Chicago White Sox: 3 potential draft picks to watch in CWS
Once seen as the strongest part of the team is now seen as in need of an upgrade. The Chicago White Sox bullpen had an unbelievable 60 game stretch in 2020. Unfortunately, the ‘pen has seen some struggles in 2021.
The bullpen has not been atrocious but it’s just not as dominant as the year prior. So far this season, they have a combined ERA at 3.72 with 263 strikeouts in 222.2 innings with only 79 walks. This bullpen has been solid, but solid doesn’t win championships.
As the trade deadline inches closer, Rick Hahn and his staff are undoubtedly drawing up a game plan to address the weak spots in this 26-man roster. The lineup has holes and the trade market could be the answer to those problems. The market for relievers, on the other hand, is not as deep compared to position players.
An anomaly last season that helped contribute to the dominance of the 2020 bullpen was the midseason addition of 2020 first-round draft pick Garrett Crochet. The 6’6” southpaw from Tennessee, straight out of college, came to Chicago.
Instead of getting hit around as most would expect, Crochet pitched six innings in 2020 and recorded 18 outs. Eight of those were strikeouts. Crochet struck out the only two batters he saw in the Wild Card series against Oakland.
The Chicago White Sox could look for pitching at the 2021 MLB Draft.
Despite the small sample size, Crochet was able to make a difference despite zero Minor League experience. Who’s to say the White Sox cannot recreate a little magic? Perhaps the 22nd pick is the answer to the bullpen’s questions.
Playing in Omaha are three pitchers projected to go late in the first round. There are three pitchers in the College World Series who could help the White Sox in 2021. Vanderbilt’s flame-throwers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are not included on this list considering the two would most likely have been drafted by the time the Sox use their 22nd pick.
Will Bednar, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Will Bednar would be a great addition to the Chicago White Sox right now.
Despite being a sophomore, Mississippi State’s Will Bednar has some overwhelming stuff. On Sunday, June 20, Bednar struck out 15 Texas Longhorns in six innings. That was the most for a College World Series in 25 years.
The 21-year old posted a 3.26 ERA in 80 innings this past season at Mississippi State. He held his opponents to a .229 average while striking out 128. He allowed only 21 walks showing tremendous control at a young age.
In referring to the 20-80 scale, his 60 graded fastball and slider are his best pitches. He also has a 55 graded curveball and a grade 50 changeup. His fastball maxes out at 97 but he usually sits around 93-95 with the heat. His slider sits around the mid-80s and an upper-70s curveball.
The younger brother of Pirates reliever David Bednar is projected to have mid-rotation stuff but is intelligent for his age. As we know, he likes to pound the strike zone and he gets results. He could benefit from some time with Ethan Katz.
Bednar, projected to have a low 3/high 4 in the rotation ceiling, has a chance to benefit from pitching out of the bullpen. Bednar attacks the strike zone and has above-average control. His fastball is not as overwhelming as Crochet’s big 96 mph sitting heater but Bednar has better raw control and command.
On Friday, the Mississippi St. Bulldogs will play the winner of tonight’s Virginia vs. Texas matchup. The six-inning gem Bednar threw was Sunday so he could enter as a reliever in a high leverage situation assuming he is not starting tomorrow. However, that is a possibility.
Ty Madden, Texas Longhorns
Ty Madden is someone that the Chicago White Sox should consider in 2021.
Ty Madden is a 6’3″, 215 lb redshirt sophomore and ace for the Texas Longhorns. Madden was high school teammates with White Sox third-ranked prospect RHP Matthew Thompson at Cypress Ranch High School.
As a freshman in 2019, Madden got roughed up. In 42 innings, he allowed 16 runs, struck out 37, and walked an alarming 24 batters. He would shake that off and start his 2020 off hot. In four starts, 25 innings at the beginning of 2020, Madden had a 1.80 ERA with 26 strikeouts and four walks.
The cancellation of the 2020 season could have disrupted his progression but that would prove not to affect him. In 2021, Madden established himself as the ace of the Longhorns staff. In 107.2 innings over 17 starts, the righty posted a 2.42 ERA and struck out 129 with only 41 walks allowed. Opponents hit a measly .188 average as Madden dominated the Big-12.
On the 20-80 grading scale, Madden’s 60-graded fastball with sink sits around 93-96 and has topped out at 99 last fall. His mid-80s slider has a late, sharp bite and is also graded 60. He also wields a 55 graded changeup in the low-80s and a 50 graded curveball sitting in the upper-70s. With control being an initial issue for Madden, he has dramatically improved as he keeps the walks low since 2019.
Madden has the big fastball, sharp slider, and above-average control to recreate Crochet-magic potentially. Projected to have top of the rotation stuff, he could follow in the path Crochet is headed.
Madden and the Longhorns will play Virginia tonight. If they win, Texas will rematch with Mississippi St. The Longhorn ace last threw in that game against the Bulldogs on Sunday so that he could appear in tonight’s game in a high leverage situation. He could even start and go head-to-head against the next pitcher.
Andrew Abbott, Virginia Cavaliers
A left-handed pitcher might be in the future for the Chicago White Sox via the draft.
The senior southpaw Andrew Abbott for Virginia is a potential pick for the White Sox. He does not have the big fastball and sharp slider Crochet has but Abbot’s fastball and curveball combination could be the variety in the bullpen the Sox need.
At 22 years old, 6 foot 180 pounds, Abbott’s 55 graded fastball sits around the low 90s and has touched 96. His fastball has some cut and his delivery is funky. With this combined, he generates a lot of swings and misses.
Abbott’s complimentary pitch is his 60-graded curveball. His hook has a bit of movement that runs away from left-handed hitters. It also generates swings and misses. He has a changeup in his back pocket but he is primarily a two-pitch pitcher.
Before the 2020 season cancelation, Abbott threw 13.1 innings allowing nine hits and eight walks. He recorded 40 outs, 28 of which were strikeouts. He has overwhelming stuff and strikes hitters out at a tremendously high rate but allows many walks as well.
This past season was undoubtedly his best in his four years as a Cavalier. He threw 106.2 innings, 11 more than his freshman and sophomore years combined. He was 9-6 with a 2.87 ERA while striking out 162 and walking 32. Abbott has the stuff to be top or near-top of the rotation ceiling. He is a player who could do some real damage in the bullpen as he works into his potential as a solid-strike thrower.
Related Story. It is time for Rick Hahn to step up for the White Sox. light
On Tuesday, Virginia lost a heart-breaker to Mississippi St. 6-5. Tonight, if the Cavaliers beat the Texas Longhorns, they will have a chance at revenge and play the Bulldogs tomorrow night. Abbott’s last start was a six-inning gem against Tennessee. He walked two but struck out 10, shutting out the Volunteers. Abbott will most likely start tonight against the Longhorns. If not, he will appear in a crucial situation.