Best Third Day White Sox picks of the last 10 years

When looking at drafts, many fans beam when low draft picks unexpectedly rise up the ranks, become true prospects (often surpassing those drafted far higher) and eventually reach the majors. We always enjoy rooting for the underdog, and in the case of a deep pick breaking through, scouts are absolutely ecstatic that their excavations for hidden talent have turned to gold.

Since Day 3 now encompasses Rounds 11-40, here are my best late selections for each of the past 10 years since the MLB Draft initiated. Beyond the past decade, of course, the best late round pick for the White Sox of all-time is Mark Buehrle, who was drafted in the 38th round from Jefferson College in Missouri and amassed 214 victories during his stellar MLB career.

2017: Blake Battenfield—RHP—Oklahoma State—17th Round

It’s way too early to say yet, but as of this moment, I’m going with Battenfield over other worthy choices such as Laz Rivera (28th), John Parke, or (21st) Justin Yurchak (12th). I can certainly see why fans would select Rivera — he was chosen in a later round and has hit well better than .300 in a position Sox fans have seen few succeed of late. Next year, perhaps there may be a different answer, but in the meantime, Battenfield’s present stats are undeniable in Kannapolis: 5-2, 1.59 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 12 BB, 62 K, .180 OBP

2016: Ian Hamilton—RHP—Washington State—11th Round

There are certainly others worthy of consideration: Matt Foster (20th), Joel Booker (22nd), Mitch Roman (12th) and Anthony Villa (19th), among others. However, of those players, Hamilton’s the only one already playing in Birmingham, and he should have an opportunity to pitch in Charlotte before the year’s out. These are his stats in Birmingham for 2018: 2-0, nine saves in 16 games, 1.77 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 10 BB, 29 K, .208 OBP

2015: Seby Zavala—C—San Diego State—12th Round

While there are still several players in the minors from the 2015 class, including fellow Baron Danny Mendick (22nd), Zavala is the relatively easy choice here. After slumping in May and being sidelined for a bit due to injury, he’s posted nice offensive numbers and should see time in Charlotte later this year. Here are his stats in Birmingham for 2018: 45 G, .261/.351/.497, 5 2B, 11 HR, 28 RBI, 30 R, 22 BB, 54 K

2014: Aaron Bummer—LHP—Nebraska—19th Round

Bummer’s the easy choice here, as the southpaw is doing OK in the majors thus far and has improved as this season’s progressed. Mason Robbins (25th) is the only other player from the draft currently plying his trade in Charlotte. Here are Bummer’s stats for the White Sox in 2018: 26 G, 3.26 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 27 H, 6 BB, 21 K, .321 OBP

2013: Adam Engel—OF—Louisville—19th Round

Engel is really the only choice here, as only two others even made it to Charlotte — Danny Hayes and Andre Wheeler — and neither are still in the White Sox system. Here are Engel’s 2018 stats to date for the White Sox: 53 G, .231/.288/.333, 6 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 18 R, 8-for-10 SB, 12 BB, 46 K

2012: Jason Coats—OF—TCU—30th Round

Coats is the only late pick from 2012 who has made it to the majors, which is why he makes the cut instead of Jordan Guerrero (16th), who’s currently pitching for Birmingham. Coats is currently slashing .249/.298/480 for the Tampa Bay Rays AAA Squad. This is Coats’s stat line for the 2016 White Sox, which is his only MLB season to date: 28 G, 50 AB, .200/.298/.340, 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 12 K

2011: Chris Bassitt—RHP—Akron—16th Round

Bassitt pitched for the White Sox in 2014, and was traded to the Oakland A’s in December of that year along with Marcus Semien, Josh Phegley, and Rangel Ravelo for Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa. He’s currently with the A’s AAA squad, & these are his combined MLB stats through 2016: 29 G, 23 GS, 2-11, 4.13 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 57 BB, 108 K, .263 OBP

2010: Drew Lee—2B—Morehead State—12th Round

This was an ugly draft for the later picks — nobody sniffed anything close to a major league spot. I picked Lee by default here, but he got only as high as Kannapolis. These are his stats in two minor league seasons in the Sox organization: 156 G, .278/.311/.410, 41 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 75 RBI, 81 R, 8-for-18 SB, 27 BB, 128 K

2009: Brian Goodwin—OF—Rocky Mount H.S. (N.C.)—17th Round

OK, I’m cheating here. Goodwin didn’t actually sign with the Sox, but was drafted in 2011 by the Washington Nationals, which turned out to be a wise choice financially. Goodwin’s the only 2009 late-round selection who actually made it to the majors, so he’s my choice here. Goodwin’s been on the Nationals’ MLB roster off-and-on since 2016, and these are his MLB stats to date: 112 G, .249/.317/.468, 25 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 43 RBI, 45 R, 9-for-10 SB, 31 BB, 100 K

2008: Charlie Leesman, LHP—Xavier—11th Round

Leesman is the only late draft pick in 2011 that actually made it to the majors, with cups of coffee in 2013 and 2014 for the Sox. C.J. Cron was drafted out of high school in the 44th round but didn’t sign; he was drafted in 2011 in the first round by the Angels and has enjoyed a nice career to date for the Angels and Rays. Here are Leesman’s combined stats in 2013 and 2014 for the Sox: 9 G, 2 GS, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 18 IP, 25 H, 17 BB, 13 K, .333 OBP