With the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft just around the corner, here's a recent survey of what the top four outlets project for the top four picks, including the White Sox at No. 4.
FanGraphs (June 1)
- White Sox pick: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida
- Top three picks: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn (Tigers), Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech (Giants), Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State (Phillies)
- Previous mock: Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State.
Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel's mock draft went above and beyond, as it also picked an alternate draft and extended the picks through the second round. In the straightforward draft, they call it a split in the room between Singer and Madrigal, so I assume Madrigal is the less likely yet plausible draft option.
In the second round, they have the Sox selecting Alabama prep shortstop Jeremiah Jackson.
MLB.com (June 1)
- White Sox pick: Singer
- Top three picks: Mize, Bart, Madrigal
- Previous mock: Singer
Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis are now aligned, saying the White Sox are most likely to select Singer, although here it's because Madrigal is already off the board.
However, Mayo gives his own alternate course by saying the White Sox were heavily scouting Indianapolis high school outfielder Nick Schnell. (Because it's the White Sox, of course Schnell is Louisville-bound.) Schnell has been most prominently tied to the Rays at pick No. 31.
Baseball America (June 1)
- White Sox pick: Nick Madrigal, 2B,
- Top three picks: Mize, Bart, Bohm
- Previous mock: Nick Madrigal
This is the chalk mock draft -- Mize, Bart, Bohm, and then either Madrigal or Singer.
Keith Law (May 31)
- White Sox pick: Singer
- Top three picks: Mize, Cole Winn, RHP, HS; Bart
- Previous mock: Madrigal
This is Law's standard reasoning with White Sox and pitching prospects, although Fulmer and Danish aren't points in Singer's favor:
The White Sox aren't afraid to take pitchers with unusual deliveries, hitting big time on Chris Sale, while also taking Carson Fulmer in the top 10 and Tyler Danish in the second round. You might even throw Carlos Rodon and Alec Hansen in that category. I've also heard them linked with the usual suspects such as Mize, Bart and Madrigal.
