The Chicago White Sox are in the middle of a rebuild, attempting to rebuild its farm system and be ready to contend as early as 2019.
By acquiring prospects via trades for Chris Sale and Adam Eaton, the White Sox climbed the rankings with the second-best farm system in MLB. They followed that up by signing international phenom Luis Robert just weeks ago.
Now the White Sox are in the next phase with the 2017 MLB Draft and they are already receiving praise for their selections.
The White Sox selected third baseman Jake Burger out of Missouri State. While Burger was drafted as a third baseman, he could make the change to first base.
Here’s what Callis said about the Burger pick:
He had back-to-back monster seasons at Missouri State and might have the most usable power in this Draft. And while he’s not the prettiest-looking player, he gets the job done. He manages the strike zone well, runs better than you think, and he’s got a chance to stick at third base.
If Burger stays at third base, it would be helpful as the White Sox took another corner infielder Gavin Sheets with the 49th overall pick.
Sheets is projected to be a first baseman but could translate to a DH.
MLB.com reporter Jim Callis appeared on the CSN’s White Sox Talk podcast hosted by Chuck Garfien and he had nothing but positive things to say about the draft early on.
“Well, I think the thing that jumps out the most is that they really added some offensive talent,” Callis said on the podcast. “The first three picks they took were all position players.”
The praise came from the White Sox second day of the draft, when they selected Evan Skoug, Luis Gonzalez, Lincoln Henzman, Tyler Johnson and J.B. Olson.
Here’s what Callis said about that day:
“I actually thought the White Sox had the second-best draft of anybody,” Callis said when asked about the team’s second day of the draft. “I had the Twins ahead of them. I really like what they did. In fact, I thought the best guy they got, I was surprised because that he fell this far. They got Evan Skoug.”
Callis wrote on the White Sox day 2 picks, calling the selection of Skoug with the 48th overall pick as one of the bigger surprises of the day.
It’s been a heck of a job by Rick Hahn to build this farm system back up. You can listen to the full podcast here.
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