Defense? 'Thump'? Sox No. 10 pick Carlson brings it all to the table

CHICAGO -- If there was an official Major League Baseball scouting grade for personality, then shortstop Billy Carlson, the White Sox No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, would rate an 80.

And this judgement is based solely on an 11-minute Zoom with the 18-year-old following Sunday night’s moment that changed his life.

Carlson prepped at Corona (Calif.) high school, rated as the No. 4 infielder and No. 7 overall prospect in the Draft, per MLB Pipeline. He slashed .365/.517/.647 with four doubles, six home runs, 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored and a 1.164 OPS over 31 games this season as he helped lead the Panthers to the Division I CIF Southern Section Baseball Final Four.

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There also is a strong fandom connection from Carlson to Mike Trout, the three-time American League Most Valuable Player and 11-time All-Star. That bond makes sense when considering Trout’s Anaheim baseball home is just 22 miles from Carlson, but there was a deeper story shared Sunday by Carlson.

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“I was a little kid and at a Spring Training game in Arizona. I think they were playing the Rockies at that time, he had just got a few knocks and I think he got out one of the at-bats,” a smiling Carlson said. “He kind of got jammed up a little bit and he was walking out and I guess he had cracked that bat in that at-bat.

“He pulled that bat out of his bag and handed it to me. So just super special moment for me as far as when I was a kid. Mike Trout is the GOAT, and I looked up to him a lot. Just being able to have that little connection with him, too, was awesome. Ever since then, I’ve been a huge Mike Trout fan.”

Official scouting grades for Carlson top out at 70 for fielding and 65 for arm strength, making him a defense-first sort of shortstop. He also pitches, finishing 1-0 with a 0.88 ERA to go with 12 strikeouts in eight innings this season while featuring a 4-0 record with a 0.94 ERA in 22 career appearances.

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So does Carlson want to follow Shohei Ohtani, another California baseball superstar, and become a two-way player? He was somewhat open to the idea.

“I’m not opposed to it. I could definitely do it with the best of them,” said Carlson, still smiling on the Zoom. “I’m going to take pride in being an everyday player and impacting the game every day.

“If we need an out in a big game, I think I can do it. I probably won’t be getting called in, but I could do it. I might do a little Kiké Hernández thing, but instead of throwing it real slow, throw it harder.”

That defense-first moniker might indicate some sort of hitting issue. But it’s certainly not in Carlson’s mind.

“No doubt. I think it gets slept on a little bit,” said Carlson, who hit some “bombs” for the White Sox during a workout at the University of Tennessee. “I feel like this spring I showed I can bang with the best of them and really have some thump for my size.

“Super excited to be able to prove that and show that these next few years. Just super stoked and ready to get to work. We are barely scratching the surface as far as the hitting side. I feel like there are a lot of good years coming with the stick. I don’t think it needs to be a worry for anyone. It’s going to be a fun road.”

Carlson is the third high school shortstop in White Sox history drafted in the first round, joining Colson Montgomery in 2021 and Steve Buechele in 1979. Montgomery started at third base in Sunday’s first-half finale, but part of general manager Chris Getz’s master rebuild plan is being strong up the middle.

Their shortstop of today could be their second baseman or third baseman of next year. Good athletes have the ability to move around seamlessly.

Although he was committed to the Volunteers, Carlson is ready to begin his professional career and eventually explore Chicago.

“It’s funny you say that. My mom has a really, really big family,” said Carlson, who was recommended by area scout Mike Baker. “She’s Mexican, and they have a lot of family in Mexico.

“We always had a lot of family in Chicago. It’s crazy, now I’m coming to Chicago and how God works. It’s cool to have a lot of family there who I don’t even really know that well. Getting to know them these next few years will probably be pretty awesome.”

Pretty awesome would describe the feeling director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley has about selecting Carlson, who has a slot value of $6,238,400 at No. 10.

“I’ll be frank, the defense at shortstop is some of the best I’ve ever seen at the amateur ranks,” Shirley said. “Always said one of these days I want to take one of those Southern Cal shortstops.

“They’re exciting, they put people in the seats. Has highlight-reel ability. I’m super excited about Billy Carlson and glad the White Sox got that opportunity tonight.”