CHICAGO -- With the 41st pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, the White Sox selected second baseman Cole Prosek, a standout player from Magnolia Heights High School in Mississippi.
Prosek, MLB Pipeline’s No. 27 Draft prospect, is one of the top high school bats in the 2026 Draft class. He proved that with a standout senior season, batting .595 and ranking second in the nation with an impressive 18 home runs in just 41 games to power his school to a state championship. He was named the Gatorade Mississippi Baseball Player of the Year, beating out some tough competition that included No. 6 Draft prospect Eric Booth Jr.
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Prosek likely profiles as a third baseman in the pros, but he saw time behind the plate as a senior and performed well enough that he could try his hand at catcher at the next level, although it could add to his development time and limit his offensive ceiling. He even has the ability to pitch, reaching 93 mph and striking out 67 in 57 2/3 innings with a 3.16 ERA as a senior, but he is expected to focus on hitting in pro ball.
And Prosek sure can hit. If his high school batting average wasn’t enough evidence, Prosek’s hit tool received a plus grade of 60 on the 20-80 scale from MLB Pipeline, his top attribute. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect tends to be on time with a quick and compact left-handed swing, allowing him to barrel the ball at a consistent clip.
Although Prosek has been known to chase some pitches and can rely too much on pulling the ball, he has the bat speed and strength to be a plus hitter with at least average power.
Prosek could be the second Magnolia Heights player to reach the Major Leagues, joining MLB Pipeline No. 56 overall prospect Cooper Pratt, who made his debut for the Brewers on June 16.
“The thing about Roch [Cholowsky], Landon [Thome] and Cole at the same time, I had people in the league texting me, ‘Hey, we taking a first baseman next?’” White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley said. “They felt like that piece of the infield we were selecting was real.
“We are starting to build something out that’s real. You keep taking these infielders. Guys it’s about pieces of the puzzle that are maneuverable and can continue to add to our offense and can be deployed in multiple places if we need them.”
Cole Prosek, INF
- Round 2, Pick 41
- Bats/throws: L/R
- School: Magnolia Heights, Mississippi
- Calling Card: Prosek can play second, third, at catcher and even got up to 93 mph on the mound. Prosek will start as a third baseman but will see some time at second. His hit tool is real, according to Shirley.
- Quote: “Baseball acumen on him is rich but the left-handed bat is pretty substantial. He’s been a target since Day 1. He’s the guy scouts are super excited about. We are willing to take the risk for the bat speed and intent.” – Shirley
Joey Volchko, RHP
- Round 3, Pick 77
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Georgia
- Calling Card: Described by Shirley as super smart and super detailed, Volchko started at Stanford but built out his repertoire at Georgia. He’s a special piece with power and athleticism as well.
- Quote: “He’s a monster, big strong athletic, the makeup, the intelligence, the aptitude off the charts.” – Shirley
Eric Segura, RHP
- Round 4, Pick 105
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Oregon State
- Calling Card: Shirley pointed to the makeup for Segura as a selling point.
- Quote: “Really throws a lot of strikes, breaking ball that really moves and just the seamed-effect sinker that we’re really trying to chase with him most importantly.” – Shirley