The Chicago White Sox are set to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft with the 5th overall pick.
Exploring Potential Fits for the Chicago White Sox in the 1st Round of the 2024 MLB Draft
The White Sox should be looking for hitters in the first round of this year’s MLB Draft with a solid stable of top-end starting pitchers in their farm. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter has the White Sox going the prep route to find that premium bat in shortstop Konnor Griffin from Jackson Prep in Mississippi.
“On the precipice of a full-scale rebuild and limited to picking no higher than 10th in next year’s draft under the new CBA rules, the White Sox should swing for the fences on a high-upside pick. Griffin offers one of the highest ceilings in the draft thanks to his elite athleticism, and he possesses a 60-power, 65-speed offensive profile that speaks to his overflowing toolbox. He reclassified from the 2025 draft class and turned 18 in April, which adds to his upside.”
At first glance, I wasn’t sure I liked the prep bat route for the White Sox here, but given their draft status next year and the fact they can’t pick inside the top 10, Reuter may be on to something with the high-ceiling Griffin.
Griffin reclassified to the 2024 Draft after winning multiple championships and leading the league ▨in stolen bases. A Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, Griffin is known for his 30-30 potential and potential to become a plus defender. With a big-league frame at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he possesses five-tool potential but is working on ironing out timing issues at the plate and driving the ball more consistently in the air. Scouts project him as a plus defender at shortstop and center field, with a strong arm clocked up to 96 mph.
Aside from the shoot-for-the-stars pick of Konnor Griffin, there seems to be a growing consensus among top prospect analysts that Flordia State outfielder and pitcher Jac Caglianone could be on the White Sox radar. Jim Caℱllis has the White Sox taking Caglianone No. 5
“This pick is wide open. It’s probably a position player from a large group that includes Montgomery and Caglianone, and this could be the realistic ceiling for Wetherholt, Griffin, or Rainer. Despite the hype surrounding his two-way ability, Caglianone almost certainly will become a full-time slugger as a pro,” Callis wrote of the Caglianone selection.
Callis’ prospecting colleague at MLB.com, Jonathan Mayo, also has the White Sox taking Caglianone at No. 5, as does The Athletic’s Keith Law.
Caglianone is a standout two-way player in college baseball. He’s known for his powerful left-handed bat, hitting 33 home runs in 2023, and has improved plate discipline. He has a strong fastball on the pitching side and added a 90-mph cutter to his repertoire. Scouts consider him a potential first-round pick for his batting and a second-rounder for his pitching.
Ultimately, Caglianone will survive in pro ball as a hitter, not a pitcher, and there’s plenty to like about his profile at the dish if you’re the White Sox.
“I’ve heard them heavily with Caglianone and Griffin; I don’t know if they’d let Cags continue to pitch, but I doubt it given the risk he’ll tear his UCL again and the fact that he’s almost a dead-certain reliever as a pitcher,” Keith Law wrote at The Athletic.
