With less than a week until the MLB draft, the top draft observers seem to have settled on a clear favorite, although it comes short of consensus.
In his most recent chat, Kiley McDaniel said he's leaning toward Cal first baseman Andrew Vaughn going fifth, which presumably means he'll have the Sox going with prep shortstop C.J. Abrams. If the list posts today, I'll add it to this group. If it doesn't, presume FanGraphs can be lumped in with the majority, which still doesn't include:
Keith Law (May 28)
- White Sox select: Andrew Vaughn, 1B, Cal
- First two picks: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State (Orioles); Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville (Texas) HS (Royals)
- Previous mock: Vaughn
As far as the first three picks go, Law's mock draft hasn't changed from the first version he published three weeks ago, which is the one way Rutschman can fall to the Sox at No. 3.
MLB.com (May 24)
- White Sox select: C.J. Abrams, SS, Blessed Trinity Catholic HS (Roswell, Ga.)
- First two picks: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State (Orioles); Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Colleyville (Texas) HS (Royals)
- Previous mock: Abrams
While MLB Pipeline's projection for the White Sox hasn't changed at No. 3, it's notable because both of its draft leaders are now on the same page. Before, Jonathan Mayo disagreed with Jim Callis and pegged Andrew Vaughn for Chicago, but now he's leaning toward the prep shortstop in what he characterizes as a possible tug of war:
Assuming Rutshman and Witt go 1-2, this could end up being an internal debate between the toolsy, high-upside up-the-middle player in Abrams and the advanced college hitter in Vaughn.
Baseball America (May 24)
- White Sox select: Abrams
- First two picks: Rutschman, Witt
- Previous mock: Abrams
Nothing has changed in Carlos Collazo's estimation, either:
Abrams' name continues to be most common with the White Sox at No. 3, giving them back-to-back shortstops at the top of the draft, although Abrams has a much different profile than 2018 first-round pick Nick Madrigal.
