Dewon Day

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #26 prospect in 2008
  At 27 it's hard to see Day as a premium prospect, though he still has the look of a late bloomer who could establish himself in the big leagues. He got his first chance in 2007, getting summoned after destroying Double-A hitters, but he lost command of the plus slider he uses to set up his fastball. He hung around for 13 outings as manager Ozzie Guillen reached for straws in his disintegrating bullpen, but Day eventually needed time in Triple-A to get himself back on track. He finished strong there and then added a solid performance in the Arizona Fall League. In his work for four teams in 2007, the big righthander struck out 87 in 64 innings while allowing only one homer. That's the kind of performance that should guarantee him a second chance at some point in 2008. He's a classic two-pitch reliever, with a low-90s fastball and a slider that has textbook tilt and depth. It's a good pitch against lefties and righties alike when it's sharp. Day could open the season as a closer in Triple-A if he doesn't win a spot in the big league bullpen.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #22 prospect in 2007
  A two-way player in college at Jackson State and Southern, Day pitched sparingly in 2002 because of tightness and a pinched nerve in his arm. The Blue Jays took him in the 26th round anyway and signed him the following spring as a fifth-year senior draft-and-follow. He never got past low Class A in three years in the Toronto system, in part because of Tommy John surgery in 2004. The White Sox grabbed him with the last pick in the Double- A phase of the Rule 5 draft at the 2005 Winter Meetings, on the recommendation of scout Jaymie Bane--who had signed him for the Jays. Day opened a lot of the eyes in 2006, both during the regular season and in the Arizona Fall League. He has two above-average pitches, a 90-96 mph fastball and an 85-88 mph slider with impressive tilt and depth. He's a very disciplined athlete and meshed well with Winston-Salem pitching coach J.R. Perdew, who helped him improve his mechanics. Day still can be wild at times but he's tough to hit when he's on. Though he's old for a prospect at 26, his arm could warrant a look in Chicago before 2007 is over. Double-A will be the next step for now.