Chicago White Sox

Baseball America on George Wolkow (#79):

Wolkow!

Wilkow!

Baseball America on Calvin Harris (#167):

From what I just read, it sounds like players at larger programs could be looking at $50k to $100k per year. So meaningful if you’re past the first few rounds, but also not life-changing money completely impossible to pass up.

Definitely worried that in a draft loaded with prep talent and with a scouting director who loves prep talent, we’re going all in on college players. I get it’s not that simple and you got to go with how the board shakes out, but two straight college pitchers taken well above consensus of the major publications (I know they aren’t perfect) worries me of Hahn over-involvement.

Baseball America in Keener (#131):

Besides the speed complaint, this comment from Law stuck out to me on Gonzalez: To me, this pick only makes sense if you project Jacob to hit +15 HRs in the majors. A 2B from the left side with quality plate discipline who will slug at a .150 ISO level and provide above average defense is a legit asset. If he can only manage say 8 to 10 HRs as a 2B, then he’s more or less just a guy you can find fairly easily in free agency.

Any chance he’s an under-slot signing, even if only slightly?

Whitman just got snagged.

Didn’t Matthews go in the 1st?

@Y2Jimmy0 - Thoughts on the Taylor pick?

I’m sure Uncle Jerry is excited that this represents one less TJS he’ll have to pay for.

Looks like $1.66M…so maybe there is a chance he’s a slightly under-slot signing. I would actually love this type of pick in the 3rd round, but for whatever reason I expect a bit more floor than this in the 2nd. Obviously there is real upside here, but it’s a pretty risky profile based on the scouting reports and short clips I’ve seen of him.

What’s the slot value of this pick?

Wasn’t Pallette much higher regarded last year? Taylor is ranked in the 80 to 100 range by the bigger publications.

This next pick will be very telling in that regard.

Who are the best five still available?

Is the 2nd round being streamed online? Apparently YoutubeTV no longer has MLBN.

He’s got a profile that is much more consistent with Shirley’s approach and I’d be excited about getting him in the 2nd.

The Sox need to target high-end upside in round 2. My biggest beef with the Gonzalez pick is a lack of ceiling. Outside of Montgomery, I’m not sure there is a single prospect in the system with “star” potential on the positional side and Jacob doesn’t change that calculus. And that’s highly problematic when your owner is unwilling to buy stars in free agency.

So in a hypothetical “they all work out” scenario, how do we see Montgomery, Gonzalez, & Ramos lining up in the infield? SS, 2B, & 3B respectively?

I mean, you can never have enough SS prospects. Not defending the pick, but him being a SS is not the reason to dislike.

Grandal would technically be a 20 grade runner, although they may want to rethink the numbering system to allow a lesser figure just for him.

You think Hahn would have realized that “safe” drafting ahead of a rebuild is a bad idea based on how the strategy failed last time and contributed to our competitive window rapidly ending. That being said, at least this kid is a legit SS and not a DH pretending to be a C, a 1B pretending to be a 3B, a DH pretending to be a 1B, or a 5’5”, 150 pound 2B. Still, not a fan of “safe” drafting (ESPN used the word at least five times when describing him) and makes me worry this is a Hahn pick and not Shirley’s. Also, the 30 grade speed is a bit bothersome.