White Sox 2025 MLB Draft Notebook 3.0
via MLB PR
The 2025 Major League Baseball Draft will take place in Atlanta as part of All Star weekend. This will be the fourth draft for the White Sox under the current rules. The draft is 20 rounds and a lottery determined the first six picks back in December. With all of the shuffling and change in the White Sox’ organization, Mike Shirley remains in charge of the amateur draft. This will be his sixth draft as the director of amateur scouting. He has selected Garrett Crochet, Colson Montgomery, Noah Schultz, Jacob Gonzalez and Hagen Smith with his first rounders to this point.
2025 MLB Draft Bonus Slots Set for Clubs; Chicago White Sox
Major League Baseball recently announced the slot values and bonus pool amounts for all clubs in regards to the 2025 draft. Baseball America summarized the information nicely. The selections come with a 4.8% increase from last season. The #1 overall pick was worth $10,570,600 and it’ll increase to $11,075,900 this year for the Washington Nationals at #1 overall. Chase Burns and Charlie Condon signed for $9.25 million respectively in 2024 and those are the biggest bonuses ever handed out to date.
The Seattle Mariners have the third overall selection and they’ll have the biggest bonus pool at $17,074,400. The Tampa Bay Rays are second with a total pool of $16,699,400 and the Los Angeles Angels total is $16,656,400. The Angels will also have the #2 overall pick which was discussed in Draft Notebook 2.0. The New York Yankees and New York Mets have the smallest overall bonus pools with the Yankees coming in at $5,383,600.
The Chicago White Sox have the 10th pick in the first round which comes with a slot value of $6,238,400. The club will also pick in the top slot in every round from 2-20. Overall, they have the 14th highest bonus pool with a total of $12,169,100. With the 5% overage available, the White Sox can spend up to $12,777,555 on the 2025 Draft. Here is the breakdown of the organization’s bonus pool.
| Round | Pick | Slot Value |
| 1 | #10 | $6,238,400 |
| 2 | #44 | $2,223,600 |
| 3 | #76 | $1,076,800 |
| 4 | #106 | $722,600 |
| 5 | #137 | $534,400 |
| 6 | #166 | $403,900 |
| 7 | #196 | $314,500 |
| 8 | #226 | $248,700 |
| 9 | #256 | $210,900 |
| 10 | #286 | $195,300 |
From rounds 11-20, players can sign for up to $150,000 without counting towards the bonus pool. Anything beyond that value does count towards the pool. The White Sox will have the first overall selection in rounds 11-20. This year’s format is different as there will be no day three for the first time. Rounds 4-20 will take place on Monday July 14th which is a change from previous years. Prior to 2025, the draft was a three day event and the strategical shifts under the new format will be interesting to follow.
Mocking Prep Bats for White Sox
In the first mock draft from Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, Oklahoma prep infielder Eli Willits was projected to the Miami Marlins with the #7 overall pick and some outlets have noted that he’s a sleeper candidate to be the #1 overall pick in July. Willits has bloodlines and is really young due to re-classifying but the ascension is noteworthy because he was my selection for the White Sox in Draft Notebook 1.0.
If Willits or California prep shortstop Billy Carlson made it to the 10th overall pick at this point, it would be an easy decision for the White Sox. It’s not expected to be the case however. Callis projected that the White Sox “could start a run on the second tier of high school shortstops” while projecting the Pale Hose to nab Texas prep Kayson Cunningham with their top selection. The latest from Carlos Collazo at Baseball America did send Carlson to the White Sox however.
Over at The Athletic, veteran prospect and draft writer Keith Law had a similar idea for the White Sox. He mocked Mississippi prep JoJo Parker to the Sox with the 10th pick and he stated that, “they’re in a better position than most to take a high-ceiling high school guy” while also noting that someone like Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette could be a fit for them as well. Jonathan Mayo followed up with the A&M slugger to the Pale Hose as well and Kiley McDaniel linked them in his first mock at ESPN too.
