Righty Blount added to White Sox arm stockpile

The White Sox continued to restock the pitching in their farm system with ninth-round pick Nick Blount out of Southern Polytechnic State in Georgia. The 6-foot-6-inch, 230-pound senior attended the University of Tennessee before transferring to the Hornets.

Blount started four games but served primarily out of the bullpen this season. He held a 2.74 ERA and struck out 60 in 42 2/3 innings of work over 20 appearances. The right-hander also saved eight games as Southern Polytechnic's primary closer.

Blount never found sustained success at Tennessee. Coming out of high school, he was ranked the No. 16 overall prospect and No. 9 pitching prospect from the state of Georgia. He struggled in his first two years before piecing together his best year as a member of the Vols in his junior season. He held a 4.63 ERA in 35 innings split between the bullpen and starting in 2012.

After he'd announced his transfer to Southern Polytechnic, Blount was one of 30 players to be named to the Prospect League Top Prospects list by Perfect Game USA in September 2012.