The American League Central made its presence felt early and often during the 2026 MLB Draft. The division produced three of the first six selections, including the No. 1 overall pick, and finished with seven players selected through Competitive Balance Round A. The White Sox and Royals each made two selections, while the Twins, Guardians and Tigers added one potential cornerstone apiece. From polished college hitters to powerful right-handed pitchers, the AL Central came away with one of the most interesting collections of first-round talent in baseball.
1) Chicago White Sox, No. 1 Overall
SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA
The White Sox opened the entire draft by selecting UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, one of the most polished and complete players available. Cholowsky combines a disciplined offensive approach with legitimate power and outstanding defensive ability at shortstop. He hit 44 home runs over his final two seasons at UCLA and finished his junior year with 21 homers and a 1.088 OPS. Chicago believes Cholowsky has the talent and maturity to move quickly through the Minor Leagues, and his ability to remain at shortstop gives him a chance to become a centerpiece of the White Sox lineup for many years. This was the safe selection at No. 1, but it was also the right one.
3) Minnesota Twins, No. 3 Overall
C Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech
Minnesota selected one of the biggest breakout players in college baseball with Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. The athletic, 6-foot-2, 215-pound backstop hit .397 with 20 home runs, 78 RBIs and a 1.291 OPS while helping Georgia Tech win both the ACC regular-season and tournament championships. Lackey also won the Johnny Bench Award as the best catcher in NCAA Division I baseball. He has the arm strength, blocking ability and leadership skills to remain behind the plate, but he is athletic enough to handle third base or an outfield position if needed. Lackey became the first catcher taken by the Twins with their opening selection since Joe Mauer in 2001, and Minnesota hopes he can eventually become another major offensive presence at the position.
6) Kansas City Royals, No. 6 Overall
OF Zion Rose, Louisville
The Royals delivered the first major surprise of the draft by selecting Louisville outfielder Zion Rose sixth overall. Rose was ranked lower on many public draft boards, but Kansas City clearly believed in his combination of bat-to-ball skills, athleticism and developing power. Despite dealing with ankle and hamstring injuries, Rose hit .417 with a .491 on-base percentage, six home runs and 24 stolen bases in 36 games during his final season at Louisville. He finished his college career with a .358 average and a 1.023 OPS over 146 games. Rose consistently produces hard contact and uses the entire field, although he will need to improve his swing decisions and defensive consistency. Kansas City may have selected him earlier than expected, but Rose has the offensive talent to justify the decision.
19) Cleveland Guardians, No. 19 Overall
RHP Liam Peterson, Florida
Cleveland returned to its organizational strength by selecting Florida right-hander Liam Peterson. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound pitcher owns a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph, along with a strong mid-80s slider, a 12-to-6 curveball and a developing changeup. Peterson struck out 111 batters in 84⅓ innings during his final season with Florida, but he also finished with a 4.59 ERA as his command continued to be inconsistent. The raw material is clearly there for Peterson to become a quality Major League starter, and there may not be a better organization than Cleveland to help him refine his delivery, improve his control and turn his impressive arsenal into consistent results.
22) Detroit Tigers, No. 22 Overall
RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
Detroit may have landed one of the better values in the first round when Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey remained available at No. 22. Flukey entered the season as one of the top college pitchers in the country after going 7-2 with a 3.09 ERA and helping Coastal Carolina reach the College World Series in 2025. A stress fracture in his ribs limited him to seven starts and 24 innings this spring, causing his draft stock to fall. When healthy, the 6-foot-6 right-hander features a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, a curveball, slider and improving changeup. He has averaged 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings during his college career and possesses the complete arsenal of a potential mid-rotation starter. If Flukey stays healthy, Detroit could eventually look back at this as one of the biggest steals of the opening round.
30) Kansas City Royals, Competitive Balance Round A
RHP Taylor Rabe, Mississippi
After using its first selection on a position player, Kansas City added a powerful and polished college arm with Mississippi right-hander Taylor Rabe. Rabe began the season working behind other pitchers but eventually forced his way into the rotation and became the top starter for an Ole Miss team that reached the College World Series. His fastball averaged 96 mph and reached 100, while his hard cutter, slider and changeup give him multiple weapons against hitters. Rabe recorded 105 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 76 innings, producing a 7.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranked fourth in NCAA Division I. That combination of velocity, control and competitiveness gives Rabe a chance to move through the Royals’ system quickly.
34) Chicago White Sox, Competitive Balance Round A
SS Landon Thome, Nazareth Academy, Illinois
Chicago used the Competitive Balance selection acquired from Pittsburgh to draft Landon Thome, the son of Hall of Fame slugger and former White Sox star Jim Thome. Landon is not simply a famous name, however. The left-handed hitter was named the 2026 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year after batting .535 with seven home runs, 29 RBIs, 57 runs scored and a 1.676 OPS. He also stole 49 bases in 50 attempts, showing a speed and athleticism element that makes his game much different from his father’s. Thome may eventually move from shortstop to second or third base, but his advanced hitting ability, aggressive baserunning and ability to drive the baseball to every part of the field give him a strong offensive foundation. The White Sox began their draft with one shortstop and finished their first-round work by adding another.
Final Thoughts
The AL Central produced an impressive mixture of high-floor college performers and high-upside talent. Chicago walked away with the best overall player in Cholowsky and one of the most recognizable prospects in Thome. Minnesota added a potential franchise catcher, while Kansas City executed an interesting strategy by pairing Rose’s offensive upside with Rabe’s power and command. Cleveland and Detroit both trusted their pitching development programs with talented right-handers whose raw ability may be better than their recent statistics suggest.
Sportsvival believes the Twins made one of the safest selections in the entire draft with Lackey, while Detroit may have found the division’s best value in Flukey. However, the biggest winner has to be Chicago. Adding Cholowsky and Thome to an improving organization gave the White Sox two talented infielders who could eventually become important pieces of the next successful era on the South Side.