Prep Baseball Report

Draft Forecast: Chicago White Sox


Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

Chicago White SoxTEAM: Chicago White Sox
PICK: 4 (Slot: $6,411,400)
POOL: $10,589,900
SCOUTING DIRECTOR: Nick Hostetler

PREVIOUS TOP PICKS
2017: Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State (11th overall)
2016: Zack Collins, C, Miami (10th overall)
2015: Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt (8th overall)
2014: Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State (3rd overall)
2013: Tim Anderson, SS, East Central CC, MS (17th overall)

HISTORY: The White Sox are extremely college centric, having taken a high school prospect in the first or first supplemental round just three times in the last 15 years. Two of those came in the same year—2012.

FORECAST: Given Chicago’s history, this pick is a lock to be a college guy so it’ll come down to who is available. The top tier of college prospects include RHP Brady Singer (Florida), 2B Nick Madrigal (Oregon State), SS Jonathan India (Florida), LHP Ryan Rolison (Mississippi) and LHP Shane McClanahan while OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama), C Joey Bart (Georgia Tech) and 3B Alec Bohm (Wichita State) could be in the conversation as well.

Brady Singer, RHP, Florida
PBR Draft Board:
2
FB: 55/70            SL: 50/60            CH: 40/55
At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Singer has strength throughout a long, lean frame, especially in the lower half. He worked with an up-tempo pace, a lot of moving parts with a rocker step toward first base and a high front side after separation. He throws from a 3/4 slot, but high front side creates not only tilt to the fastball, but also natural late, sinking action. The fastball worked 93-94, touching 95 mph early, before settling in around 88-92. After a first inning where the fastball was up, he made an adjustment and worked more consistently down in the zone, attacking with the pitch. (Doug Freeman)

Find Singer's full report in the Draft HQ.

Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
PBR Draft Board:
4
HIT: 45/55            POWER: 40/50            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/55            ARM: 50/50
Madrigal is just coming back from an injury to his wrist that kept him out for a good chunk of the season, but he has picked up very much where he left off. His quick hands and pitch recognition allow him to put aggressive swings on any pitch early or ahead in counts, and he makes adjustments later to spray the ball to all fields. He is quick and agile at second base with clean hands and a quick release. The arm plays average, but is accurate. He has superior instincts and always appears to be several steps ahead. (Shooter Hunt)

Find Madrigal's full report in the Draft HQ. 

Jonathan India, 3B, Florida
PBR Draft Board:
5
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 40/55            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/60            ARM: 55/60
India is a complete player who possesses an unmatched combination of tools, skills and instincts of any college infielder in this year’s draft. Jeremy Eierman may have bigger tools and Nick Madrigal more skills, but India has both. He is a plus athlete with good body control and an above average to plus arm. He is a pus runner underway and has very good bat speed. He shows above average raw power in batting practice and got to that power in the game with his ability to recognize pitches and consistently get his best swing off each at-bat. (David Seifert)

Find India's full report in the Draft HQ.

Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
PBR Draft Board: 12
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/45            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/60            ARM: 60/60
Swaggerty has a Brett Gardner frame and is an athletic center fielder with tools, baseball skills and instincts. Despite hitting off balance—a result of a narrow base and long stride—he keeps his hands back and connected to his hips. He has explosive, strong hands and uses his hips well. He swings easy and whistles the bat through the zone. He is smooth defensively, consistently running strong routes to go with his easy, plus speed. (David Seifert)

Find Swaggerty's full report in the Draft HQ.

Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech
PBR Draft Board: 13
HIT: 30/40            POWER: 30/50            SPEED: 50/40            DEFENSE: 50/55            ARM: 60/70
Bart has a large, durable frame and brings a physical presence to the field. His defensive skills, arm strength and raw power separate him from the other catchers in the college draft class. In addition to plus arm strength, he set up tight behind the batter, showed a very quick and easy catch/throw transfer with a smooth release and accurate throws with good carry to second base between innings. Offensively, he showed plus raw pull power with bat strength. He displayed average bat speed in BP, but it was more slider bat speed in the game, as opposing pitchers were slowing it down with an offspeed mix. He sets up in an upright, slightly open stance and creates some length with a bat tilt toward the pitcher for his load. (David Seifert)

Find Bart's full report in the Draft HQ.

Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State
PBR Draft Board:
14
HIT: 40/50            POWER: 40/60            SPEED: 40/30            DEFENSE: 40/45            ARM: 50/55

Bohm is a tall, power-hitting infielder, who has a chance to impact the game with his bat. He has a selective aggressive approach with good balance, strength and above-average bat speed. The swing is free, easy and compact for a man his size. Defensively, he showed fair actions and hands at third base with average range. He worked hard during pregame BP, taking dozens of groundballs in all directions. He has a high center of gravity and will need to work even harder on a daily basis to stick at the hot corner. (David Seifert)

Find Bohm's full report in the Draft HQ.

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