Matt Johnson
The San Francisco Giants have the fourth overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, positioning them to land a top prospect but potentially missing out on the clear-cut franchise player they want. It seems that efforts are being made to swing things in their favor.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that Giants’ president of baseball operations Buster Posey privately met with UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. San Francisco’s affinity for the standout prospect is no secret around MLB and efforts are being made to influence his slide in the 2026 MLB Draft.
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In that private meeting, San Francisco reportedly had Posey’s former teammate, Gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford, to meet with Cholowsky. The 21-year-old grew up idolizing Crawford and reportedly sought his advice on attending UCLA, Crawford’s alma mater.
Cholowsky is widely viewed as the best prospect in the MLB Draft. He’s done nothing to change that this season, putting up a .321/.455/.660 triple-slash line with 59 RBIs, 21 home runs, and a 1.116 OPS.
Viewed as someone with the potential to be a perennial All-Star shortstop, Cholowsky would be a home-run pick for San Francisco. The issue, however, is that he’s not expected to slide to the 2026 MLB Draft.
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The Giants could theoretically float to Cholowsky that they are willing to give him the largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history. However, that won’t prevent the Chicago White Sox (first overall pick), Tampa Bay Rays (second overall pick), or the Minnesota Twins (third overall pick) from taking him.
As much as Nightengale continues to suggest that the Giants will try to influence how the top of the 2026 MLB Draft plays out, those inside the league are highly skeptical of it working out. More likely, San Francisco will either draft UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora or high school shortstop Grady Emerson.
