White Sox: 3 targets at No. 4 pick in 2018 Draft

Nick Madrigal, 2B – Oregon State

At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, Nick Madrigal is not an imposing figure. In fact, if you saw him roaming around a major league ballpark, you’re more likely to assume he’s there to welcome fans to the game as opposed to playing in it.

However, Madrigal currently stands as a projected top-five pick and has been mocked to the Chicago White Sox in countless drafts. The reality is if this were ten or twelve years ago, there is little chance we’d be talking about him as a first-rounder, let alone a top-five pick.

However, players like Dustin Pedroia, Jose Altuve, and Ozzie Albies, all of whom are 5-foot-9 or shorter, have chipped away at the stigma associated with smaller players. In fact, his swing is highly reminiscent of Dustin Pedroia, high leg kick and all.

Putting aside his size, Madrigal checks many of the boxes that you’d want in a top-five pick. After returning from a wrist injury this season, Madrigal is hitting over .430, earning Pac-10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

From an intangible standpoint, he is someone who has what it takes to carry the weight of being such a high pick. Additionally, he is highly regarded by his teammates for his leadership qualities and approach on and off the field.

While he is currently projected as a major league second baseman, some have wondered whether teams might plug him in as a shortstop. Madrigal certainly has the chops to handle the position defensively. He also will hit for a high enough average to play such a premium position.

However, the one question will be whether he can generate enough power to justify moving to shortstop. Perhaps with all the young power-hitters, the White Sox have in the pipeline, they don’t need it from the shortstop position.