White Sox energized by 2024 Draft selections

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CHICAGO -- When is it fair to judge the success or failure of the 2024 White Sox Draft?

Three years? Maybe even four, as these players develop and move toward the Major Leagues, aside from the exceptions to the rule such as southpaws Garrett Crochet (2020) and Chris Sale (2010), who arrived within two months of their first-round selection. The answer would not be on Day 2 of the Draft, as White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley was asked in an indirect way on Monday night following selections made in Rounds 3-10.

Then again, this Draft is a little different for the White Sox. Shirley spoke to the media last Tuesday about this year’s process being pivotal, especially with the White Sox having the No. 5 overall pick. It’s also true with the White Sox sitting at a 27-71 record at the All-Star break but in the early stages of a rebuild and in the early stages of general manager Chris Getz’s overall organization plan for contention.

Adding young impact players clearly becomes a needed enhancement. And with 11 picks behind him and Rounds 11-20 set for Tuesday, Shirley seemed energized by what the White Sox had done in the first 10 rounds. It began with Hagen Smith, the southpaw hurler from Arkansas, whom Chicago selected with that all-important No. 5 pick, followed by the selections of a pair of high school prospects -- infielder Caleb Bonemer (No. 43) and left-handed pitcher Blake Larson (No. 68) -- to complete Day 1. A move to collegiate bats from major programs followed at the start of Day 2.

• With Bonemer on the books, Sox turn towards college on Day 2

“When you look at college baseball players, nothing against the smaller conferences, but when you’re acquiring players that are in the competitive nature of these big conferences, the Power Five conferences, there is stress in those programs because performance is required,” Shirley said. “You’re in a nature, a beast where you’re competing every day with your teammates. The competition to even get on the field is real.

“These guys are performing, they’re going through it, and most importantly, those programs are trying to win. Winning and how productive and how cost-effective wins have become for college programs. So, it is important.”

The White Sox seemed destined months ago for a position player at No. 5, with the team already building up a depth of talent on the mound. Draft prospects such as JJ Wetherholt and Konnor Griffin were attached to rumblings around the White Sox, but they also had a great in-stadium meeting with Jac Caglianone. Shirley spoke to the media about working with Caglianone to continue hitting and pitching as he did at Florida if he was the White Sox selection at No. 5.

Shirley mentioned 10 players in play at No. 5 during that pre-Draft media session, and pitchers Smith and Chase Burns were on that list. Smith powers up a strong future rotation on paper, regardless of what moves Getz makes with the Trade Deadline approaching on July 30.

• Get to know No. 5 Draft pick Hagen Smith

“Amazing. I talked [Sunday] about that game against Oregon State," said Shirley of Smith, who struck out 17 batters in six innings on just 78 pitches on Feb. 23. "Guys, he could have taken the Dodgers on that night. You want to call the Yankees and tell them to come to Arlington that night, he has a chance against the Yankees. It was that good.

“He has a repertoire and can be dangerous to deal with. It’s a real piece to the puzzle. We understand we need position players. That was the goal yesterday, but Hagen was elite. That was what came to our forefront yesterday. We really believe in that guy. We feel like he’s a frontline guy.”

• The No. 5 overall pick is 'pretty boring,' and that's a good thing

Smith and Burns, who went No. 2 to the Reds, were both considered “real pieces,” according to Shirley. But it was Smith at 60 percent and Burns at 40 in the White Sox Draft room.

“Very inclusive. Everybody's involved. Everybody gets a say. If you see something, say something,” said Shirley, highlighting the first Draft room process under Getz. “No negativity about you bringing something to the forefront. Please contribute.

“Please use your skill set. Everybody's required to work hard. Everybody's required to be on task. Let's get this right.”