Ball State University Athletics

Justin Wechsler - Assistant Coach / Pitching Coach - Sta...

Justin Wechsler was named the pitching coach in June of 2023. He begins his third season as an assistant coach in 2026. Ball State had a pair of All-Conferen...

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by caulfield12

Sox Midwest scout for seven years prior to 2023...also signed Alex Call and Schweitzer, from David Letterman's Ball State Cardinals.

https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-white-sox-sign-first-round-pick-colson-montgomery&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjQrcvrgr-UAxX8lmoFHXbjJuwQFnoECAYQAg&usg=AOvVaw1UrX5PNRckjQ6-0ebu1eV3

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by caulfield12

Schultz was Sox scouts JJ Lally and Wechsler...

"In summary, Lally feels that Schultz’s ceiling offers true ace potential. The scout suggests that at full evolution, his pitch mix may feature an 80-grade fastball, 70 slider and 60 changeup. Fellow Sox scout Justin Wechsler, who also has a history with Schultz adds, “He’s unique, being that long and commanding his body like that. He throws strikes, the slider is disgusting, and he’s the most even-keeled kid on the field. He’s extremely bright, never looks stressed by a situation, he’s in control all the time. It’s interesting, he has the chance to be different… different good.” Lally adds, “If you can’t dream on this guy, then you just can’t dream.”

https://whitesoxdaily.substack.com/p/coming-soon

His signing scout JJ Lally is clearly a believer and shared some background, “Kenny Williams told us, don’t be afraid to shoot the moon, let’s give ourselves a chance to take a real impact player.” Lally felt that sentiment resonated on draft day and reinforced the scouting department’s decision to land Schultz. 

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by caulfield12

Wechsler met Anderson IN native Mike Shirley (who also played for Stoudt at Pendleton Heights) as a high schooler.
“He was one of those guys I met at a younger age when I needed guidance and advice,” says Wechsler. “I know I got lucky.”
Shirley is now Director of Amateur Scouting for the White Sox and operates The Barn training facility in Anderson.
Wechsler has been one of the pitching instructors at the facility and witnessed a long list of talent walk through the door.
“(Wapahani High School alum and St. Louis Cardinals left-hander) Zack Thompson grew up in our building,” says Wechsler.
John Miles was Wechsler’s manager with Anderson George H. Hockett American Legion Post 127.
“We were good,” says Wechsler of that Legion ball team.
At Ball State, the 6-foot, 255-pound righty learned from Cardinals head coach Rich Maloney. Over the years, he has watched him recruit players that went high in the MLB Draft (65 players have been selected 72 times with six first-rounders).
“He likes long athletic bodies,” says Wechsler of Maloney. “I probably didn’t fit his mold.”
Projectability is another key.
“You have to do that at that level,” says Wechsler.
The scout takes some credit for telling Maloney about right-hander Drey Jameson (Greenfield-Central Class of 2017), who came out of high school as a 6-foot, 145-pounder and pitched two seasons at Ball State (2018 and 2019) before being chosen in the first round in 2019 by the Diamondbacks.
“Drey is one of the most competitive human beings I’ve ever met,” says Wechsler. “He has a chip on his shoulder.
“He’s wired different than most guys.”
In 2022, 6-foot southpaw Tyler Schweitzer (Hamilton Southeastern) was drafted in the fifth round out of Ball State by the White Sox.
“He was light-tossing lefty who dove in the weight room and brought up his velocity,” says Wechsler of Schweitzer.

Justin Wechsler

IndianaRBI

Former pro pitcher Wechsler hunts for gems as White Sox a...

BY STEVE KRAHwww.IndianaRBI.com Justin Wechsler grew up playing baseball in Madison County, Ind.Born in Anderson in 1980 and briefly residing in Texas, he landed in Pendleton and was educated there…

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by caulfield12

What scouts are saying about White Sox additions Miguel V...

The sum of the return for Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech and Tommy Pham is less than the individually appreciated parts, which makes the White Sox an appropriate landing spot

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/jacob-gonzalez-finally-looks-player-193704446.html

“Gonzalez’s name was coming up as high as No. 5 to the Twins. With a solid approach, Gonzalez works counts and draws walks, and he did a better job in 2023 of not getting power-happy while still finishing with a .999 OPS. The left-handed hitter has the chance to be an above-average hitter with better than average power.”

That quote comes from an article written by Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline after day one of the 2023 MLB Draft, following the White Sox selecting Ole Miss shortstop Jacob Gonzalez with the 15th overall pick.

...

Now, obviously, the White Sox aren’t going to call up Gonzalez to be the regular shortstop at the MLB level. There’s already plenty of competition at that spot, and given his defensive ability, Chicago has no reason to move Colson Montgomery around the diamond.

Quite frankly, it’s not entirely clear where Gonzalez would play if the White Sox did give him a chance in Chicago. At best, you could see him working in at second base when Chase Meidroth needs a day off, and maybe getting the occasional start at third base for Miguel Vargas.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by caulfield12

https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-who-is-miguel-vargas-everything-to-know-about-the-ex-dodgers-stars-family-parents-and-more/

It was heartwarming to know that just two days prior to Vargas’ 15th birthday, Lazaro and his wife announced that the three of them are leaving for Ecuador. And from Ecuador, Vargas’ family moved to the Bahamas.

There, Lazaro used to train Miguel and his brother Alejandro regularly. Just like that, Miguel’s routine was getting intense with early-morning training sessions, limited time for meals and naps, and gym sessions at night. Waiting for two years to sign as a prospect tested his patience to the core, but quitting was never an option for him.

It’s his father’s footsteps and mother’s support that have pushed him forward. Vargas was relentlessly determined throughout the journey.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=868954052246502&vanity=SwingCompletoLLC

That being said, his father, Lázaro, beams with pride throughout his son’s baseball journey. “He’s definitely better than me,” he said, being a two-time Gold medal-winning Cuban baseball legend himself. “He hits more than me, runs faster, and is stronger. He’s got better tools.” Vargas is a player who has worked his way through his career on his own.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by caulfield12

late 2020

A source said special assistant to the general manager Dave Yoakum, MLB advance scout Bryan Little and pro scout Alan Regier are among those who won’t be retained. Yoakum, special assistant Bill Scherrer and special assistant Nick Hostetler have been handling major-league scouting for the Sox, but the task might be covered by a two-man team upon Yoakum’s departure.

(Scherrer was also let go in 2024 fwiw...leaving only Hostetler????)

Yoakum, 73, has been a member of the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame since 2010. He is in his 29th season with the Sox.

Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf recently told USA Today he was facing financial losses ‘‘in the nine figures’’ because of reduced revenue.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by caulfield12