Last year on Day 3, the White Sox went on a real run of six-figure bonus picks. From rounds 11 through 15, the Sox selected a shortstop and four pitchers, and all of them required at least $125,000 to sign. They were all well-regarded for third-day picks, with three finishing in Baseball America's Top 500. The Sox also revisited that territory with their 18th pick (Romy Gonzalez), but still had enough money to go big with Bryce Bush in the 33rd round ($290,000).
Day 3 was more muted this time around, at least on paper. If it's indeed different, then you can point to the prep talent taken in the second, third and fourth rounds requiring more of the draft pool.
The White Sox followed last year's template initially by taking a couple of high school players out of Puerto Rico -- catcher Victor Torres and outfielder Misael Gonzalez Acosta. Torres has an impressive defensive profile, but less could be found about Acosta.
Perhaps because this was a down year for college pitchers -- and maybe because a couple of guys they drafted last year weren't available due to injury, so they're basically new to the organization -- most of their more intriguing picks were on the position-player side. The reports for pitchers were less than flattering. Here's what Baseball America said about 15th-rounder Caleb Freeman out of Texas Tech:
A glance at Freeman’s statistics would seem to preclude any idea of him being drafted. Freeman was expected to be Texas Tech’s closer thanks to a 94-98 mph fastball, but he’s much more of a thrower than a pitcher and his velocity dipped to 92 mph at times. Most importantly, he can’t find the strike zone. Opponents hit .393 against Freeman, as he went 2-0, 6.75 with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in 14.2 innings this spring. Freeman shows flashes of having a plus breaking ball to go with his sometimes plus fastball, but his 20-grade control and command keeps him from taking advantage of his high-end stuff.
If you want to examine every pick, FutureSox did the work of compiling a thumbnail for every selection, so let's stick to the more intriguing ones.
Top 500 types, position players
- Logan Britt (No. 416)
- D.J. Gladney (No. 481)
Britt (35th round) is a 6-foot-5-inch corner outfielder who went to the same Texas high school as second-overall pick Bobby Witt. He was a quarterback, so his arm strength is that of a classic right fielder's, and he generates power as well. He's committed to Texas A&M, and his hit tool may be far enough away that he'll honor it.
Gladney (16th round) is a product of the White Sox' Amateur City Elite program. He's a third baseman with a power bat, although he could end up in left field. He has a commitment to Eastern Kentucky.
Both these players seem likely to head to college, although that's what was said about Bush last year.
Other tough signs
- Joshua Rivera (19th round)
- Logan Glass (22nd round)
- Caeden Trenkle (28th round)
- Chase Krogman (34th round)
Rivera, a shortstop at the highly regarded Chipola Junior College in Florida and the second-best Josh Rivera in this draft, has a commitment to go to the University of Florida. A trio of center fielders (from Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri, respectively) who will have to be lured away from college commitments (Kansas, Oklahoma State and Missouri State, respectively).
Others of intrigue
- McKinley Moore (14th round)
- Cameron Simmons (20th round)
McKinley has a built-in nickname given his 6-foot-6-inch, 230-pound frame, and he threw in the high-90s at Arkansas-Little Rock, but he walked more than he struck out this season. Simmons' draft stock was higher as a sophomore (.352/.432/.562) than a senior at Virginia (.260/.363/.389), but shoulder surgery cost the corner outfielder his junior year.
