Hype and speculation continue to grow as we inch closer to the 2018 MLB Draft. Casey Mize, the big right-hander from Auburn, seems like a near lock to go #1 but there is little certainty following that selection.
Our beloved White Sox could go a number of directions with the #4 pick. The Pale Hose have used their last two first-round picks on polished college position players, Zack Collins (2016) and Jake Burger (2017). Expect them to follow this trend in 2018. There is no shortage of college bats at the top of this draft.
Melissa Lockhard, of The Athletic, has the top 5 shaking out as follows:
- Detroit Tigers: Casey Mize, RHP, Auburn.
- San Francisco Giants: Joey Bart, C, Georgia Tech.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Nick Madrigal, 2B/SS, Oregon State.
- Chicago White Sox: Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State.
- Cincinnati Reds: Brady Singer, RHP, Florida.
Let’s talk about Bohm.
Bohm, a Nebraska native, went undrafted out of high school and continued on to Wichita State where he made an immediate impact. In 3 seasons with The Shockers Bohm raised his average from .303 to .305 between his freshman/sophomore campaigns to the .335 average he currently boasts.
Bohm is a physical specimen. He stands at 6’5, 220 lbs. With that size comes considerable power. In 58 games this season he’s belted 15 round trippers with 52 RBI’s. Strikeouts are usually a concern with college power hitters; this isn’t the case with Bohm. 2018 has seen Bohm walk more than he has struck out (38 BB to 24 SO).
It’s worth noting that Alec excelled in the Cape Cod League this past summer (.351 with 5 HR’s and 28 RBI in 39 games). All this while swinging strictly wooden bats against some of the best college arms in the country.
There is the question of whether or not he can stick at the hot corner. I see him long-term at 3B. He is a tall, strong kid with considerable athleticism. His arm plays at third. Jake Burger has ruptured the same Achilles twice in three months. With the injury concern behind Burger, that leaves an organizational hole at 3B.
The selection of Bohm could be a perfect storm of filling an organizational need and selecting the best player on the board.
