5 Players the Chicago White Sox could take in the 2023 MLB Draft
By Todd Welter
The Chicago White Sox could take this infielder from Stanford.
ESPN’s mock draft has the Sox taking Tommy Troy. They have him listed as a third baseman and their 19th-best prospect.
MLB Pipeline has Troy listed as a shortstop and their 17th-best player on their board. Stanford had him play both infield and outfield. Some teams think he will be a second baseman in the Majors.
Regardless of where he plays defensively, the guy can hit the ball hard.
Tommy. Troy. đź’Ş @StanfordBSB jumps out to a 2-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/NxVFiHnnpi
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 27, 2023
Troy blasted 17 home runs last season and had a .699 slugging percentage. He improved his plate discipline. He walked 17 times and struck out 46 times during his freshman year. He walked 35 times and struck out 42 times in 2023.
He played well last summer in the Cape Cod League.
The Chicago White Sox could elect to go with this third baseman from TCU.
CBS Sports.com has the Sox taking Brayden Taylor. He ranks 30th in their top 30 prospects.
MLB Pipeline has him as the 15th-best prospect on their board. ESPN has him at 13 on their big board.
Taylor has power and he hits left-handed. Those are two things the Chicago White Sox could always use in their system and future lineups.
Taylor smashed 23 home runs last season and 48 in his career for the Horned Frogs–that is a program record.
His defense is excellent.
https://twitter.com/NCAABaseball/status/1671261546440425472?s=20
Plate discipline is a concern as he struck out 146 times in three collegiate seasons. He will take his walks as evidenced by his 158 career free passes and a .442 career on-base percentage.
Hahn has a history of taking a third baseman in the first round. Although, that is when Nick Hostetler was running the draft. Taylor might be a talent too good for Nick Shirley to pass up.