Back when Major League Baseball conducted the first two rounds of the MLB Draft on the same day, each of the first two picks warranted its own post.
It's a little more awkward now that the league has lumped in the second round with the next eight, but it still feels like the second-round pick warrants his own post, while the others get lumped into a second-day summary.
So here's Wes Kath! The White Sox selected the 18-year-old infielder (he turns 19 in a month) out of Desert Mountain High School, which sits in the shadows of Paul Konerko's fiefdom in Scottsdale, Ariz. Those who read Josh's prep infielder review or some of the mock draft coverage might be familiar with his name, so this didn't come out left field. No, he's a shortstop.
What's his game?
He has a lot in common with first-round pick Colson Montgomery, from his handedness (lefty bat, no gloves) to his position (shortstop, but people think he'll end up at third). If you're wondering how they end up 33 picks apart, the doubts are just a little more pronounced. His frame is a bit bigger and his first step is considered slower, so there's less disagreement about his final position, although he does make the plays he gets to and his arm is strong enough to pitch.
There are also disagreements about his in-game power, which Baseball America says is gap-to-gap at the moment. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel says his bat speed is ordinary, while MLB.com's report said he had the tendency to hit defensively. The raw power is present, and the hit tool is more known than Montgomery's, and Kath was the top position player in Arizona. Much like the White Sox drafting Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist in consecutive rounds two years ago, it seems like they're going for strength in numbers to buoy themselves against the natural risk a first-round prep pick carries.
PERTINENT: With Colson Montgomery, White Sox return to high school in first round
Where does he rank?
- FanGraphs: No. 27
- MLB Pipeline: No. 34
- ESPN: No. 43
- Baseball America: No. 54
- Keith Law: No. 80
What's he look like?
What's next?
The White Sox selected Maryland lefty Sean Burke in the third round, and I'll cover him and the following seven picks in a separate post.
(Photo by Michael Chow/The Republic via Imagn Content Service)
