It's MLB Draft Day. This thread can be for discussion of Day One (we'll do another for Day Two).

 

Here's a link to the FutureSox Draft Tracker, where you can track everything. Bookmark it, and refresh it for continuous updates.

 

Let's go!

Seems like all sorts of underslot discussion hell is breaking loose after several weeks of what seemed like a certain top 5.

 

My prediction: the top 5 is still the same and this is all due diligence.

 

John Manuel @johnmanuelba

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8m

 

Hearing Royce Lewis chatter at 1 as well. Twins official still says signability will be a significant consideration. But Lewis def. in play

So ready for tonight

John Manuel @johnmanuelba

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43s

 

College bat on move up today: Vanderbilt's Will Toffey. Power doesn't profile per se but athletic, good defense & eye, solid bat #mlbdraft

Wonder what move up today means, that he's a likelihood of being selected today?

670 The Score‏Verified account @670TheScore 1h1 hour ago White Sox's focus in draft is on best available player http://cbsloc.al/2sbUkc6 via @MLBBruceLevine

 

 

Baseball America‏Verified account @BaseballAmerica 7m7 minutes ago

 

Scouts and analysts agree: Keston Hiura is the top college bat.

670 The Score‏Verified account @670TheScore 1h1 hour ago White Sox's focus in draft is on best available player http://cbsloc.al/2sbUkc6 via @MLBBruceLevine

Bruce is using his sources.

Baseball America‏Verified account @BaseballAmerica 7m7 minutes ago

 

Scouts and analysts agree: Keston Hiura is the top college bat.

Absolutely would love him, Haseley, or Beck. Would be happy with White as well. Just no Kendall or Adell, please.

Wonder what move up today means, that he's a likelihood of being selected today?

Hearing it is possible that McKenzie Gore could also go #1 overall.

 

670 The Score‏Verified account @670TheScore 1h1 hour ago White Sox's focus in draft is on best available player http://cbsloc.al/2sbUkc6 via @MLBBruceLevine

I like this Hostetler quote:

 

We do want to eliminate the swing-and-miss guys.

 

Gives me some confidence that I'll be happy with whoever they end up with.

Frankie Piliere @FPiliereD1

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4m

 

#WhiteSox had Kenny Williams in to evaluate both #UVA bats. I think they'd take either Haseley or Smith if they were there at 11.

I don't see how the Sox take Kendall with the strikeout comments being made

Hearing it is possible that McKenzie Gore could also go #1 overall.

It'd be a good pick. This draft should really show how important it is for us to be drafting top 3 in 2018 / 2019 compared to the double digits. Look at what concecutive high first round hits did for Huston and the Nationals.

Today's KLaw chat

 

Jim - Chicago3:06Hi Keith- Bukauskas seems to give you less reservations than other similar "short" RHP draft prospects in recent years. Am I interpreting that correctly and, if so, is their something in his delivery that might eventually get him some plane on his fastball?

 

Keith Law3:06No, I have the same reservations - lack of FB plane, doesn't use lower half in his delivery - but this class is weaker than most.

Frankie Piliere @FPiliereD1

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4m

 

#WhiteSox had Kenny Williams in to evaluate both #UVA bats. I think they'd take either Haseley or Smith if they were there at 11.

I'm getting more and more excite

Today's KLaw chat

 

Jim - Chicago3:06Hi Keith- Bukauskas seems to give you less reservations than other similar "short" RHP draft prospects in recent years. Am I interpreting that correctly and, if so, is their something in his delivery that might eventually get him some plane on his fastball?

 

Keith Law3:06No, I have the same reservations - lack of FB plane, doesn't use lower half in his delivery - but this class is weaker than most.

 

And just said he's had someone tell him the Sox like JB

I don't see how the Sox take Kendall with the strikeout comments being made

 

The full quotation will bring you right back to uncertainty:

 

“We are open in this draft to the best player but also a guy who fits in with what we are trying to do,” Hostetler said. “We do want to eliminate the swing-and-miss guys. We want guys who put the ball in play. We want pitchers who pound the zone. We may sound like a broken record, but we want to stay true to the philosophy. We will take our shots during the draft, for sure. There are certain times when you want to step outside the box. If not, you are going to end up with the same player throughout the system. You don’t want to have that.”

And just said he's had someone tell him the Sox like JB

 

AJ3:23Hey Keith-- loved your appearance on OTL today. You have the White Sox taking JB Bukauskas over bats you've stated they're linked to like Jeren Kendall. Do they have a specific interest in Bukauskas from what you know? Do you think they'd take an under-slot HS OF like Adell or Beck over a college pitcher if available?

Keith Law3:24If you look at my mock, those 27 pairings of team and player are all based on industry rumors. Someone told me the White Sox like Bukauskas. I can't say who, but I can tell you everything in there is based on what I considered solid intel.

Welp, Law thinks JB will be a reliever

Sox are and have been in on Bukauskas. At this time, he seems like the back up to me. Sox have hopes of how the draft shakes out in front of them and don't seem to be married to anyone at this point.

 

Just a guess but their dream is one of Beck or Haseley to fall to them

Welp, Law thinks JB will be a reliever

 

 

It's a sign!

I thought people have been saying this is one of the more cloudy drafts and that no one really knows who is going where?

 

The Sox can definitely have a couple guys fall in their laps at 11 from all that I have seen.

It'd be a good pick. This draft should really show how important it is for us to be drafting top 3 in 2018 / 2019 compared to the double digits. Look at what concecutive high first round hits did for Huston and the Nationals.

 

Do we think a top 3 pick in 2019 is likely, or even desirable? I think we've got to be better than that with Moncada/Fulmer/Giolito/Lopez contributing at MLB in 2018. Not contending yet, but if we totally suck, I think that's a bad turn for some of our first tier...