Third Round (Pick 101) - RHP Jonathan Cannon, University of Georgia
Draft Rankings - MLB: 60 | Baseball America: 46 | ESPN: 58 | The Athletic: 45
Sox Machine Top 150 Rank: 49th
A name to watch in the 2021 MLB Draft as a sophomore-eligible pitcher, Jonathan Cannon tried to use 2022 as a bounceback season with Georgia leading the Bulldogs staff. Cannon’s peripherals didn’t improve much from last year, but he was able to throw 15 more innings and prove he has a starter’s endurance.
While watching Cannon in 2022, he relies on three pitches: a fastball, a cutter, and a curveball. Cannon has dabbled both with a two-seam and four-seam variety of the fastball during his time at Georgia.
Velocity would often start in the mid-90s mph before tailing to low-90s as he got past the fourth inning. Cannon would use his curveball as a very effective out pitch when facing a lineup a second or third time through the order.
The cutter is a pitch that’s improving and at 88-90 mph is just enough of a velocity tailing away from right-handed hitters. More consistency working with the pitch could help against left-handers. With a grip adjustment, Cannon may generate more horizontal spin to be a sweeping slider that so many MLB pitchers are adopting today.
Fourth Round (Pick 131) - SS Jordan Sprinkle, UC Santa Barbara
Draft Rankings - MLB: 140 | Baseball America: 156 | ESPN: 191 | The Athletic: 77
Sox Machine Top 150 Rank: 135th
One of the best defensive shortstops in this draft class, Jordan Sprinkle, had early season hopes of being a Day 1 draft pick. Those were dashed after his poor offensive season hitting .269/.277/.401 with a 20.74% K-rate. There is work to be done by White Sox player development to help fix Sprinkle’s swing mechanics and plate approach. If Sprinkle can consistently find his way on base, he has plus speed to be an effective base stealer.
Fifth Round (Pick 161) - LHP Tyler Schweitzer, Ball State University
Draft Rankings - MLB: 210 | Baseball America: 381
Tyler Schweitzer moved from Ball State’s bullpen to starting rotation in 2022 and earned MAC Pitcher of the Year after his impressive season. In 17 appearances with 16 starts, Schweitzer pitched 91.2 innings with a 2.65 ERA maintaining an 11.0 K/9 and just a 2.95 BB/9.
It’s a three-pitch mix with a low 90’s mph four-seamer complimented with a curveball and changeup. A good sign based on feedback from midwest scouts and college baseball analysts is Schweitzer’s ability to maintain velocity deep into his starts (89-91 mph). For some games, able to hit 93 mph after the sixth inning. A chance for a little bit more velocity with further development.
Sixth Round (Pick 191) - RHP Eric Adler, Wake Forest University
Draft Rankings - MLB: 242 | Baseball America: 230
Another project for the White Sox Player Development staff, Eric Adler, has big stuff pitching out of Wake Forest’s bullpen. Adler had a terrific Cape Cod performance last summer that didn’t transition to his college season. After posting just a 1.15 ERA in 15 appearances at The Cape, Adler’s 2022 ERA with Wake Forest was 8.86 in 22 appearances.
Ignoring the results from his Junior season, Adler’s pitch mix is enticing to scouts. His four-seam fastball can reach 98 mph with a slider and curveball that generate a lot of spin. A continued theme in this draft for the White Sox.
Adler will need to improve his command if he’s set on a fast track to being a major league reliever. In 2022, Adler had a 15.6 K/9 but an eye-opening 10.55 BB/9.
Seventh Round (Pick 221) - RHP Mark McLaughlin, University of Tennessee
Draft Rankings - Baseball America: 444
A terrific college performer, RHP Mark McLaughlin was dependable out of Tennessee’s bullpen during his career at Knoxville. A four-seam and curveball combination, McLaughlin made 47 appearances in his three years while posting an impressive 1.90 ERA. In 2022, McLaughlin did an excellent job reducing his walk rate from 5.5 BB/9 in 2021 to 3.45 BB/9. His strikeouts saw an uptick to 12.93 K/9 this season.
Eighth Round (Pick 251) - 2B Mario Camilletti, Central Michigan University
A college senior, Mario Camilletti could be a low bonus signing for the White Sox but brings a good batter's eye to their farm system. Camilletti played three seasons at Oakland University before transferring to Central Michigan. In 122 games at Central Michigan, Camilletti drew 115 walks while striking out 68 times. Mostly a gap-to-gap hitter, Camilletti had 20 doubles in 2022 and finished with a .376/.498/.563 slash line. He’ll turn 24 years old next April.
Ninth Round (Pick 281) - C Michael Turner, University of Arkansas
Another discount signing for the White Sox, Michael Turner, transferred from Kent State to Arkansas this past season as a 5th-year senior. A left-handed bat, Turner hit .323/.388/.502 with 9 home runs and 53 RBI for the Razorbacks in 2022. Turner did not catch any games with the White Sox second-round pick, Peyton Pallette, but he was regarded by coaches in his work with a short-handed pitching staff in 2022.
Tenth Round (Pick 311) - 1B Tim Elko, Ole Miss
Tim Elko tore his ACL in 2021 and thought that was the end of his college career. After speaking with his parents, Elko decided to take a huge risk and continued playing on that torn ACL. Amazingly, Elko hit 16 HR with a .325/.444/.675 slash line.
Instead of signing last year, Elko decided to stick around in Oxford and play his fifth college season. He continued to bash, hitting 24 HR and 75 RBI with a .300/.407/.642 slash line helping Ole Miss win the College World Series. Swing and miss is an issue for his next level of development, but the White Sox are adding another high-character leader in Elko to their farm system.
