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2024 Five Round Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago White Sox

By / / 2024 MLB Draft, Minors

On Monday at FutureSox, we released mock draft version 3.0 and I’ll have our final edition with names only on Sunday before the event officially starts. We are less than one week away from the festivities finally getting underway in Fort Worth, Texas. The White Sox will have the fifth overall pick in the draft and they will make 21 selections in total after acquiring a competitive balance pick from the Seattle Mariners back in February.

The White Sox will have the 6th largest bonus pool with a total of $14,593,300 to spend. Using the 5% overage as well, the club can spend up to $15,322,965 against their allocated pool. Each selection in the top ten rounds comes with an assigned pick value and the total amount equates to what individual clubs can spend on the totality of their draft class. If a player taken in the top 10 rounds doesn’t sign, his choice’s value gets subtracted from his team’s pool.

Clubs that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Teams that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, teams lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent. In 12 drafts under the current rules, teams have routinely spent up to the 5% but nobody has paid the penalty to go over.

On day three of the draft (rounds 11-20), players can sign for up to $150,000 without counting toward a club’s bonus pool money. For example, the White Sox selected French right hander Mathias LaCombe in the 12th round of the 2023 draft out of Cochise Junior College and they paid him $450K to sign. Due to the rules, LaCombe’s bonus would count as $300K against the pool. If the club made the selection in the 10th round instead, the entire $450K would count against the bonus pool.

Draft

The White Sox have routinely spent over their bonus pool and have done so especially with Mike Shirley as the scouting director over the past four drafts. In 2023, the organization came in with a bonus pool totaling $9,072,800 and they spent $9,517,800 which was right up to the 5% threshold. The overage totaled $445K while they also paid a tax of $333,750. In four drafts, Shirley has taken Garrett Crochet (2020), Colson Montgomery (2021), Noah Schultz (2022) and Jacob Gonzalez (2023) with first rounders.

Here are the White Sox’s selections in the top ten rounds of the 2024 draft.

Round, PickBonus Amount
1. #5 overall$7,763,700
2. #43 overall$2,172,800
2. #68 overall$1,197,200
3. #78 overall$996,100
4. #107 overall$682,800
5. #140 overall$495,400
6. #169 overall$375,700
7. #199 overall$292,700
8. #229 overall$232,200
9. #258 overall$199,200
10. #289 overall$185,500
The White Sox have improved their farm system significantly over the past year but it’s very heavy on pitching. While I focused heavily on position players in the initial version of this exercise, I will take a more realistic approach this time.

Chicago White Sox-R1 (5th overall): Konnor Griffin, SS/CF, Jackson Prep HS (MS)

Konnor Griffin reclassified from the 2025 class to get on track to enter the 2024 draft. The 6-4, 215 pounder appears to have made a smart decision as he’s a likely top ten selection next week. The Mississippi prep just turned 18-years-old in April. The White Sox have been linked heavily Griffin all spring and he’s the pick in this scenario for us.

Griffin is a very tooled up prospect who has earned plus grades for power, arm, field and run. There are some hit tool questions, notably a timing issue but he possesses bat speed, strength and leverage from the right side. Baseball America also wrote that scouts were positive about changes made to Griffin’s swing recently. The big athlete stole 87 of 88 bases this year (he was caught stealing home) and he was named the National High School Player of the Year by Gatorade.

The Prospect Pipeline

Griffin has the potential to hit hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the big leagues. He oozes athleticism, physical upside, tools and he has a track record of performance as well. The teenager has the potential to be a plus defender at shortstop and Gold Glove caliber in center field. He has also pitched and throws his fastball at 96 mph off the mound. The former three sport star (football and basketball) has extremely impressive makeup and work ethic as well. Griffin would immediately become a top 100 prospect and one of the best in the White Sox’s system.

Chicago White Sox-R2 (43rd overall): Boston Bateman, LHP, Camarillo HS (CA)

The White Sox have been connected to much of the prep pitching available in this class and Boston Bateman has been one of those connections. The 6-8, 240 pound southpaw has been nicknamed “Sasquatch” and he’s committed to LSU. The lefty out of Camarillo, California performed well at MLB’s PDP League last year and he participated in the Area Code Games as well. MLB Pipeline noted that his “size and makeup” are separators in his profile.

