024, it was JJ Wetherholt and Nick Kurtz, but Travis Bazzana stole the mantle. In 2023, it was Dylan Crews, but his Tiger teammate Paul Skenes stole that honor. The list goes on and on. Elijah Green, Kumar Rocker, Emerson Hancock. None of them went the distance. One could …