CHICAGO -- Nick Hostetler had what was deemed an excellent 2016 Draft class during his first year in charge for the White Sox. The goal now is to repeat that success in 2017.
"We were talking about that in the [Draft prep] room," Hostetler said. "I was laughing, and I told them it was like a Drake song, back-to-back like [Michael] Jordan in 96-97. We've got to do it again."
The 2017 Draft will take place through Wednesday, June 14, beginning today with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m on the 12th. MLB Network will broadcast the first 36 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 75 picks on Day 1. MLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, starting at 1 p.m. ET. Then, Rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on June 14, beginning at noon ET.
Go to MLB.com/draft to see the Top 200 Prospects list, projected top picks from MLBPipeline.com analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the complete order of selection and more. And follow @MLBDraft on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying.
:: 2017 MLB Draft coverage ::
Here's how the Draft is shaping up for the White Sox, whose first selection is the 11th overall pick.
In about 50 words
The White Sox had not officially gone into full rebuild mode when the 2016 Draft yielded players such as catcher Zack Collins, right-handed reliever Zack Burdi, right-handed starter Alec Hansen and outfielders such as Jameson Fisher and Alex Call. It was an important talent addition, much like the '17 Draft, '18 Draft, outfielder Luis Robert as an international free agent and the upcoming non-waiver Trade Deadline returns.
"We know we are going to get a good player at 11," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "And Nick and his guys are pretty enthusiastic about the depth of the Draft, making us feel the next couple of picks are going to be guys we feel good about."
The scoop
A little cloudiness still existed one week before the Draft as to how the first 10 picks would shake out, influencing the White Sox selection at No. 11. Hostetler termed the Draft pool as "interesting," adding from the White Sox pick at 11 to their next selection at 49, "there's a bunch of players who will be very similar."
"Some of these college pitchers are starting to wear down a little bit, which causes some concern. Some of the high school players are starting to do private workouts, which is starting to rise among those guys as well," said Hostetler, focusing more on the team's first pick. "If we can get one or two of those guys not expecting to go in the Top 10 in there, it will push a few guys down. It won't shock me if there's one or two that get down."
First-round buzz
Austin Beck, an outfielder from North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C., worked out for the White Sox in the final days leading up to the Draft. Per MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis, Beck lacked extensive wood-bat history because he missed last year's showcase circuit while recovering from left knee surgery. Some projections have Jeren Kendall, a talented outfielder from Vanderbilt, also tied to the White Sox.
Money matters
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team has an allotted bonus pool equal to the sum of the values of that club's selections in the first 10 rounds of the Draft. The more picks a team has, and the earlier it picks, the larger the pool. The signing bonuses for a team's selections in the first 10 rounds, plus any bonus greater than $125,000 for a player taken after the 10th round, will apply toward the bonus-pool total.
Any team going up to five percent over its allotted pool will be taxed at a 75-percent rate on the overage. A team that overspends by 5-10 percent gets a 75-percent tax plus the loss of a first-round pick. A team that goes 10-15 percent over its pool amount will be hit with a 100-percent penalty on the overage and the loss of a first- and second-round pick. Any overage of 15 percent or more gets a 100-percent tax plus the loss of first-round picks in the next two Drafts.
This year, the White Sox have a pool of $7,921,400 to spend in the first 10 rounds, including $4,199,200 to spend on their first selection.
Shopping List
Early stages of the rebuild yielded more high-end pitching prospects than position players. But the team won't be drafting just to fit the rebuild.
"Certainly we will communicate on some potential need stuff, but it's not going to affect the early rounds," White Sox director of player development Chris Getz said. "But we talk often and really [Nick] and the scouts, they've got the history with these players, they know these players. Nick is great. He works his butt off, and I just encourage him to keep on bringing in quality players like he's been."
Trend watch
Since 2000, the White Sox have taken one high school position player with their first pick (Courtney Hawkins, 2012) and two high school players overall with that first pick (RHP Kris Honel, 2001). But it's more about a style of player they are targeting than high school vs. college player or hitter vs. pitcher.
"We're looking for the best guy, regardless of position, but also somebody who fits in to what we're trying to do," Hostetler said. "We want to make sure that we have hitters who put the ball in play and pitchers who pound the zone. I sound like a broken record with it, but it is true. It's something we believe."
Recent Draft history
Rising Fast:
Hansen admittedly sat a notch above the competition when he shut down opposing teams with the Arizona White Sox and Great Falls after he was selected in the second round last year. But the 6-foot-7 right-hander has continued his high level of success with Class A Kannapolis, striking out 15 without issuing a walk over seven innings in a game on May 28.
Cinderella story
Shortly after the '16 Draft, Hostetler mentioned left-handed pitcher Bernardo Flores as sort of a sleeper pick to watch after being taken in the seventh round. Flores has since posted a 3.29 ERA over 25 Minor League games (22 starts), with 106 strikeouts over 125 2/3 innings. Flores has 54 strikeouts and 11 walks over 60 2/3 innings as part of Kannapolis' rotation this season.
In the show
Tim Anderson (first round, 2013) not only has reached the Majors but has found financial security through a six-year, $25 million deal he agreed upon with the White Sox during Spring Training. Right-handed reliever Nate Jones (2007, fifth round) has the most White Sox seniority among anyone on the current roster, while Carlos Rodon (third pick overall, 2014), Tyler Saladino, Chris Beck, Kevan Smith, Tyler Danish, Brad Goldberg, Jake Petricka, Adam Engel and Jacob May are a few more homegrown players who have contributed over the past two seasons.
The White Sox recent top picks
2016: Zack Collins, C, Class A Winston-Salem
2015:Carson Fulmer, RHP, Triple-A Charlotte
2014: Carlos Rodon, LHP, injury rehab/Winston-Salem
2013: Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
2012: Courtney Hawkins, OF, Double-A Birmingham
2011: Keenyn Walker, OF, Out of Organization