MLB Draft: ESPN projects Jamie Arnold to White Sox

Though linked to two prep shortstops, it looks like low-slot slinger Jamie Arnold of Florida State could be the pick

It’s strange enough that the draft rules forced the unabashed worst team of 2024 and club that set the modern mark for losses at 121, the White Sox, to draft 10th this summer. But now, as a result of that tumble on the board, ESPN projects the White Sox to miss out on some of the choice prep bats in the class and settle for yet another starting southpaw.

The June 30 mock, ESPN’s fifth in anticipation of the July 13 draft, sees lefthander Jamie Arnold of Florida State University and Team USA as the club’s pick. Arnold lined up as FSU’s No. 3 starter this past season, going 8-2 over 15 starts, to a 2.98 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He threw 84 ⅔ innings (second on the staff) and held batters to a .208 average.

ESPN notes that the White Sox, in desperate need of bats of any sort, are hot on the trail of prep shortstops Billy Carson and JoJo Parker. But both players are projected as falling off of the board by No. 10 — forcing Chicago to opt for their other comfort food, southpaw starters.

In the past FIVE drafts, every top pick by the White Sox has been either a left-handed starter (Garrett Crochet, Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith) or shortstop (Colson Montgomery, Jacob Gonzalez). Two of the five (Schultz and Montgomery) were prep picks. The move transmits a increasingly different approach to the draft, as with the six prior selections guided by former GM Rick Hahn the White Sox took zero such players, instead opting for college bats (and ultimately limited players) or relievers.