Pair of White Sox 1st round picks shut down before seasons end

After several miserable seasons, the Chicago White Sox have built a winning team while having one of the stronger farm systems in baseball, with impressive depth throughout the organization. That talent has already begun making its way to the majors, as 15 players have made their MLB debuts with the White Sox this season, including four former first-round picks: Noah Schultz (2022), Jacob Gonzalez (2023), Hagen Smith (2024), and Braden Montgomery (2024).

Of that group, Schultz, Smith, and Gonzalez were all originally drafted by Chicago, while Montgomery was selected by the Boston Red Sox before eventually joining the White Sox. Gonzalez, however, is no longer with the organization after being traded for left-handed pitcher Jaden Woods and the No. 34 overall pick in this year’s draft. Chicago used that selection on Landon Thome, the son of Hall of Famer and White Sox legend Jim Thome.

Among the White Sox’s more recent first-round picks, significant news was announced regarding Billy Carlson (2025) and Roch Cholowsky (2026), as both have been shut down for the remainder of their respective minor league seasons. Carlson is dealing with a skin infection, while Cholowsky is being sidelined due to wrist soreness.

Chicago White Sox shut down first round picks Billy Carlson and Roch Cholowsky

Carlson, the 20-year-old shortstop, will see his season come to an end after appearing in just 60 games during his first professional campaign. He already missed time earlier this year with a thumb fracture and is now dealing with a skin infection that requires treatment. In his debut season, Carlson hit .252/.380/.335 and is still searching for his first professional home run.

Meanwhile, Cholowsky wasted little time making an impact, hitting his first professional home run within his first week. However, the 2026 first overall pick struggled to find his footing over his nine games, going just 6-for-36 at the plate. While the slow start is far from ideal, this season was ultimately about getting his feet wet and gaining valuable experience heading into 2027, which could be a pivotal year for a player the White Sox expect to move quickly through the minor leagues.

Related: Roch Cholowksy lands high on first post draft MLB Pipeline top 100 ranking

Overall, the early shutdowns of Carlson and Cholowsky are certainly disappointing, but they should not overshadow the bigger picture. They both still have plenty of time to get healthy, develop, and continue working toward the big leagues. If shutting them down now and prioritizing their health is what gives them the best chance to succeed long term, then it is the right decision for the White Sox.

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