White Sox select Noah Schultz in first round of 2022 MLB draft
For the first time since 2001, the White Sox have selected a prep pitcher in the first round of the MLB draft.
For the first time since 2001, the White Sox have selected a Chicagoland product in the first round of the MLB draft.
Noah Schultz is following Kris Honel’s footsteps in both regards, as White Sox used the 26th overall pick on the Oswego-East lefty tonight.
Honel was a righty selected out of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox with the 16th overall pick back in 2001. After signing for $1.5 million, he ascended smoothly in his first couple pro seasons until shoulder and elbow problems derailed him at Birmingham. He pitched professionally through the 2011 season, including three years in the independent leagues, but he never could conquer Double-A.
So here comes Schultz, a 6-foot-9-inch, 225-pound lefty who had accomplished enough in the Illinois ranks to commit to Vanderbilt, and the leverage that affords a player in negotiations. The White Sox’s first-round pick has a slot value of $2.788 million, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel said he could be asking for $3 million or more.
What’s his game?
The comparisons to Honel stop here, because Schultz’s size and handedness limit him to fewer precedents. Multiple outlets raise the idea of Randy Johnson and Chris Sale because Schultz is a huge lefty who throws from a low three-quarters slot, but he has a shorter, more athletic and theoretically more repeatable delivery. The book on him is limited because he missed the spring season with mono, and then showed signs of rust upon his return, although Keith Law said he appeared to recovery fully from it.
His fastball already sits low-90s with a recent jump to hitting 98, and it’s paired with a high-spin slider. He also throws a changeup, although it’s the classic prep story where he hasn’t had to develop it because he’d be doing high school hitters a favor by throwing one.
The concept is that if he can put it all together, he’s somebody who is just about impossible for lefties to hit, and the unusual deception would make him a chore for righties as well. Like Sale, a future in the bullpen is easy to see as a floor, and perhaps a likely future, but Sale had proven the stamina to start in college. Schultz’s endurance is more of an open-ended question.
Where does he rank?
- ESPN: 34
- Keith Law: 44
- MLB Pipeline: 49
- Baseball America: 51
What does he look like?
Any good anagrams?
No.
The first 25 picks
- Orioles: Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater HS (GA)
- Diamondbacks: Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS (GA)
- Rangers: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Tri-City ValleyCats
- Pirates: Termarr Johnson, SS, Mays HS (GA)
- Nationals: Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy
- Marlins: Jacob Berry, 3B, LSU
- Cubs: Cade Horton, RHP, Oklahoma
- Twins: Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
- Royals: Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
- Rockies: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
- Mets: Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
- Tigers: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
- Angels: Zach Neto, SS, Campbell University
- Mets: Jett Williams, Rockwell-Heath HS (TX)
- Padres: Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford HS (GA)
- Guardians: Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
- Phillies: Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS (NV)
- Reds: Cam Collier, 3B, Chipola JC
- Athletics: Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
- Braves: Owen Murphy, RHP, Riverside-Brookfield HS (IL)
- Mariners: Cole Young, SS, North Allegheny HS (PA)
- Cardinals: Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State
- Blue Jays: Brandon Barriera, LHP, American Heritage School (FL)
- Red Sox: Mikey Romero, SS, Orange Lutheran HS (CA)
- Yankees: Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt
LOCAL GUY
Eric Longenhagen at FanGraphs had him #56, concluding (after discussing his repetoire):
Since the Bulls are undersized apart from Vučević and Drummond, I wonder if Jerry Reinsdorf will ask him to double as a 4 for the next 2-3 years as he works his way through the system.
Taller than anyone the Bulls have taken in the 1st round since Bobby Portis in 2015!
Going over slot for a prep pitcher in the first round is a huge gamble.
But the Sox seem to know what they are looking for in this kind of profile.
Months ago looking at the depth of the class I wanted the Sox to come away with a legit left handed starter and a catcher in the first two days. Interesting start to that to say the least
I believe high risk, high ceiling HS player is the way to go in the second half of the 1st round. Noah is definitely that.
Hope it works out.
I think most of us figured this had already been worked out, but no suspense
Prielip ended up lasting all the way to the Cubs in the 2nd. My guy Justin Campbell fell to the Guardians at 37 so I’ll still be able to watch his assault on the CYA…..at the Sox expense…
No Toman yet, could they have played this right?
Justin Campbell to Cleveland could be a future problem for the White Sox with how they develop RHP.
The Sox probably guaranteed him that he’d be in their bullpen by September.
August
Clutz on hash?
Brock Jones is still available too. A few guys have fallen.
And it’s…..Peyton Pallette RHP from Arkansas
Peyton Pallette is the second-round pick. One of the many, many college pitchers with a recent TJ surgery. Longenhagen:
I really like the Pallette pick. Heading into the season, a question for Pallette was his ability to maintain velocity as he went deeper into his starts. Obviously, never got a chance to answer that question, and now we’ll see how he progresses post-rehab with the White Sox.
So far – this is a high-reward/high-risk draft for the White Sox. More than usual for MLB Draft standards.
Potent Teleplay
getting the distinct sense that the new Sox scouting regime really likes pitchers who can spin the ball like crazy
Hopefully when he faces players that are pros and not high schoolers they don’t all… launch shotz.
I miss your commentary. You should come here more often. The water’s fine.