Chicago White Sox 2022 MLB Draft Report Card

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Best Pure Hitter: The White Sox had a pitching-heavy 2022 draft class, so they are hoping their first selected hitter, SS Jordan Sprinkle (4), winds up being this player. Other options include 2B Mario Camilletti (8) and OF Jacob Burke (11), who both had strong pro debuts, and 3B Brooks Baldwin (12), who was the Colonial Athletic Association player of the year in 2022.

Best Power Hitter: 1B Tim Elko (10) set the single-season home run record for Mississippi this spring with 24 and he had far and away the best exit velocity numbers of this White Sox draft class. He’ll need to rein in the strikeouts to make the most of his 70-grade raw power, but he still hit five home runs in 24 games between Rookie ball and the Low-A Carolina League. 

Fastest Runner: Sprinkle (4) is at least a plus runner and the White Sox have seen him turn in times around four seconds flat from home to first, which are top-of-the-scale run times. He stole 51 bags in 65 tries (78.5%) during his college career with UC Santa Barbara.

Best Defensive Player: Sprinkle (4) is a true shortstop who the White Sox believe has the ability to play a good shortstop in the big leagues right now. He has the actions, range and hands to be a plus defender and his above-average arm strength only improves his overall value at the position. Baldwin (13) might not be as good as Sprinkle at any one position, but he can play all over the diamond and offers plenty of versatility.

Best Fastball: There are plenty of options for the White Sox here. RHPs Peyton Pallette, (2) Jonathan Cannon (3) and Eric Adler (6) have all been up to 98 mph, though the riding life of Pallette and Adler’s fastballs is likely superior to Cannon. If you’re looking further into the future this category could belong to Noah Schultz (1). He touched 98 mph as well and while his average velocity hasn’t been near that, as he gains strength his sitting velocity should tick up and he throws from one of the tougher angles in this draft class with his 6-foot-9 frame and lower arm slot.

Best Secondary Pitch: Both Schultz (1) and Pallette (2) have breaking balls that are thrown in the 3,000 rpm range. When Pallette was healthy he used the curveball to generate whiffs at a 44% rate and the pitch looked like one of the better breaking balls in the college class. Schultz is still adding power to his breaking ball, but his exceptional feel to land the pitch and manipulate its shape should allow it to consistently play up and get him ahead in counts.

Best Pro Debut: Burke (11) played in 27 games between Rookie ball and Low-A Kannapolis and between the two levels he slashed .281/.395/.438 with a 136 wRC+ and 10 extra-base hits.  

Best Athlete: Schultz (1) has special body control for his size, though Sprinkle’s (4) athleticism comes across as more dynamic and loud on the baseball field, and should allow him to be an impact defender at a premium position.

Most Intriguing Background: Pallette (2) entered the season as arguably the top college pitcher in the class, but a Tommy John surgery ended his junior season before it started and likely cost him a significant amount of money. Teams looked at Pallette as a no-doubt first-round talent and potential top-15 pick prior to the injury, so the White Sox could have gotten a steal by signing him for $1.5 million in the second round. Baldwin (12) has an interesting background as a high school player, since he attended Whiteville (N.C.) High and was MacKenzie Gore’s catcher before he started his career at UNC Wilmington.

Closest To The Majors: Cannon (3) might have less pure upside than some of the other pitchers in this White Sox draft class, but he has at least 60 command and can navigate the zone at a high level with a deep assortment of quality pitches.

Best Late-Round Pick (Or NDFA): The White Sox are excited about RHP Billy Seidl (15), who signed for $100,000 and showed solid stuff in his pro debut. His control will need to be refined, but he’s one of the more interesting day three names the team selected. LHP Shane Murphy (14) is more of a projection name to keep an eye on as well. He has a projectable 6-foot-5 frame and his fastball has excellent pitch data and riding life.

The One Who Got Away: The White Sox signed all 20 players they selected in the 2022 draft.