The nine teams before them laid the scenic route in setting it up, but the White Sox ended up fulfilling one of the most popular projections of the mock draft circuit, taking shortstop California prep shortstop Billy Carlson with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 MLB draft.
The White Sox had been tied to high school shortstops over the weeks leading up to the draft, with the biggest question being whether Carlson, Mississippi shortstop JoJo Parker, or either one would still be available by the time the White Sox were on the clock.
Parker went to Toronto with the eighth pick, but once Cincinnati selected Alabama prep shortstop Steele Hall -- a player frequently receiving "also considering" ties to the White Sox on the draft rumor mill -- Carlson was the chalkiest pick available on the position-player front, and the player that Josh chose in his mock draft. The only question was whether the presence of Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold would inspire the Sox to take another college pitcher, especially one perceived to be an excellent value at No. 10. The Sox instead opted for the Corona High School product, and the second one taken in the top 10 picks.
"I had a good idea going in, but honestly, it was kind of a wild draft, so I was keeping my eyes peeled," Carlson said on if he knew of the Sox' interest. "I'm open to learning and getting down to Chicago and learning some stuff and signing that contract. Super excited."
What's Billy Carlson's game?
Carlson's calling card is his defense, as he's the kind of prep shortstop who would genuinely shock people if he had to play anywhere else. He possesses enough arm strength that pitching could've been a legit pathway, but paired with his athleticism, he's already getting 60-to-70 grades on his glovework.
"The defense at shortstop is some of the best I’ve ever seen at the amateur ranks," said scouting director Mike Shirley. "He moves - the hand skill, the feet skill. It’s a big-time arm. He does so many things on the defensive side that are elite. The body, the way it’s built, the way it’s structured. The projection. He just touches so many points to get excited about."
That ability in the field gives him some time to iron out the hitting side. The bat speed and hit tool are fine at present, but there are questions about how viable his setup will be against upper-level pitching. It's not so much a question of whether it can be fixed, but more about whether average or power will have to be significantly sacrificed when he arrives at his final stage. He also turns 19 in a couple of weeks, which reduced the prep player's precociousness a little bit. Josh has likened him to Dansby Swanson, but if he takes to swing changes the way Konnor Griffin did, however, his ceiling could get a bigger bump.
"I think it gets slept on a little bit," Carlson said of his offense. "I feel like this spring I showed I can bang with the best of them and really have some thump for my size. Super excited to be able to prove that, and show that these next few years."
Where did he rank?
What does Billy Carlson look like?
Any good anagrams?
Nope.
2025 MLB Draft: The top 10
- Nationals: Eli Willits, SS, Fort Cobb-Broxton HS (Okla.)
- Angels: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
- Mariners: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
- Rockies: Ethan Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (Okla.)
- Cardinals: Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
- Pirates: Seth Hernandez, RHP, Corona HS (Calif.)
- Marlins: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
- Blue Jays: JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis HS (Miss.)
- Reds: Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville HS (Ala.)
- White Sox: Billy Carlson, SS, Corona HS (Calif.)
Arnold, the top college pitcher on the board, went to the Athletics with the next pick.
