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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 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 May 17May 17 by caulfield12

Who is the scout that was right on with the Vargas call?

Most important acquisition of Getz's regime...or Meidroth/Teel/Braden. Or Mune lol.

"plenty of evaluators I spoke to across the league on Monday loved Vargas' hit tool, which has earned plenty of 60 grade (or better) projections on public lists.

But broadly, if this trade goes down as a crucial victory for succeeding years of White Sox baseball, it'll be because their scouting and analysis identified three young players who have their arrow pointing up before the public, and even much of the industry, was appropriately bullish on their games. Since on the day of, rival evaluators were using descriptions for the White Sox package like "light," "weird," or "one of the weaker trade returns for highly sought after players I’ve seen in a while."

The irony is that it was not hard to elicit plaudits for Vargas, who should immediately get the everyday at-bats in the White Sox lineup that were never going to come as readily with the Dodgers. Nor is it hard to get upbeat reports for 19-year-old A-ball infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus. It's simply that their ceilings and the risky paths that lay ahead for reaching them don't line up with the expectations many had for a package centered around Fedde, who is second in the AL in bWAR among pitchers and only a third of the way through a very affordable two-year deal."

Home - Sox Machine

The latest Chicago White Sox news, reporting, analysis and podcasts from Jim Margalus, Josh Nelson and James Fegan.

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Edited May 30May 30 by caulfield12

True Blue LA

Miguel Vargas heads four Dodgers prospects in Baseball Pr...

Third baseman Miguel Vargas is one of four Dodgers ranked in the top 101 prospects in baseball by Baseball Prospectus.

For those saying the Sox Cuban Connection was dead and buried...Miguel Vargas says not so fast, amigo!

JGonz birthday today .

1 minute ago, pcintelligence said:

JGonz birthday today .

Probably gets the start tmrw unless yet another lhp.