The Chicago White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky first overall Saturday in the MLB amateur draft. The 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter posted a 1.088 OPS with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs during his junior season and was a Golden Spikes Award finalist.

Cholowsky becomes the second UCLA product taken with the No. 1 pick, joining pitcher Gerrit Cole, who went first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz praised Cholowsky's leadership in a statement.

"A leader on the field as well as in the clubhouse," said Getz. "He has more than lived up to very high expectations, and we cannot wait to get him into our organization, get started and see him continue his growth and success."

The Tampa Bay Rays followed with the second pick, selecting shortstop Grady Emerson out of Fort Worth Christian High School in Texas. The Minnesota Twins took Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey third overall.

Saturday marked the White Sox's first time holding the top pick since selecting Harold Baines in 1977. Chicago earned the No. 1 selection after losing 102 games last season and winning the draft lottery.

The organization views Cholowsky as a future star who can help lead the franchise toward its first World Series title since 2005.