Should the Chicago White Sox Draft a Bat at No. 8?

Jun 2, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham (15) throws to first base in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a snapshot of the position player picks in the bottom half of the top ten over the last decade using a draft history database from Baseball Prospectus.

2014: (6) OF Alex Jackson (Seattle Mariners)

2013: (8) SS Hunter Dozier (Kansas City Royals)

(9) OF Austin Meadows (Pittsburg Pirates)

2012: (6) OF Albert Almora (Chicago Cubs)

2011: (6) 3B Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals)

(8) SS Francisco Lindor (Cleveland Indians)

2010: (8) OF Delino DeShields (Houston Astros)

2009: (N/A)

2008: SS Gordon Beckham (Chicago White Sox)

2007: (7) Matt LaPorta (Milwaukee Brewers)

2006: (8) OF Drew Stubbs

2005: (7) SS Troy Tulowitzki

There are certainly some no names mixed in, but guys like Troy Tulowitzki and Anthony Rendon stand out. Meanwhile, Francisco Lindor is rated the #3 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. Austin Meadows and Alex Jackson also crack the top 50 on the list.

Mike Trout, George Springer, Corey Seager, Jayson Heyward, and Addison Russell are all examples of players grabbed in the 1st-round outside of the top ten who have grown into superstars or remain top prospects.

Point in case, high-end positional talent can be found at number eight and the White Sox may have two players in particular fall to them. SS Alex Bregman would be great, but the more realistic names are Kyle Tucker and Andrew Benintendi who Keith Law had going in the fifth and seventh slots in his mock draft on June 4th.

Next: Prospect: Kyle Tucker: