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Per Keith Law, who has kind words for Alec Hansen:
1. Michael Kopech, RHP (Ranked No. 7)
2. Lucas Giolito, RHP (Ranked No. 13)
3. Yoan Moncada, 3B (Ranked No. 17)
4. Zack Collins, C (Ranked No. 95)
5. Reynaldo Lopez, RHP
6. Dane Dunning, RHP
7. Alec Hansen, RHP
8. Luis Alexander Basabe, CF
9. Carson Fulmer, RHP
10. Zack Burdi, RHP
Non-top 100 guys
Reynaldo Lopez can hit 100 mph and hold 98 as a starter deep into games, with a power curveball that’s not as effective as it looks and feel for a changeup, but he’s a little guy whose arm action doesn’t use his lower half, and I think he’ll lack the command or durability to start -- but could be electric in a relief role.
Dane Dunning, on the other hand, was a reliever in college but has the three pitches to start and has at least fourth-starter upside, maybe more once we see what he looks like working in a rotation over a full season.
Alec Hansen was the team’s third selection in 2016, a second-rounder who could have been in the mix for first pick overall had he pitched well for Oklahoma, but he couldn’t throw strikes, and his velocity fluctuated to the point that he fell out of the first round completely. The White Sox made some very minor adjustments to his delivery, including getting him to separate his hands sooner, and suddenly he was throwing 93-96 mph, touching 98, and throwing a plus breaking ball, and at least showing control if not really command. His fastball has riding life up, and with that and the hard curveball, he can change eye levels. He needs to soften his changeup, and he’ll have to throw more and better strikes as he moves up the ladder, but I saw Hansen pitch in late August and that ain’t no second-rounder.
Luis Basabe was the third player coming to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade, and while he lacks the name value or reputation of Kopech and Moncada, he’s a legitimate prospect, a 19-year-old who just hit .264/.328/.452 in his full-season debut. He’s a true center fielder and plus runner who already has surprising pop and projects as an everyday player in center with a floor as a good fourth outfielder.
Carson Fulmer was Chicago’s first-round pick in 2015 and No. 8 overall and had a disastrous season in 2016. He couldn’t repeat his max-effort delivery enough to command his plus fastball and breaking ball. Fulmer finished well enough as a starter in Triple-A (15 IP, 14 K’s, 3 BB, 1 R) after calming his delivery down that the White Sox might give him one more shot at starting, but I’d put the odds of him ending up a power two-pitch reliever at 90 percent.
Zack Burdi throws 98-100 mph and a slider that has touched 92 mph. While there was some pre-draft talk that he could start, it sounds like the White Sox are leaving him in relief. The slider is actually his best pitch because he tends to pitch up too much with his fastball and hitters can get a clear look at it, although Chicago is working on getting him on top of the ball more so he can work down in the zone.
Right-hander Spencer Adams (11) was a projection pick, but the projection has yet to come. He’s throwing 90-91 with a ton of strikes but producing some too-comfortable at-bats for hitters. He could be a three-pitch starter, but nothing is more than fringe-average right now, and it all depends on whether he adds strength or velocity.
Jordan Stephens (12) led the High-A Carolina League in strikeouts last season. The White Sox moved him to the middle of the rubber to give him better angle toward the plate and improve his curveball, which is probably a plus pitch now. He has average velocity for a right-handed starter and really needs a better changeup, but he could end up a fourth starter with a pretty good chance to be a fifth.
Infielder Luis Curbelo (13) was the White Sox’s sixth-round pick last year. He played shortstop and second base after signing and could end up at third, but it’s all about the bat -- he has a short swing and a good idea of the zone, with the ability to line the ball the other way or show a little pull power.
_________________ Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?The Missing Link wrote: For instance they were never taught that Columbus was a slave owner.
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