Rob Manfred mispronounces Roch Cholowsky's name in brutal MLB draft scene
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mispronounced the name of top draft prospect Roch Cholowsky during the 2026 MLB Draft. Despite the error, Cholowsky was selected first overall by the Chicago White Sox.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the high-pressure nature of professional sports drafts and the public scrutiny faced by league officials.
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Add The New York Post on Google Rob Manfred might want a do-over on this one.
Roch Cholowsky has been considered by many for months to be the favorite to go No. 1 in the 2026 MLB Draft, and sure enough, the UCLA star heard his name called when the proceedings commenced on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Have we been all saying Roch Cholowsky’s name wrong, or did Manfred botch it? 😭 pic.twitter.com/grYvt3xM76
“With the first pick of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Chicago White Sox select Roch Cholowsky, a shortstop from UCLA,” Manfred said.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during the first round of the MLB baseball draft, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Laurence Kesterson/UPI/Shutterstock However, Manfred pronounced the last name as chuh-LEW-skee instead of cha-LAU-skee, which is how it is listed in UCLA baseball’s media guide .
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