Teams and decision makers would never admit to doing anything other than taking the best available player but it wouldn’t be a shock to find out that the White Sox might prefer a college bat to pair with their evolving young core. Mike Shirley’s relationship with Texas A&M head coach Michael Earley could position the club well in regards to scouting outfielder Jace LaViolette. Top decision makers have been in to see Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston on multiple occasions and Arizona outfielder Brandon Summerhill is a Chicago area kid who could be an option as well.
The White Sox struck on a prep hitter in round two last year and Michigan high schooler Caleb Bonemer has elevated his game so far this season and recently debuted on the updated top 100 prospect list at Baseball America. The club could double dip with hitters to start the 2025 Draft by nabbing a closer-to-the-majors college option while following that selection with an over-slot prep at #44 overall. Prep hitters are being connected to the Sox in early May though and it can’t be ignored. Here are some of the options.
Potential Prep Options for the White Sox at #10
Billy Carlson, SS, Corona, CA
Carlson isn’t likely to be on the board for the White Sox but stranger things have happened. The 6-1, 160 pounder has extensive summer circuit success. He played at the Area Code Games, National High School Invitational and MLB All American Game. The 18-year-old is also a two-way player but he probably won’t pitch as a professional. The right-handed hitting shortstop possesses athleticism and bat speed and he’s the #6 ranked draft prospect at MLB Pipeline while being the 8th ranked prospect at Baseball America.
Carlson should grow into more power but there are some hit tool concerns. The 18-year-old’s defense ranks as a 70-grade on the 20-80 scouting scale and his arm strength and actions are on display. The California prep has five-tool potential and he’ll be 19-years-old on draft day. Scouts have flocked into Corona High School this spring.
JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis, MS.
Parker has a twin brother named Jacob and the boys are the best prospects in the state of Mississippi. The 6-2, 200 pounder ranks #14 on the MLB Pipeline list and he shows hitting ability and athleticism. The infielder has a chance for plus hit and average power with a good-looking left-handed swing. He manages the strike zone and has a gap-to-gap approach.
Parker ranks #21 on the list at Baseball America and while he may not stay at shortstop, there seems to be a definite future on the dirt at second or third base. He’ll have enough bat for either spot if he has to move and his exit velocities should increase as he gets stronger.
Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville, AL
17-year-old Steele Hall reclassified for 2025 and he’ll be one of the youngest players in the class. The 5-11, 165 pounder is a twitchy athlete with plus-plus speed. Hall ranks #13 overall on the list at MLB Pipeline and #19 over at Baseball America. Known for his defense at shortstop, he also has shown 80-grade run times. Hall possesses a quick right-handed swing and while there are some hit tool questions, he has the potential to hit 15 plus homers as a professional.
Kayson Cunningham, INF, Johnson, TX
The 5-9, 170 pound left-handed hitting infielder has drawn comparisons to New York Mets prospect Jett Williams. Cunningham led Team USA with a .417 batting average at the World Cup Qualifier in Panama. Cunningham doesn’t swing and miss often and he really controls the barrel. The infielder ranks #9 overall on Baseball America while checking in at #15 overall on MLB Pipeline.
The Texas prep shows an advanced approach at the plate but he’s not a physical player. He does project for at least 15 homers annually however. Cunningham plays with high energy and displays plus speed in all facets of his game. He has good actions at shortstop with a solid arm but some evaluators see second base as his ultimate home. Cunningham will be 19-years-old on draft day.
Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek, GA
The prep shortstop from Mill Creek, Georgia is the typical “coach’s son” overachiever type player. The v6-1, 185 pounder plays with constant energy and shows an advanced approach at the plate. Pierce makes all-fields contact and has produced against good pitching on the showcase circuit. Pierce ranks #18 overall on the Pipeline list and #26 at Baseball America.
The infielder has a high baseball IQ and he’s lauded for plus makeup. Pierce shows average raw power and he could hit 12-15 homers annually. Plus speed and instincts are present in Pierce’s game as well and he has displayed solid range at shortstop as well.
