With the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft upon us, it is time to talk about whom the White Sox should take. They will select at number 11 in the draft, so it will be hard for the team to take one of the more heralded players. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the players whom the Sox should draft at number 11.
Heston Kjerstad-Outfield
With a lot of graduations to the majors and with finding a nice core of players, at this point the Sox will just have to keep building upon on what is already a great farm system and just keep stockpiling it. That being said, Kjerstad would be a player the team should pick. While a lot of mock drafts having him picked before the Sox do, if he's available, the club must take him. Kjerstad has been labeled as the best left handed batter in the draft. He hits for a high average, gets on base, has power, and is aggressive at the plate. There's a good chance that he will fall to the Sox at 11.
Nick Gonzales-Middle Infield
One of the more complete hitters in the draft especially coming from a player who has a small frame. He's got some pop in his bat, but that won't be reflected in his statistics. He has a lot of speed and is excellent on the basepath. His defense is a question though as he is only average, but if he plays second base, that won't matter too much as his bat will do all the talking. It's really unknown where he will land in the draft, but it isn't a bad idea to draft him he's available.
Asa Lacy-Left handed pitcher
At 6'4" Lacy has a tall frame which could help him a lot when it comes to pitching as he will be coming down on the batter. His fastball ranges from 92-97 MPH, has a hard slider, and a curve that comes down. Lacy also has a sinking changeup, which could be his best pitch when he gets to the majors. While he is unlikely to fall that far, if he's available, most undoubtedly should be taken.
Spencer Torkelson- First base
Torkelson has been seen as the consensus first overall pick and will likely be taken there, but the reason that he is mentioned is because there is always a distinct possibility teams will not draft him. If he's available, then he should absolutely be taken. Essentially he is another Andrew Vaughn and puts up monster numbers. He can hit to each side of the field, draws a ton of walks, and has tremendous power. He is actually solid at first base and can play third base and left field, so that helps boost his value. Just imagine him and Vaughn hitting in the middle of the Sox order.
Emerson Hancock-Right handed pitcher
After Lacy, Hancock is the best pitching prospect in the draft. Having drawn comparisons to Casey Mize, there's a good reason why. Hancock attacks the strike zone a lot and has a lot in his repertoire. His fastball is regularly 94-97 MPH and can get as high as 99, his slider is his go to pitch, a hard curveball, and has a plus changeup. So while he is unlikely to fall that far, if he's available, Hancock would be a great selection for the Sox.
Garrett Mitchell-Outfield
Mitchell is a toolsy player with excellent speed and is a fantastic defender. He does hit well, but he has some plus-power. Whether he can tap into that power consistently is a big question, but he did show some of that promise in college. Mitchell might actually fall to the Sox at 11 and is a strong candidate to be selected by them. If he is, then they have a nice outfield prospect.
Reid Detmers-Left handed pitcher
Detmers has been compared to Brendan McKay, but not quite as good. That being said, Detmers is still an excellent pitching prospect. His fastball ranges from 90-94 MPH and while his curveball is 72-76, it's a plus pitch. Detmers also has a sinking changeup which could be beneficial in the majors. He attacks the strike zone and has the ability to change speeds, so he could become a great pitchers in the majors. Detmers could be an intriguing player should he fall that far.
Max Meyer-Right handed pitcher
Meyer has the best slider in the entire class as it's a wipeout pitch ranging from 87-91 MPH, but his fastball has nice velocity ranging from 93-97 MPH and could even reach 100. He will need to work on his changeup, but it could become a really nice pitch for him in the future. There are questions as to whether he could become a starter at the majors, but he might become an elite closer. He's an interesting pick, but a risky one.
Patrick Bailey-Catcher
Lots of mock drafts have the Sox taking Bailey, so it will be interesting to see if they do that. Bailey is a switch-hitting catcher who has a lot of strength and has raw power from both sides of the plate. He might project more as a designated hitter purely because of his power and lack of hitting ability, though he does make consistent contact and draws walks. He isn't that bad defensively behind the plate either. While he probably shouldn't play everyday as a catcher, he could backup if needed. It's a risky pick and there's reports that the Sox aren't high on him, so that remains to be seen.
Dillon Dingler-Catcher
Dingler might be a player worth looking at as he's probably the best catching prospect in the draft no one is talking about. He has an above average arm and is mobile behind the plate. He does have raw power with his bat that continues to develop and has some speed. Dingler might be worth the gamble if selected.
Tanner Burns-Right handed pitcher
He almost was a first round talent in 2017, but he should undoubtedly be one this year. Burns' fastball is great as it ranges 92-97 MPH and even controls it well as he can locate it where he wants. It's unclear whether his breaking ball is more of a curveball or slider, but it's a plus pitch. He does throw a changeup, but doesn't use it much. He may lack size, but he's got great stuff and is comparable to Sonny Gray. Burns would actually be a safe pick for the Sox, but there might be better players available if they are at 11.
Ed Howard-Shortstop
The local high school product out of Mount Carmel is a first round talent, but whether he gets selected by the Sox is unknown. While his talent is quite raw, there is a lot to like about the player as he makes good contact, so there is hope he can develop some power. He's also a speedy player and good defender, so there's a lot to like about the player, but taking a high school player is always risky. That being said, he's worth taking a look at and it would be pretty cool to see a local product on the Sox.
Austin Hendrick-Outfield
Hendrick is an intriguing player and coming out of high school, it might be worth the risk. He does have raw power that hopefully can develop. His bat speed though is incredible, which might help make him to a solid hitter in the majors. While he can play centerfield, he is more likely to play in a corner outfield role.
Prediction: Heston Kjerstad. The lack of quality outfield prospects in the farm system is a good reason why Kjerstad should be taken, but it would seem plausible to think he will be available then. The more read up on him, the more exciting of a prospect he becomes and it would be wise for the Sox to take him.
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