Eighteen players were selected in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. The White Sox passed instead of taking a player. With the 40-man roster at 39, space is available but it’s unlikely that the organization would find someone worthy of stashing on the roster for the remainder of the offseason let alone during the actual season. The organization added a trio of 2017 draft picks to the roster back in November when they protected infielders Jake Burger and Gavin Sheets and right-handed pitcher Tyler Johnson from being poached in the Rule 5 draft.
Kade McClure and Will Kincanon were the most likely White Sox prospects to be taken in the big league phase. Both will remain in the organization. Kincanon, an 11th round pick out of Indiana State in 2017, is a reliever who should pitch in the upper levels of the system in 2021. He was profiled in our roster preview in advance of the Rule 5 draft.
McClure was drafted in the sixth round out of Louisville in 2017. It’s been a turbulent time for him as a professional. He’s battled myriad injuries, but he should pitch in Double-A for the Barons to begin 2021.
J.J. Cooper of Baseball America listed McClure as a name that intrigued clubs in the lead up to today’s festivities. He noted that the 6-foot-7 righty was much improved after working with White Sox biomechanical engineer Ben Hansen. McClure showed up to fall instructs sporting a fastball that touched 95 mph paired with a slider that flashes above average. He possesses a curveball that has a chance to become average as well. McClure was one of the most impressive pitchers on the Sox roster this fall. He’ll get a shot to prove it in the high minors if the injury bug stays away.
The White Sox haven’t had a ton of success in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft, but they’ve capitalized on the minor league phase in recent years. The club selected catcher Omar Narvaez in the minor league phase in 2013 and he made his big league debut in Chicago in 2016. Narvaez played in 221 games between 2016-2018 on the rebuilding White Sox. The backstop broke out in 2018 after hitting nine homers and posting a 122 wRC+ in a part time role. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Alex Colome the following offseason.
Yermin Mercedes is another catcher that was scooped by the organization in the minor league phase back in 2017. Mercedes went on to hit 37 homers as a minor leaguer for the Sox during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2019, Yermin posted a 150 wRC+ in Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights. He currently holds a 40-man roster spot. Mercedes made his big league debut in 2020, but spent most of his time with the taxi squad and playing with the alternate site squad in Schaumburg. He has a chance to make the big league club out of spring training in 2021.
Martin Carrasco is a 21-year-old right hander that was selected in the minor league phase of the draft out of the San Diego Padres’ system. The 6-foot, 165-pound righty threw 61.1 innings in the Dominican Summer League back in 2017 with an ERA of 2.64. The majority of his time has been spent in rookie ball, but the hurler has posted solid numbers since transitioning to a relief role. Across two levels in 2019, Carrasco struck out 48 and walked just six batters over 29.1 innings in rookie ball and Low-A.
In rookie ball, he posted a 1.46 ERA with a 1.43 FIP and averaged 15 strikeouts per nine with 1.46 BB/9 in nearly 25 innings. During his two games and 4.2 innings in A ball in 2019, Carrasco struck out 7 hitters and didn’t allow a run. Most recently, the right-hander has been pitching in the Mexican Winter League. In 2017, Fangraphs‘ lead prospect writer Eric Longenhagen surmised that Carrasco showed “advanced fastball command and feel for a changeup and breaking ball” after a live look during instructional league action. The publication noted that he was an “intriguing, athletic teenage arm.” Carrasco will likely pitch out of the bullpen for a White Sox affiliate in 2021.
Footage with the Tri-City Dust Devils from 2019:
The White Sox also lost right-hander A.J. Puckett to the Atlanta Braves during the minor league portion. Puckett was acquired as the main piece in the trade that sent outfielder Melky Cabrera to the Kansas City Royals in 2017. The former second-rounder threw 27.1 innings for the Winston-Salem Dash in the High-A Carolina League, but has battled injuries and hasn’t pitched for a White Sox affiliate since. The 25-year-old will get a chance to throw in the high minors with the Braves in 2021.
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