Updates on Sox top picks...

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http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines

 

First-round picks have been a work in progress the last five years for the White Sox.

 

The team has been teased and disappointed by the potential of two-sport Stanford star Joe Borchard and intrigued lately by former Oklahoma State quarterback and third baseman Josh Fields.

 

 

With this year's draft on Tuesday and Wednesday, a look at how the Sox's top picks for the last five years currently are faring:

 

2000: Joe Borchard

 

It's back to basics for Borchard as he tries to resurrect what's left of his time in the Sox organization after receiving a $5.3 million bonus.

 

After surprising team officials with a productive spring training, Borchard struggled immediately at Triple-A Charlotte. He has raised his batting average 51 points in the last month but only to .214 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs.

 

That's hardly the credentials needed for a major-league promotion or to attract another organization in need of an outfielder.

 

Making the situation more taxing for the Sox is Borchard will be out of minor-league options after this season, meaning his time with the Sox could come to an expensive end.

 

"He just needs to relax," said David Wilder, the Sox's director of player development. "Once he does that, he'll get his confidence back and be fine."

 

2001: Kris Honel

 

The right-hander is currently a reliever at Double-A Birmingham to gradually build strength from right shoulder tendinitis that limited him to 61/3 innings last season.

 

The results haven't been encouraging. Honel has walked 20 in 262/3 innings to go with a 7.76 ERA. But Sox officials have noticed Honel has started to regain his low 90-m.p.h. velocity.

 

The Sox are willing to be patient with Honel since they've altered his mechanics. They hope his arm problems are over.

 

2002: Royce Ring

 

The Sox's 2002 draft must have been pretty good. Otherwise, they wouldn't have included first-round pick Ring as part of a 2003 deal to acquire second baseman Roberto Alomar Jr.

 

Or they wouldn't have dealt second-round pick Jeremy Reed last summer to Seattle as part of a trade for pitcher Freddy Garcia. Or third-round selection Josh Rupe, who went to Texas in a trade involving designated hitter Carl Everett.

 

The highest remaining pick is left-hander Ryan Rodriguez, who is battling through a 5-4 record and 6.15 ERA in 11 starts at Class-A Winston-Salem.

 

"He's still young (20)," Wilder said of Rodriguez, who signed out of Keller (Texas) High School. "He has pretty decent stuff."

 

Rodriguez missed the entire 2003 season with left elbow inflammation, but pitched 1532/3 innings at Class A Kannapolis and in one start for Charlotte in 2004 and allowed only 12 home runs.

 

Ring, 24, meanwhile, was recalled Thursday by the Mets after posting a 2.33 ERA with one save at Triple-A Norfolk.

 

The left-handed-hitting Reed, 23, has overcome a slow start to hit .257 through 55 games with Seattle.

 

Rupe, 22, was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma last week after posting a 4-3 record and 3.74 ERA at Double-A Frisco.

 

 

2003: Brian Anderson

 

The outfielder is a victim of the Sox's current success.

 

"If he was part of an organization where the major-league club was struggling with no shot at winning the division, he would be in the big leagues by now," Wilder said.

 

Anderson, who received a $1.6 million bonus, played fearlessly as a non-roster invitee this spring, and his goofy and candid personality made him a media favorite.

 

His play at Triple-A Charlotte has been just as likeable, as he is hitting .288 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 52 games.

 

Anderson can play all three outfield positions, which makes him valuable.

 

2004: Josh Fields

 

Time to postpone any talk of running Joe Crede out of town. That's partly because Fields isn't ready.

 

"This is his first full season, but he's at the right level (Double A) right now," Wilder said of the third baseman, who is batting .212 with six homers and 32 RBIs in 53 games.

 

"He's learning the pro game and making adjustments. He has major-league ability."

 

Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told minor-league coaches in spring training he wanted Fields to work on his defense, but Fields has made 11 errors.