Hope after this draft we move somewhere near where the Twins land. Between the Rays and Brewers are.

I’ve coached football my entire adult life and our mantra when building a roster (albeit with HS kids) was to find the best athletes and worry about their position later. Obviously there’s nuance to it when comparing that philosophy to MLB players, but always give me the very best athletes who have the attributes to play other positions, or guys who have shown positional flexibility. For me, watching that game where Lackey played every spot shows me that he exhibits positional flexibility. I get he’s a phenomenal catching prospect, but he’s a guy that could absolutely be a future OF prospect. He’s proven durable during his college career. He’s my choice. His bat is going to travel.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7409279/2026/07/01/mlb-draft-grady-emerson-bobby-witt-jr/?unlocked_article_code=1.uVA.Twj6.FoCGcdXHvMr1

Keith Law takes a look at the upcoming #1 draft pick for the Sox on GN Sports. Law thinks if the draft were held today, they'd pick Emerson.

Jim Callis on the Soxmachine podcast said he would take Emerson over Roch.

Is there anyone on Soxtalk who has seen Emerson? I assume not.

I'll be honest here. I haven't heard Jackson Flora's name one time throughout the entire process.

3 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Adding a "fast moving player" makes no sense, unless they think he's the best player. Sox are finally in a good position: Good team and #1 pick. Just be normal. Draft the player that they think is best.

2 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I'll be honest here. I haven't heard Jackson Flora's name one time throughout the entire process.

Is that you implying it is so strange as if they are keeping it quiet? Feels like one thing has been achieved, 2 months ago we didn’t think Sox would have leverage at 1 to get a material under slot deal (it was always going to be at least a bit under)…but now they just might.

How good of a prospect is Flora? I’ve just been focused on the bats cause it feels like with Roch, Lackey and Emerson they all have that hit tool.

15 minutes ago, Chisoxfn said:

Is that you implying it is so strange as if they are keeping it quiet? Feels like one thing has been achieved, 2 months ago we didn’t think Sox would have leverage at 1 to get a material under slot deal (it was always going to be at least a bit under)…but now they just might.

How good of a prospect is Flora? I’ve just been focused on the bats cause it feels like with Roch, Lackey and Emerson they all have that hit tool.

Getz has basically confirmed they’re taking a positional guy at the 1.01

Please don't take a high school kid with the #1.

3 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I'll be honest here. I haven't heard Jackson Flora's name one time throughout the entire process.

Good.

In a wacky world/scenario where the Sox go outside of the big 3 to cut a deal, give me Tyler Bell or Drew Burress.

16 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Good.

In a wacky world/scenario where the Sox go outside of the big 3 to cut a deal, give me Tyler Bell or Drew Burress.

Burress

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

Good.

In a wacky world/scenario where the Sox go outside of the big 3 to cut a deal, give me Tyler Bell or Drew Burress.

Exactly. We don’t need another overhyped “ace” that can’t either hit the strike zone or stay healthy. Take the guy that will contribute with his bat almost everyday, as well as with his glove.

Edited Thursday at 05:09 AM5 days by WhiteSox2023

5 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I'll be honest here. I haven't heard Jackson Flora's name one time throughout the entire process.

Reading that for some reason made me nearly certain Roch is the pick.

12 hours ago, Chisoxfn said:

Is that you implying it is so strange as if they are keeping it quiet? Feels like one thing has been achieved, 2 months ago we didn’t think Sox would have leverage at 1 to get a material under slot deal (it was always going to be at least a bit under)…but now they just might.

How good of a prospect is Flora? I’ve just been focused on the bats cause it feels like with Roch, Lackey and Emerson they all have that hit tool.

I was thinking the same thing. I thought one of the improvements here was the Sox weren't leaking like a civ anymore. If bloggers are getting our playbook, that really isn't true.

If you take Emerson or Cholowsky where are they going to play. If its ss then where is Colson moving to. Can either of them play another position? What does the infield look like for the Sox heading in to the next 3-4 years. Seems like all their talent down on the farm are infielders. Remember there is also Carlson at ss.

I think both Getz and Venable are big on having athletic versatile players on the roster and i agree with that philosophy. Im not going to be upset with any one of Emerson, Cholowsky, or Lackey.

53 minutes ago, brijames1957 said:

If you take Emerson or Cholowsky where are they going to play. If its ss then where is Colson moving to. Can either of them play another position? What does the infield look like for the Sox heading in to the next 3-4 years. Seems like all their talent down on the farm are infielders. Remember there is also Carlson at ss.

I think both Getz and Venable are big on having athletic versatile players on the roster and i agree with that philosophy. Im not going to be upset with any one of Emerson, Cholowsky, or Lackey.

Who cares.

1 hour ago, brijames1957 said:

If you take Emerson or Cholowsky where are they going to play. If its ss then where is Colson moving to. Can either of them play another position? What does the infield look like for the Sox heading in to the next 3-4 years. Seems like all their talent down on the farm are infielders. Remember there is also Carlson at ss.

I think both Getz and Venable are big on having athletic versatile players on the roster and i agree with that philosophy. Im not going to be upset with any one of Emerson, Cholowsky, or Lackey.

Nope.

Let that be figured out down the line. Draft the best player and if everything collides, we worry about it down the road. Get the most possible talent at the most skilled positions into the system, and then let it ride.

It's probably been said before but with all the Sox's outstanding left-handed bats, I would prefer Cholowsky over Emerson.

Flora was highly thought of two years ago people thought he would be a top 5 talent.

100ip 1.05era .083 whip 11/7 k/9

12-0 at ucsb

I couldn't picture a bigger blunder than the Sox sitting in the draft room and saying "We have Roch as our #1 player, but where would he play based on our roster today? Guess we better take someone we think is worse."

I don't think that's going to happen.

Grady Emerson might be the next Bobby Witt Jr. . Chowlowsy profiles more like Dansby Swanson. Good players with different qualities and potential. If you can see that analogy a bit, take it one step further...who would you rather have right now if you could choose between Dansby Swanson and BobbyWitt Jr.?

I like Grady Emerson, hands down and his timeline fits much better within the White Sox current system.

23 minutes ago, tray said:

Grady Emerson might be the next Bobby Witt Jr. . Chowlowsy profiles more like Dansby Swanson. Good players with different qualities and potential. If you can see that analogy a bit, take it one step further...who would you rather have right now if you could choose between Dansby Swanson and BobbyWitt Jr.?

I like Grady Emerson, hands down and his timeline fits much better within the White Sox current system.

At best, I don't think anyone has said he has the kind of speed. He has that power and hit tool ceiling, but he isn't close to that as of yet.