White Sox Select Christian Edwards in the 11th Round (335th overall)

The White Sox picked right-handed reliever Christian Edwards out of Jacksonville State University in Alabama with their 11th round pick in the MLB Draft.

Edwards is 6´3´´, 205 pounds and made an immediate impact as a freshman with the Gamecocks, ascending to the closer role as a sophomore in 2019, earning seven saves over 30 ²⁄₃ innings.

After a poor 2020 college season, Edwards excelled in the Coastal Plain (Summer) League, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA over seven games.

He followed that up by shifting to a place in the Gamecocks rotation in 2021, going 5-2 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 11 starts (he came out of the pen in one game, earning a save). His strikeouts per walk also took a healthy leap, to 3.07.

Despite ending his college career as a starter, the White Sox would likely see Edwards as a pen arm. Those roles are malleable, however, with pitchers moving from bullpen to rotation, and rotation to pen, so don’t be shocked to see Edwards fill both roles in his early career in the White Sox organization.

Trivia time: Edwards was born on this author’s 30th birthday, sweet sassy molassey.