Jun 24, 2025 | Los Angeles, Sports, Valleys

UCLA’s Cholowsky Lands Another Major Honor

UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has added another accolade to his already stellar season, being named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division I Player of the Year. The honor caps off one of the most decorated individual campaigns in UCLA baseball history.

UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) fields a ground ball against the Murray State Racers during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images | Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images

By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer

UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has added another accolade to his already stellar season, being named the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Division I Player of the Year. The honor caps off one of the most decorated individual campaigns in UCLA baseball history.

Cholowsky was instrumental in leading the Bruins to 48 wins and their first College World Series appearance in Omaha, Nebraska, since their 2013 national championship run.

The standout sophomore was also named Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. His growing list of honors includes the Brooks Wallace Award, District 9 Player of the Year, Perfect Game USA Player of the Year, ABCA First Team All-American, Baseball America First Team All-American, and NCBWA Second Team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

Projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, Cholowsky dazzled on both sides of the ball. He led all Division I players with a 6.49 WAR and slashed .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. Defensively, he shined with 20.15 defensive runs saved and a 1.51 defensive WAR—both tops in the nation—committing just seven errors all season, including a two-month stretch without one.

Though he didn’t record an extra-base hit during the postseason, Cholowsky remained the heartbeat of a young Bruins squad. UCLA opened the postseason with a 6-0 run, sweeping through regionals and defeating Murray State in its College World Series opener.

Weather complications led to an unusual two-day stretch where the Bruins had to resume a suspended game against LSU and then face No. 3-seeded Arkansas on the same day. UCLA fell to the Razorbacks 7-3, ending their title hopes.

Coming off a 19-win season, the Bruins’ 29-game turnaround stands as one of the most dramatic improvements in program history. They were the only Big Ten team to make it to Omaha.

With Cholowsky returning and a talented core of underclassmen, the future looks bright in Westwood heading into 2026.