White Sox Draft Organization Report
Sox Go For Power Arm
CHICAGO--At first glance, it appears the White Sox went back to the future with their selection of San Francisco lefthander Aaron Poreda in the first round of the draft.
But while Poreda makes it three years in a row that the Sox have selected a college pitcher, he is hardly from the same category of prospect as Texas Christian's Lance Broadway and Texas' Kyle McCulloch.
Broadway and McCulloch were big winners in college and safe picks to reach the big leagues at some point in their careers. But neither of them would seem to have as much of a ceiling as Poreda.
The 20-year-old from Moraga, Calif., went from walk-on to No. 1 starter for San Francisco because of a fastball that sometimes hit 97 mph this season. If he can master a slider and a changeup to go with it, he could pay big dividends.
The risk is that he will remain a one-pitch pitcher, limiting him to a future in the bullpen.
"My fastball is definitely major league ready," Poreda said. "I think I'm ready to compete at the major league level. I just need to improve a couple of pitches, compete at the minor league level for a year or two. Whenever they want to bring me up, I think I'll be ready."
White Sox scouting director Duane Shaffer believes Poreda could rise quickly.
"Aaron is a hard throwing left-handed pitcher with a good fastball, excellent movement and control," Shaffer said. "We expect him to rise through our minor-league system at an accelerated pace."
Poreda stands 6-foot-6 and is listed at 240. He played on both sides of the line in high school football but says baseball was his passion. He pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman at San Francisco before moving into the rotation. His went 17-11 in his college career, including a 7-6 junior season in which he had a 2.89 ERA and two complete games. He wasn't a real strikeout pitcher, with only 66 in 100 innings.
Poreda's biggest moment at San Francisco came when he beat sixth-seeded Nebraska in the regionals a year ago, giving the Dons their first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament.
Sox Go For Power Arm
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Print| Jim Callis' Quick Take |
| The White Sox would have been thrilled if Texas high school righty Michael Main had fallen one more pick, but I don't think they expected to get a player they liked as much as raw San Francisco lefty Aaron Poreda with the No. 25 choice. Righties Nevin Griffith (second round), John Ely (third round) and Leroy Hunt (fourth round) all are hard throwers, as is Poreda, reflecting GM Kenny Williams' desire for power arms. |
But while Poreda makes it three years in a row that the Sox have selected a college pitcher, he is hardly from the same category of prospect as Texas Christian's Lance Broadway and Texas' Kyle McCulloch.
Broadway and McCulloch were big winners in college and safe picks to reach the big leagues at some point in their careers. But neither of them would seem to have as much of a ceiling as Poreda.
The 20-year-old from Moraga, Calif., went from walk-on to No. 1 starter for San Francisco because of a fastball that sometimes hit 97 mph this season. If he can master a slider and a changeup to go with it, he could pay big dividends.
The risk is that he will remain a one-pitch pitcher, limiting him to a future in the bullpen.
"My fastball is definitely major league ready," Poreda said. "I think I'm ready to compete at the major league level. I just need to improve a couple of pitches, compete at the minor league level for a year or two. Whenever they want to bring me up, I think I'll be ready."
White Sox scouting director Duane Shaffer believes Poreda could rise quickly.
"Aaron is a hard throwing left-handed pitcher with a good fastball, excellent movement and control," Shaffer said. "We expect him to rise through our minor-league system at an accelerated pace."
Poreda stands 6-foot-6 and is listed at 240. He played on both sides of the line in high school football but says baseball was his passion. He pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman at San Francisco before moving into the rotation. His went 17-11 in his college career, including a 7-6 junior season in which he had a 2.89 ERA and two complete games. He wasn't a real strikeout pitcher, with only 66 in 100 innings.
Poreda's biggest moment at San Francisco came when he beat sixth-seeded Nebraska in the regionals a year ago, giving the Dons their first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament.
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