CHICAGO -- Garrett Crochet is scheduled to be in Chicago this week to take a physical, meaning the start of the professional baseball career for the White Sox top pick in the 2020 Draft is not far behind.

“After we get the contract all buttoned up, I should be signing,” Crochet told MLB.com during a phone interview on Monday. “Yeah, it’s not completely official, but should be here in a few days’ time.”

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Going through the physical and MRIs ends a frenzied and life-changing week for the soon-to-be 21-year-old. Crochet was announced as the 11th pick overall last Wednesday, with a recommended slot value of $4,547,500.

The official selection news came in a Zoom call to the southpaw from White Sox general manager Rick Hahn and White Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley, who made the University of Tennessee hurler his first top pick in his first Draft in charge. Hahn and Shirley contacted Crochet shortly before the pick became official on MLB Network, leaving Crochet to pull off a good acting job in front of his family and friends where they were waiting with him to celebrate at a Mexican restaurant in Knoxville, Tenn.

“Man, I was pumped, but I was trying not to let the people around me know,” Crochet said. “I kind of wanted it be a surprise to see on TV. Trying to keep it under wraps and not let anybody know exactly who it was that was calling me.

“I almost started crying on the spot. I was trying to hold myself together until it was announced nationally. It was awesome just hearing those guys were willing to put their faith into me. The room, just the atmosphere, everybody was kind of looking at me waiting to see my reaction. I felt like after getting that call everybody pretty much knew.”

Based on Zoom interviews during the weeks leading up to the Draft, Crochet felt as if he would be picked somewhere between 10 and 20. The relationship built up with the White Sox left him almost as confident he would be their top pick.

White Sox outfielder Nicky Delmonico, who originally is from Knoxville, called Crochet to welcome him to the organization. Delmonico’s father, Rod, served as Tennessee’s head baseball coach from 1990-2007, deepening the connection with Crochet.

He is ready to go to Chicago again or go to the team’s Spring Training facility in Glendale, Ariz., or continue working out in Knoxville. Crochet is not intimidated by the first-round expectations attached to his name, made easier to handle with a fastball able to hit 100 mph and a wipeout slider in his arsenal.

“It’s just a blessing to be drafted entirely, let alone in the first round,” Crochet said. “So I definitely don’t carry that without any weight. But I wouldn’t say I feel any pressure. I would say I’m just happy it was able to work out for me.”

“One thing I can tell you about Garrett, the 2020 version of him, it's almost like a new car. You want the 2018 version or the 2020?” Shirley said. “The fall look that I had at their intrasquad world series was substantial, something I'll never forget. Some of the best stuff I've seen as an amateur scout in what he presented that day.”

Changes in Crochet’s diet and his workout program helped forge a significant velocity jump this past fall and that overwhelming stuff witnessed by Shirley. Crochet began as a nuclear engineering major at Tennessee and then switched to finance. But soon, he will be pretty much majoring in baseball.

“As far as that goes, hopefully I can just finish with baseball,” Crochet said. “Just a whirlwind of emotions.

“Kind of trying to accept my new fate and just getting used to the fact I can now call myself a professional baseball player is pretty cool. I’m just excited to get to Chicago and get the whole process rolling.”