White Sox Draft Report
White Sox follow familiar script
CHICAGO--Following a familiar route, the White Sox nabbed Texas righthander Kyle McCulloch when he slid to the 29th pick overall in the first round of Tuesday's draft. They don't believe there's any such thing as too much pitching, especially in the case of pitchers who have proven themselves in college.
McCulloch, like the Sox's first-round picks in 1997 and 2005, comes
from an old Southwest Conference school. Kip Wells (Baylor) has had a
nice career with the Pirates, and Lance Broadway (TCU) is
pitching well for Double-A Birmingham in his first full pro season.
Neither Broadway nor McCulloch fit the mold of classic power pitchers from Texas. Some in the White Sox organization compare Broadway to Minnesota's Brad Radke--a strike-thrower with good stuff, command and poise--and McCulloch seems cut from similar cloth.
"Kyle is someone we have followed now for a number of years," White Sox scouting director Duane Shaffer said. "He's enjoyed success at every level, he's consistently exceeded the competition in every league and at every level, and we are very confident in his ability to help in the big leagues in the near future."
McCulloch's fastball peaks in the low 90s but he can be effective when it's only in the high 80s. A changeup is his best pitch, but he also has a plus curveball. He signed with Texas as a pitcher/shortstop after a good career at Bellaire High in Houston but has developed into a top pitching prospect while in college.
McCulloch registered 27 career wins at Texas, including a victory in the deciding game in the 2005 College World Series. He was 8-5, 3.61 at the time of the draft, striking out 82 and walking only 32 in 110 innings.
McCulloch was in the rotation for Team USA last summer and has experience in the Cape Cod League.
"I am very excited to have been selected by the World Series champion Chicago White Sox," McCulloch said. "I cannot wait to start my professional career with such a great organization."
While McCulloch is considered an advanced prospect, getting to the big leagues won't be easy with the White Sox. All five members of Ozzie Guillen's rotation and righthander Brandon McCarthy, who is serving as a starter in waiting in the bullpen, are under White Sox control through at least 2007. The list of solid prospects currently at Double-A or Triple-A includes Broadway, righthander Sean Tracey, knuckleballer Charlie Haeger and lefthanders Tyler Lumsden and Ray Liotta. The White Sox could deal from that stable to fill mid-season holes in the bullpen and to possibly add a center fielder.
CHI-LITES
• The White Sox selected John Shelby III, the son of ex-big leaguer John Shelby, with their fifth selection, a fourth-round pick. Shelby is a second baseman out of Kentucky who slugged 28 home runs the last two seasons at Kentucky.
• The fastest player the White Sox drafted was outfielder Kent Gerst out of Fort Zumwalt West HS in Missouri. Gerst made a name for himself last summer by running a 6.35-second 60-yard dash in the Area Code Games.
White Sox follow familiar script
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PrintCHICAGO--Following a familiar route, the White Sox nabbed Texas righthander Kyle McCulloch when he slid to the 29th pick overall in the first round of Tuesday's draft. They don't believe there's any such thing as too much pitching, especially in the case of pitchers who have proven themselves in college.
McCulloch, like the Sox's first-round picks in 1997 and 2005, comes
from an old Southwest Conference school. Kip Wells (Baylor) has had a
nice career with the Pirates, and Lance Broadway (TCU) is
pitching well for Double-A Birmingham in his first full pro season.Neither Broadway nor McCulloch fit the mold of classic power pitchers from Texas. Some in the White Sox organization compare Broadway to Minnesota's Brad Radke--a strike-thrower with good stuff, command and poise--and McCulloch seems cut from similar cloth.
"Kyle is someone we have followed now for a number of years," White Sox scouting director Duane Shaffer said. "He's enjoyed success at every level, he's consistently exceeded the competition in every league and at every level, and we are very confident in his ability to help in the big leagues in the near future."
McCulloch's fastball peaks in the low 90s but he can be effective when it's only in the high 80s. A changeup is his best pitch, but he also has a plus curveball. He signed with Texas as a pitcher/shortstop after a good career at Bellaire High in Houston but has developed into a top pitching prospect while in college.
McCulloch registered 27 career wins at Texas, including a victory in the deciding game in the 2005 College World Series. He was 8-5, 3.61 at the time of the draft, striking out 82 and walking only 32 in 110 innings.
McCulloch was in the rotation for Team USA last summer and has experience in the Cape Cod League.
"I am very excited to have been selected by the World Series champion Chicago White Sox," McCulloch said. "I cannot wait to start my professional career with such a great organization."
While McCulloch is considered an advanced prospect, getting to the big leagues won't be easy with the White Sox. All five members of Ozzie Guillen's rotation and righthander Brandon McCarthy, who is serving as a starter in waiting in the bullpen, are under White Sox control through at least 2007. The list of solid prospects currently at Double-A or Triple-A includes Broadway, righthander Sean Tracey, knuckleballer Charlie Haeger and lefthanders Tyler Lumsden and Ray Liotta. The White Sox could deal from that stable to fill mid-season holes in the bullpen and to possibly add a center fielder.
CHI-LITES
• The White Sox selected John Shelby III, the son of ex-big leaguer John Shelby, with their fifth selection, a fourth-round pick. Shelby is a second baseman out of Kentucky who slugged 28 home runs the last two seasons at Kentucky.
• The fastest player the White Sox drafted was outfielder Kent Gerst out of Fort Zumwalt West HS in Missouri. Gerst made a name for himself last summer by running a 6.35-second 60-yard dash in the Area Code Games.
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