White Sox agree to deal with their top pick in Draft

CHICAGO -- Tim Anderson's debut at U.S. Cellular Field might have to wait until he's actually playing for the team.

The White Sox top pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft was scheduled to throw out the first pitch prior to Wednesday night's series finale between the White Sox and the Blue Jays after agreeing to a Minor League contract with a $2.164 million bonus. That number represents the recommended slot value for the No. 17 pick in the Draft.

But Anderson's first-pitch opportunity was postponed because of the threat of inclement weather in Chicago.

Anderson, 19, hit .495 with 62 runs scored and 41 stolen bases for East Central Community College and was named an NJCAA Division II All-American. At 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, the right-handed Anderson added 18 doubles, 11 triples, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, a .563 on-base percentage and an .864 slugging percentage to his impressive totals for the Diamond Warriors as a sophomore this past season.

He was drafted as a shortstop and the White Sox intend to start him there at his first professional stop with Advanced Rookie Bristol of the Appalachian League. Coming out of high school two years ago, Anderson had one offer to play basketball but none to play baseball. So he has come a long way in a short time.

All White Sox picks from the first 10 rounds of the Draft have signed or verbally agreed with the team. That list includes right-handed pitcher Tyler Danish, the team's second-round pick, who tweeted three days ago that he was leaving Florida this Thursday and was "excited to get my pro career started."