Bateman’s fastball typically sits in the 92-95 mph range but he’s touched 97 mph this spring. He also displays an upper 70’s high spin (2900 RPM) curveball that registers as plus. The 18-year-old throws a low 80’s hard slider and an inconsistent changeup as well and he’s been one of the most consistent pitching prospects in California according to Baseball America. Bateman has a strong work ethic and he’ll need to continue to repeat his delivery to ensure his ever-improving command. He’s a great candidate for the White Sox’s pitching development program and they’ve had success with similarly sized prospects like Garrett Crochet and Noah Schultz.

Courtesy of The Prospect Pipeline

Chicago White Sox-R2 (68th overall): Joey Oakie, RHP, Ankeny Centennial HS (IA)

Joey Oakie is a Midwest area guy from Iowa and he was a member of the White Sox Area Codes Team last year. The club is very familiar with the right hander is this loaded prep pitching class. The 6-3, 200 pounder from just outside of Des Moines was also named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year for the state of Iowa. Oakie throws from a low three-quarters slot and his fastball ranges from 93-96 mph with arm side run. It’s been up to 97 mph.

Oakie’s mid 80’s slider is a plus pitch and it could be a plus-plus weapon once it’s further developed. The 18-year-old possesses a quick arm with a low effort delivery but he has to throw more strikes. He’s another kid who has been lauded for high character and makeup as well. The write-up at Baseball America calls Oakey “one of the most electric arms in the high school class.” He’s committed to the University of Iowa.

Courtesy of Prospect Pipeline

Chicago White Sox-R3 (78th overall): Cole Messina, C, South Carolina

The White Sox have drafted multiple college catchers in recent years and this year may follow the same trend. Messina is a 6-0, 230 pound backstop from South Carolina with plus makeup and leadership skills. The right-handed hitter clubbed 21 homers and hit .326/.465/.701 in the SEC this year. He posted a 23% strikeout rate with a 17% walk rate. Messina played well in the SEC tournament and offers 15-20 homer upside as a professional. He may have average arm strength but more work is necessary in receiving and with his body. Some think he could be an above-average catcher down the road with pull side power.

Chicago White Sox-R4 (107th overall): Connor Foley, RHP, Indiana

Connor Foley was an All State tight end in Indiana during high school but now he’s an extremely physical righty from the Big Ten. The 6-5, 235 pounder started for the Hoosiers this year after pitching out of the bullpen in 2023. He turns 21-years-old on draft day and the Jasper, Indiana native possesses a plus fastball that gets up to 99 mph. The pitch induces big vertical break and he throws a changeup and slider as well. There is some reliever risk in this profile but it’s starting pitcher upside. In 63 innings this year, he posted a 4.71 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 49 walks over the course of 14 starts. Scouting director Mike Shirley is very familiar with this player.

Chicago White Sox-R5 (140th overall): Thatcher Hurd, RHP, LSU

The White Sox were big fans of Thatcher Hurd coming out of a California high school in 2021 and things haven’t gone that well for him in college. The 6-4, 230 pounder has spent the past two years at LSU after originally playing at UCLA. The junior right hander made nine starts this year in his 18 appearances for the Tigers. Hurd posted a 6.55 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 24 walks in just 44 innings pitched. He’s pitching in the Cape Cod League right now in an attempt to rehabilitate his draft stock.

Hurd has shown consistent control and command issues as a starter in college. The 21-year-old still possesses a quality fastball/slider combination though. The fastball has touched 98 mph and he has a high spin slider. The righty also throws a curveball and a changeup. Hurd is very athletic with a quick arm but he needs to better develop his secondary offerings and there is some reliever risk in the profile.

2 thoughts on “2024 Five Round Mock Draft 2.0: Chicago White Sox”

  1. Dennis

    I know the value in the 2024 class is supposed to be Prep Pitcher heavy, but the White Sox could be contending in 2026. They’re about to make a bunch of trades to add to a top half rated farm system. I would take a College position player with the first pick. Then I like the Prep pitchers you chose.

  2. Furious Styles

    Colson Montgomery is batting .212 in Charlotte and he’s struck out 101 times. So with the fifth pick in a draft that is loaded with college hitters, they are going to go with another projectable high school shortstop? Man, I hate the White Sox now. I’d hate them even more if they draft Griffin. I hope you’re wrong.

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