Same Old Same Old

The White Sox took two high school players, a shortstop from California and an outfielder from nearby Nazareth Academy, with their first two picks in the MLB draft Sunday. You have to wonder why, given their recent track record with prep athletes. In 2019 and 2021, two out of their first three picks were high schoolers, and one in 2020, 2022 and 2024; only in the 2023 draft did the Sox go with three college players in the first three rounds. And that strategy resulted in what, exactly? Out of seven prep players drafted, only one, first-round selection Colson Montgomery class of ’21, has reached the major leagues, and to say that doubts linger about Montgomery’s bat would be an understatement. Otherwise, names like Matthew Thompson; Jared Kelley; and Wes Kath serve more as brainteasers than prospects for Sox fans. Wait, there’s more. Here are some of the college players the Sox drafted in the first three rounds during that same period: Andrew Vaughn; Garrett Crochet; Sean Burke; Jonathan Cannon; and Grant Taylor. High school or college? You be the judge.