Even if we did perfect world stuff like put Zack Collins at catcher in 2021, the Sox would then have corresponding hole at first base. Anyway, here goes:

2021 White Sox

C I dunno, let’s say Seby Zavala

1B Nick Delmonico?

2B Yoan Moncada

SS Tim Anderson

3B Luis Curbelo

LF Jameson Fisher

CF Luis Basabe

RF Alex Call

DH Zack Collins

Beyond Anderson, the assertion that Collins is going to hit dingers somewhere, and that Basabe is the best, albeit an extremely risky outfield prospect, I could throw all this out in five months. I’d like to throw some of it out right now. Moncada is the centerpiece of the system and probably starts the year in the Triple-A, and we don’t even know what position he will play. Catcher is lacking for any prospects even moderately close to the majors, pretty much any consistent bat that emerges, or one that they acquire (foreshadowing) will have the corner spot of their choosing.

Compare this to the pitching staff, where it’s easier to find a bunch of names to dream on.

1. Carlos Rodon

2. Lucas Giolito

3. Reynaldo Lopez

4. Dane Dunning

5. Jordan Stephens

CL Zack Burdi

SU Michael Kopech

SU Carson Fulmer

MR Alec Hansen

MR Brian Clark (LHP)

MR Zach Thompson

LR Tyler Danish

That’s a lot of confidence on Stephens, but done largely for effect, to show that the Sox could have plenty of the high-octane, headline-grabbing arms become relievers, and still have the depth to produce a rotation, without even knowing where Spencer Adams fits in. Debates over the back end of the 2021 rotation are, well, I still haven’t decided what to write for on Friday, after all. They also need another lefty.

This is all for effect, actually, to make a condescending point about position prospects. Like many comments I have received, I too would be interested to see some more position prospects brought into the White Sox system, because it would provide a clearer vision of the future, and it would be easier to write about the team and track progress of specific individuals I knew would be involved down the road, it would guarantee more exciting prospect debuts over the next three years, and because Alex Verdugo is a fun name to say.

That last bit is thrown in as a joke, but has the same level of importance as all the rest: window dressing that is entirely non-essential to making sure the 2020 or 2021 team is any good. Moncada and Basabe and drafting a big bat with a big hitch in his swing like Collins shows the Sox are not gunshy about acquiring position prospects in need of development, but the heart of this rebuild is resting on pitching development, and probably a great deal on Don Cooper.

Like the Cubs, who have churned out surplus bats and then fenced them to give themselves elite closers for back-to-back seasons, the Sox will need to generate surplus pitching and swap it fill out positions of need. Who knows what those positions will be–I would bet on every outfield corner and catcher but they could just as easily be swapping starter prospects for proven relievers and so on, and so forth.

Prospect lists are no substitute for and do not equal a full and coherent roster, but they are more useful than trying to shape one for the future out of what’s currently present. The Sox are trying to acquire pieces that they can project as part of their future, but have no need to fit them together yet, so it can take on the appearance of a big, shapeless glob of value.

Learn to cherish the glob.

Photo by Mark J. Rebilas

While the White Sox have trotted out or continue to trot out quad-A afterthoughts like Jerry Sands and Avisail Garcia, as well as broken veterans like Mat Latos and Jimmy Rollins, the need for depth throughout the franchise has become even more obvious than it was during the offseason.

The 2016 draft isn’t going to fix the White Sox’ depth problems this year or next, but the importance of having players behind the players behind the players who are out on the field every day is clear nonetheless.

The White Sox grabbed Zack Collins, Zack Burdi and Alec Hansen on Day 1 of the draft last Friday, and while the likelihood of players selected over the weekend becoming contributing members of the organization lessens with each passing round, each pick provides an opportunity for the Sox to strengthen the depth of their system.

So what did they end up with?

White Sox low-key sorting by OBP and drafting.

— Will Siskel (@willsiskel) June 10, 2016

Will sent out that tweet shortly after the White Sox took Jameson Fisher in the fourth round on Saturday. Fisher is an outfielder out of Southeastern Louisiana University who hit .424/.558/.692 with 54 walks and 31 strikeouts in 276 plate appearances as a junior.

Those numbers are ludicrous, and obviously have a lot to do with the fact that he played in the Southland Conference, which, per ESPN’s Keith Law, is a notoriously weak pitching conference. Law also noted that he believes Fisher will wind up at first base because of below-average speed and arm strength, but with the 116th pick, it seems the White Sox took a solid gamble.

The OBP trend is a nice shift in direction from previous White Sox strategies of valuing athleticism over already-defined skills, and it didn’t stop with Collins and Fisher. Ball State outfielder Alex Call, taken one round before Fisher in the third, got on base at a .443 clip his junior season, walking 29 times along with 29 strikeouts in 286 plate appearances. Likewise, catcher Nate Nolan, taken in round 8, had a .360 OBP as a junior at Saint Mary’s, and Zach Remillard’s (Round 10) was at .399 at Coastal Carolina.

Granted, college stats are far from translatable, especially at less-than-elite conferences like the four aforementioned players are from, but the change in strategy is a welcomed sight.

One other thing you’ll notice about all of the players mentioned thus far is that they’re all college players. In fact, the White Sox took only one high schooler in the first 10 rounds of the draft. Shortstop Luis Curbelo, an 18 year old out of Cocoa High School in Florida, was the best pick of the sixth round according to BP’s own Chris Crawford.

Curbelo may prove to be unsignable this late in the draft, but boy is he a fun flier for the sixth round. Everything projects average except for the power, which may not sound terribly exciting, but when you’re talking about a guy playing a premium position, it’s more intriguing. I would be surprised if they’re able to work something out with him, but again, this late in the draft, it’s more than worth the risk.

Curbelo is committed to play collegiately at the University of Miami, and may, indeed, prove to be unsignable. It’s also possible that the White Sox plan to save enough money with their collegiate draftees in the early rounds to make it work.

The White Sox used seven of their first 11 draft picks on position players, which is nice because, ya know, most of the position players in their system are bad right now. Joining Burdi and Hansen as the only other pitchers taken in the first 10 rounds were Fresno State right-hander Jimmy Lambert (5th round) and USC left-hander Bernardo Flores (7th round). Both are college juniors.

Lead Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today Sports