Chicago White Sox MLB Draft: Reaction to No. 11 pick – Garrett Crochet
The Chicago White Sox make an interesting selection with Garrett Crochet.
While there hasn’t been a lot to cheer about with regards to major league baseball these days, the 2020 MLB Draft provides a respite for Chicago White Sox fans. On Wednesday night, the league took a break from the gridlock of the negotiations that have thus far failed to yield a deal that would put the players on the field in 2020, and held its annual draft.
Although baseball may not be played this season, teams still need to continue to build out their rosters for the future and that’s just what the White Sox did with their first pick of the draft (No. 11 overall).
There were a number of different directions the Sox could have gone with this pick. Historically, they have shied away from selecting a high school player in the first round, and have not done so since 2012. That trend continued tonight when they selected Garrett Crochet out of the University of Tennessee.
Chicago White Sox select Garrett Crochet, No. 11 overall
Garrett Crochet is a giant, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 218 pounds, and will look even taller and more imposing when on the mound. A left-handed pitcher, Crochet has topped out at 100 MPH which is not very common for lefties.
Although he has had some injuries in the past, he is believed by some to have the best pure stuff from a pitcher in the entire draft. At this time he primarily throws a fastball and a slider, though he does have a change-up that he mixes in at times. However, that will have to get better to be really effective at the next level.
Next. White Sox take care of their minor leaguers. dark
White Sox fans will love a couple of the player comparisons Crochet is drawing, including former White Sox ace Chris Sale, and Andrew Miller.
Interestingly, there are some who think that based on his limited appearances in college (132 total innings pitched), he may have a chance to crack the major league roster a lot faster in the bullpen. It’s unclear whether the Sox see him going that route, or would rather groom him as a pure starter, but the good news is they seem to have options.