As Nick mentioned in his analysis of the White Sox selection of Nick Madrigal in Monday’s first round, amateur scouts, we are not here at BP South Side. Even over at the mothership, our time is more focused on players already in the system than on those who have not yet arrived. Quite frankly, we don’t have the resources for that sort of thing.
There are plenty of very good and reputable sites in which you can get full breakdowns on the players selected during the MLB Draft, but what we can provide you here is a summary of what we’ve gleaned about these players as well as, perhaps more importantly, what those picks mean for the White Sox. So here’s our quick-and-dirty look at the White Sox Day 2 selections, which included a lot of upside, a few intriguing high schoolers, and some less-interesting senior picks that will give the White Sox flexibility with their bonus pool.
Round 3, 60th overall
Konnor Pilkington, LHP, Mississippi State
Scouting director Nick Hostetler noted that the White Sox saw Pilkington as a potential first-rounder coming into the season, which means the comparisons to the team’s (thus far) success in developing Alec Hansen will be aplenty. That’s understandable, but while Hansen was seen as a potential 1-1 selection before a disastrous junior season at Oklahoma, Pilkington wasn’t quite that well regarded, ranking No. 23 on MLB.com’s draft prospect list before the season and No. 60 at the time the White Sox drafted him. Pilkington is young relative to other college juniors, as he won’t turn 21 until September, and has been a member of Mississippi State’s rotation since his freshman year. He seems right up the White Sox alley in terms of projectable starting pitching prospects, with an advanced changeup and developing slider.
Round 4, 108th overall
Lency Delgado, SS, Doral Academy (FL)
Delgado is big for a shortstop at 6-foot-3, and you see the words “strong” and “athletic” in various scouting reports, along with mentions of an eventual move to third base. He’s committed to play collegiately at Florida International, but one would have to imagine the White Sox expect to be able to sign him if they used a fourth round pick on him. He hit .436 with 13 home runs for his high school team this year.
Round 5, 138th overall
Jonathan Stiever, RHP, Indiana
Stiever is a 21-year-old junior who posted a 3.41 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 100 IP for the Hoosiers this year. He’s known for both his control and a plus-curveball, with a fastball that sits around 90-93. You read a lot of “has good feel for the strike zone” type comments about Stiever, and though some expect the slight-framed, 6-foot-2 righty to eventually work out of the bullpen, one would think the White Sox will give him an opportunity to start out of the gate.
Round 6, 168th overall
Codi Heuer, RHP, Wichita State
Unlike Stiever, the 6-foot-4 Heuer is known more for his stuff than his command. The 21-year-old struck out 82 but also walked 37 in just 79 innings for the Shockers this year. His fastball sits 92-96 and he features a slider that MLB.com calls “improving but only average.” Heuer seems like a potential late-inning guy if he can harness his control.
Round 7, 198th overall
Cabera Weaver, OF, South Gwinnett HS (GA)
Weaver fits the profile of the type of player the White Sox were obsessed with at the top of the draft during a time when they had more misses than hits in terms of outfielder prospects … other than the fact that he’s a high schooler. What that means, though, is you read a lot of “long,” “athletic,” “projectable” and other adjectives of the sort in describing the 18-year-old. Weaver is a University of Georgia commit who, like most picks taken in the first 10 rounds, you’d have to imagine the White Sox expect to sign.
Round 8, 228th overall
Andrew Perez, LHP, South Florida
If Stiever is maybe a reliever and Heuer is probably a reliever, Perez is definitely a reliever. The 6-foot-2, 20-year-old was the Bulls’ closer this season and only started two games in his collegiate career. He’s described as a “strike thrower” with a fastball that sits low- to mid-90s.
Round 9, 258th overall
Gunnar Troutwine, C, Wichita State
The fact that the White Sox were likely intensely scouting No. 3 overall pick Alec Bohm quite a bit during the pre-draft process is probably one of the reasons they wound up picking two of his teammates in the first two rounds. In Troutwine, the White Sox got an 80-grade name and the college catcher of Heuer. While Troutwine hit well for the Shockers, the fact that he is their first college senior pick likely indicates he’s the type of selection that will give them some room with their bonus money for prospects who are tougher to sign.
Round 10, 288th overall
Bennett Sousa, LHP, Virginia
And Sousa is the second. Another college senior, Sousa’s fastball sits in the low-90s and he projects as a LOOGY at the next level.
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