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South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 79: Jason Bilous

If this hard-throwing righthander can find his control, the White Sox have landed a mid-round gem

By whisoxman20051917
Starting slow: If Bilous can find his control, the White Sox landed a middle-round gem in 2018.
@_jbilous/Twitter

Jason Bilous
6´2´´
185 pounds
Throws: Right
Age: 21
SSS rank among all right-handed starting pitchers in the system: 16

Bilous, though possessing great stuff, posted mediocre results in his Coastal Carolina career after missing his senior season in high school due to Tommy John surgery.

In three years as a Chanticleers starter encompassing 179 2⁄3 innings, Bilous combined to post a 4.28 ERA and 1.63 WHIP, allowing 152 hits (.255 OBA) and 143 walks (7.12 BB%) while striking out 212 hitters (10.56 K/9). His junior season, Bilous’ best, still exhibited poor control: In 83 innings of work, Bilous allowed just 61 hits (.214 OBA) but walked 66 (7.13 BB/9) while striking out 105 (11.34 K/9).

FanGraphs, Baseball America, and MLB Pipeline all had Bilous ranked among the top 200 MLB Draft prospects in 2018, so when he fell to the 13th round (378th overall), the White Sox snapped him up.

When putting a pitcher with poor control into a hitting environment like the Pioneer League, you’re asking for trouble. In 36 2⁄3 innings over 14 starts after being drafted, Bilous posted a 7.85 ERA and 1.91 WHIP despite 31 strikeouts (7.61 K/9), as he allowed 46 hits (.324 OBA) and 24 walks (5.89 BB/9). MLB Pipeline gave him grades of 65 fastball, 55 slider and 50 changeup. As a starter, Bilous’ fastball typically ran 92-95 mph with sink but, in short stints, got as high as 99.

The White Sox will likely see what he can do as a starting pitcher going forward, but he has the size and velocity conducive to a high-leverage bullpen role if he improves his control. The ideal situation for Bilous would be to begin next season with the AZL League (he’s still only 21) so he can work on his mechanics and control in a much more pitching-friendly environment, but I expect him to return to Great Falls instead.

Take a look!

Video by Gregory Gerard.

2019 South Side Sox Top 100 Prospects

79. Jason Bilous, RHSP
80. Nick Johnson, RHRP
81. Danny Dopico, RHRP
82. Harvin Mendoza, 1B
83. Logan Sowers, RF
84. Maiker Feliz, 3B
85. Brayan Herrera, RHSP
86. Craig Dedelow, LF
87. Wilber Pérez, RHSP
88. Kyle Kubat, LHRP
89. Johan Dominguez, RHRP
90. Mitch Roman, 2B
91. Ty Greene, C
92. Tanner Banks, LHSP
93. Jake Elliott, RHRP
94. Kevin Escorcia, LHRP
95. Luis Rodriguez, RHSP
96. Ian Dawkins, LF
97. Victor Diaz, RHRP
98. Travis Moniot, LF
99. Will Kincanon, RHRP
100. Brian Clark, LHRP

More information on South Side Top Prospects.

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