If the White Sox have a type, it's a high schooler who played for their Area Code team. Selections from previous years include Caleb Bonemer (2024), George Wolkow and Christian Oppor (2023), Noah Schultz (2022), Colson Montgomery (2021) and Adisyn Coffey (2020). If you're one of those draft sickos who tries to mock beyond the first round, checking for Area Code alums will get you pointed in the right direction as Josh showed Friday when writing about potential second-round picks:
Current gossip around circles is that local kid Jaden Fauske will be off the board when it’s the White Sox turn at pick 44. However, if things change, Fauske is a left-handed bat who was part of the White Sox Area Code team and is committed to LSU. From Prep Baseball Report events, Fauske posted a max exit velocity of 104.7 MPH and an average of 97.6 MPH. He isn't a great runner (7.13 seconds in the 60-yard dash), but he moved from catcher to the outfield during his time at high school.
Fauske, a local product of Willowbrook and Nazareth Academy, played for the White Sox's 2023 Underclass team. A teammate of Jim Thome's son Landon, Fauske first made an impression at catcher, but shifted to the outfield over the years. It didn't hurt his stock at all, as he was named Illinois' Gatorade Player of the Year after batting .461 with a .591 OBP and 29 steals in 30 attempts.
"I know him...cool." said Billy Carlson, learning of Fauske's selection in real time. "I've met him before, great kid and super happy to have him as a teammate."
What's Jaden Fauske's game?
Fauske's move to the outfield makes better use of his speed, even if he isn't likely to stay in center field. He has a smooth left-handed swing with plenty of plate discipline, and he's described as a gap-to-gap hitter in high school, but as as an 18-year-old who's already 6'2" and 205 pounds, has the potential to grow into more power.
"It’s a short, compact stroke," said scouting director Mike Shirley. "It’s leverage in the swing, the ball jumps. The approach is good because he stays on pitches the other way. I always say the ability to use the other half and keep at-bats alive, he’s OK serving a single the other way and he understands how to get the loft in the middle of the field. His approach is more geared toward the middle of the field and he does it easy, he does it short."
Where did Jaden Fauske rank?
What does Jaden Fauske look like?
Any good anagrams?
No, but he's good at chess, so there's an addition fun fact for you.
