The Chicago White Sox started their MLB draft by deciding on Oswego East pitcher Noah Schultz with the No. 26 decide. They additionally closed their draft with pitching, choosing Ohio State’s Ethan Hammerberg within the twentieth spherical.
In all, the Sox chosen 12 pitchers (9 right-handers and three lefties), six infielders, one outfielder and one catcher.
“The depth of trying to get those (pitching) arms secured when you’re a little bit shorter with resources, we feel good about that,” Sox director of newbie scouting Mike Shirley stated throughout a convention name Monday. “That was the plan going into that. It took a lot of effort by every scout in this organization to do the work on the pitching, day in and day out, to make sure that we had it viewed correctly.”
All however certainly one of their 20 alternatives had been from faculty or junior faculty. Schultz was the lone exception.
1. Pitching, pitching and extra pitching.
Shirley made no secret earlier than the draft of the group’s need for pitching, and the Sox executed that plan proper off the bat. Six of their first seven alternatives had been pitchers, starting with Schultz.
“The best thing about what we’ve done is we’ve been able to secure pitching in what we didn’t feel like was a draft that was deep in it,” Shirley stated. “Between Noah and (second-round pick) Peyton Pallette at the top, getting Jonathan Cannon (in the third round), throw (fifth-round pick Tyler) Schweitzer in there. The (Mark) McLaughlin kid we took from University of Tennessee (in the seventh round), this guy has that unique spin metric component with the heater.”
While discussing picks throughout Day 2 of the draft, Shirley described Georgia right-hander Cannon as “the type of guy who can really make a difference.”
“He’s got weapons and resources to work with,” Shirley stated. “It’s the perfect athletic frame, it’s the starter pedigree. The unique thing about this guy is I think it was a stretch of 40 or 50 innings where he hadn’t walked a hitter this year. Early on in his process, he was dominant.”
Cannon was 9-4 this 12 months with a 4.02 ERA, 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 13 begins. He went 6-2 in eight SEC begins.
“Four-pitch mix, it’s the sinker and two breaking balls and the second breaking ball being that cutter,” Shirley stated. “It’s dynamic and the changeup is kind of the icing on the cake with him. The pedigree. He maneuvered through those SEC lineups pretty well in his career.”
2. Sprinkling within the place gamers.
The Sox picked UC Santa Barbara shortstop Jordan Sprinkle within the fourth spherical.
“It’s a top-of-the-charts speed guy who can play shortstop,” Shirley stated. “Many guys in our room feel like he could play shortstop in the big leagues tonight defensively. It’s that kind of athlete, that kind of mover.”
Sprinkle had 26 stolen bases in 2021 and 25 this 12 months. He slashed .353/.402/.536 in 2021 and .285/.381/.416 this season.
“I kind of feel like Jordan from his offensive performance, these kids are under a lot of stress and a lot of duress in their draft year,” Shirley stated. “Famous title, lots of people within the park to observe you day by day. These children press on themselves typically. The efficiency doesn’t at all times speed up itself.
“I think someone had gotten in Jordan’s ear about trying to be more of a power guy this year. So he was trying to pull the ball a little bit more and I don’t think that was productive for him. Trying to maybe do too much this spring instead of be who he is, use his speed better on the opposite half of the hit tool, using right-center field more. We were lucky to secure him. He’s an elite athlete we’re excited about.”
First baseman Tim Elko, whom the Sox chosen within the tenth spherical, performed for College World Series champion Mississippi.
Elko hit 22 house runs and was named a third-team All-American. He completed his profession with 46 homers, second all time at Ole Miss.
“It’s a real bat,” Shirley stated. “It’s received energy. You watched him, he was the guts and soul of that staff.
“He understands how pitchers are going to attack him. He’s got a chance to have a nice career in front of him.”
3. Noah Schultz appreciates the Chris Sale comparisons.
The 6-foot-9 Schultz was requested if he ever had been in comparison with one other tall lefty in Chris Sale.
The Sox drafted the 6-6 Sale with the thirteenth decide in 2010.
“I’ve been compared to him a lot,” Schultz stated throughout a video convention name Sunday. “And it’s definitely somebody that is awesome to be compared to. Somebody I can look up to.”
Sale went 74-50 with a 3.00 ERA and 1,244 strikeouts in seven seasons for the White Sox earlier than they traded him to the Boston Red Sox through the 2016 offseason, a deal that introduced Michael Kopech and Yoán Moncada to Chicago. He gained a World Series title with the Red Sox in 2018.
“I don’t try to copy what he does. I’m my own pitcher,” Schultz stated. “But he’s definitely somebody that shows how successful left-handed pitchers for the Chicago White Sox can be.”
White Sox draft picks
- Round 1 (No. 26): LHP Noah Schultz, Oswego East HS
- Round 2 (No. 62): RHP Peyton Pallette, Arkansas
- Round 3 (No. 101): RHP Jonathan Cannon, Georgia
- Round 4 (No. 131): SS Jordan Sprinkle, UC Santa Barbara
- Round 5 (No. 161): LHP Tyler Schweitzer, Ball State
- Round 6 (No. 191): RHP Eric Adler, Wake Forest
- Round 7 (No. 221): RHP Mark McLaughlin, Tennessee
- Round 8 (No. 251): 2B Mario Camilletti, Central Michigan
- Round 9 (No. 281): C Michael Turner, Arkansas
- Round 10 (No. 311): 1B Tim Elko, Mississippi
- Round 11 (No. 341): OF Jacob Burke, Miami (Fla.)
- Round 12 (No. 371): 3B Brooks Baldwin, UNC Wilmington
- Round 13 (No. 401): RHP Mason Adams, Jacksonville
- Round 14 (No. 431): LHP Shane Murphy, Chandler Gilbert CC (Ariz.)
- Round 15 (No. 461): RHP Billy Seidl, Duke
- Round 16 (No. 491): RHP Tristan Stivors, Texas State
- Round 17 (No. 521): RHP Nick Altermatt, Minnesota State-Mankato
- Round 18 (No. 551): 3B Bryce Willits, UC Santa Barbara
- Round 19 (No. 581): 3B Drake Logan, Shelton State CC (Ala.)
- Round 20 (No. 611): RHP Ethan Hammerberg, Ohio State
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Source: www.bostonherald.com