CHICAGO -- Say the name Caleb among a group of Chicago sports fans, and the feeling of hope immediately arises.
Of course, that particular level of encouragement is attached to Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the entire 2024 NFL Draft made by the Chicago Bears and the franchise’s latest quarterback of the present and the future. But in Caleb Bonemer, the White Sox seem encouraged they have their own future Caleb contributor.
Bonemer, 18, is a shortstop from Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan, who is one of two high school players among the 11 players taken overall by the South Siders in the first 10 rounds of the Draft. Rounds 3-10 were completed on Monday. Growing up 10 miles outside Lansing, Michigan’s state capital, Bonemer quickly will have to trade his allegiance from the Tigers to his new employers.
“We’ve been a Tigers' family, being in Michigan,” Bonemer said during a Monday Zoom with reporters. “So kind of get a little bit of that AL Central, been to a few White Sox games [at Comerica Park]. It’s definitely pretty cool and I’m just looking forward to getting ready to go. Super excited to get this opportunity to play professional baseball.”
“Our interview at the Combine was great. He comes from a great family,” said White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley of Bonemer. “He's very humble but he's also very confident. He's not an overly outspoken kid, he's there to play baseball. His intent is right but he enjoys it and we think we've got another winner."
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According to an article in the Lansing State Journal, Bonemer hit .429 with 10 doubles, seven homer runs, 20 stolen bases and had a .598 on-base percentage in repeating as Gatorade Player of the Year in Michigan. He joins Paul Quantrill as the only players to be drafted from Okemos, with Quantrill going on to make 841 appearances over 14 seasons.
Shirley spoke late Sunday night of Bonemer staying at shortstop moving into the White Sox organization, which was agreed upon by Bonemer on Monday.
“I would love to play shortstop. I’ve played shortstop my whole life,” Bonemer said. “It’s something I think I can do, but at the end of the day, I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the big leagues as quickly as possible and to win. So, whatever helps the team the best, I’m down for. But I do think I have the capabilities to play shortstop.”
All-Star Bobby Witt Jr. is one of Bonemer’s favorite players. He doesn’t really copy his style of play but simply enjoys watching him.
There’s pull-side power in the right-handed hitter’s profile. It comes naturally, according to Bonemer, although it wasn’t what he always featured.
“Growing up, I was more of a hit-first, contact-first type of guy,” Bonemer said. “Just kind of got bigger. I will say my stroke is naturally left-center left field, but yeah, I do pull the ball quite a bit. Recently I’ve been working a lot on swing mechanics.
“I’ve had a little bit of a problem in the spring getting under balls a little bit, kind of dropping the backside a little bit. Kind of working on flattening out my swing a little bit, and sometimes I have the tendency to stride a little bit too far. Tightening up some things in my swing has kind of been my main focus.”
The White Sox were aggressive on Day 1, according to Shirley, having to extend themselves financially for Bonemer ($2,172,800 slot value for pick 43) and fellow high school left-hander Blake Larson in Competitive Round B ($1,197,200 slot value for pick 68). While they had to tighten up the budget Monday, Shirley sees room to maneuver within the $14,593,300 allotted bonus pool Tuesday and remained pleased with the players selected.
That group of eight featured three outfielders, three right-handed pitchers, one catcher and one infielder. Outfielder Nick McLain was taken in the third round out of Arizona State, while fellow outfielder Casey Saucke was selected in the fourth round from Virginia. All eight were collegiate players, as was Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith, taken fifth overall in the first round by the White Sox.
“Very excited about the college position players we were able to acquire today,” Shirley said. “I like the bats. I like intentional, big programs, quality people, real tools, real assets. Really excited about that group, and what they bring to the table.”
Sunday’s family Draft party for Bonemer was a good lead-in for the start of Bonemer’s career. And when he returns to Comerica Park some time in the future, Bonemer should be playing against his hometown Tigers.
“That would definitely be pretty awesome,” Bonemer said. “To be able to play in Detroit, hopefully in front of family and friends, would be pretty sweet. Making it to the big leagues has always been a dream of mine.
“We had a lot of people say that they're going to have to get some White Sox stuff. Chicago is pretty close to home. A lot of Tigers fans but I'm sure they'll start turning to White Sox.”