The Great White Sox Draft Debate is resolved.
The White Sox went with Nick Madrigal.
The Sox took the Oregon State second baseman with the fourth overall pick after weeks of back-and-forth speculation that also involved Florida right-handed pitcher Brady Singer. In the end, the Sox went with the diminutive infielder with the best hit tool in the draft.
Madrigal is hitting .406/.470/.586 for the Beavers, who are in the midst of a College World Series run. He's struck out just five times to 13 walks and four HBPs over 133 at-bats, along with an above-average glove at second base and plus skills on the basepaths.
The big drawback is his lack of power, as he's hit just eight homers over his collegiate career. Then again, he broke his hand earlier in the year, which might explain some of the relatively low .180 ISO. The other question is how much he can be stretched defensively, and whether arm will allow him to play on the left side of the infield.
What the White Sox say:
"Nick is recognized as one of the best hitters in college baseball, and we’re excited to add him to the organization," said Nick Hostetler, White Sox director of scouting. "He possesses tremendous baseball skills, character and makeup, and we look forward to watching him compete for the national championship before joining the White Sox organization and beginning his professional career."
Where did he rank?
- Baseball America: No. 3
- MLB.com: No. 3
- Keith Law: No. 11
- FanGraphs: No. 2
First three picks:
- Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn
- Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
- Phillies: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
