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The 2025 MLB First Year Player Draft is less than two weeks away. With the White Sox holding the 10th overall pick, it is time to dive into how the draft works and who the Sox could add to their already strong farm system.
When is the draft?
The 2025 MLB draft will take place over the All-Star weekend, kicking off on July 13 at 6:00 PM Central time. This year, the MLB transitioned the draft from a three-day event to a two-day event. Day 1 will cover the first 104 picks of the draft. This will include the first three full rounds, along with Competitive Balance rounds A and B. MLB Network will be providing draft coverage live on their channel for the full day, while ESPN will be providing coverage for the first 43 picks.
Day two will kick off with pick 105, which is a compensatory pick awarded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by round 4 and spanning through round 20 to close out the draft. Coverage will begin on MLB.com at 12:30 Central.
When do the White Sox pick?
Despite having the worst record in baseball in 2024, the White Sox will not be on the clock until the 10th overall pick. This is due to recent anti-tanking rules the MLB has implemented, preventing a team that picked in the top 6 one year from being allowed a pick higher than 10 the next. This rule only applies to the first round, however, as the White Sox hold the first pick in rounds 2-20.
This year, the White Sox have a draft bonus pool of $12,169,100. This number comes from an allotted bonus slot value that every pick within the top 10 rounds is assigned, and means that the White Sox have that exact amount that they are allowed to spend on their draft picks. Last year, the White Sox had a higher bonus pool of $14,593,300 due to the additional Competitive Balance Round B pick they acquired in the trade that sent Gregory Santos to the Seattle Mariners. The White Sox do not have a pick in either Competitive Balance round this year.
The total bonus pool comes with a couple of caveats, however. First, every team is allowed to go 5% over their allotted bonus slot pool with just a 75% overage tax. Any higher and the team would forfeit draft picks. Second, draft picks in rounds 11-20 can be signed for up to $150,000 without counting toward their team’s bonus pool. If a player signs for any more, then the team would have to include the difference in their bonus pool. A team cannot save any bonus pool money by signing a round 11-20 draft pick for below that $150,000 slot.
White Sox top 10 draft picks with slot values:
Round 1 (10): $6,238,400
Round 2 (44): $2,223,600
Round 3 (76): $1,076,800
Round 4 (106): $722,600
Round 5 (137): $534,400
Round 6 (166): $403,900
Round 7 (196): $314,500
Round 8 (226): $248,700
Round 9 (256): $210,900
Round 10 (286): $195,300
Possible first-round options for the White Sox
Pitchers
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
Liam Doyle has been one of the most dominant starting pitchers of the 2025 collegiate season, and he also happens to fit a profile that the White Sox are known for drafting. A 6’2 lefty, Doyle pairs a fastball that can touch triple digits with a solid slider, while also working in a cutter and a splitter that are both usable. While there are questions about whether he can hold up as a starter, he has one of the best arms in the entire draft and can hold his stuff deep into games. There is no guarantee he will be available at pick 10, but if he is, there is no doubt the Sox will have interest.
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Arguably the best college RHP in the draft, Witherspoon has 4 plus pitches at his disposal, headlined by his upper 90s fastball. His athleticism, combined with his compact delivery, has allowed him to repeat his delivery with ease while limiting the effort he places on each pitch. These factors give him an excellent chance to stick as a starter long term, with front-line stuff giving him an excellent ceiling.
Catchers
Ike Irish, C/OF, Auburn
There are very few questions about Ike Irish’s bat, which features both a plus hit tool and 20+ home run power. The question is more around whether his future lies behind the plate or not. He spent much of the 2025 season in the outfield due to an injury, and his defense behind the plate is average at best. Regardless, the bat plays wherever his long-term defensive home is.
Infielders
Billy Carlson, SS, Corona (CA)
Billy Carlson has been linked to the White Sox by several publications and might be the favorite to be the pick if he is available at 10. Arguably the best defensive shortstop in the draft, there is little doubt he will stick at the position. In terms of his bat, he shows solid bat-to-ball skills and has plenty of bat speed, and generates solid exit velocities. He may need to clean up his mechanics a bit, as he hits too many balls into the dirt, but overall, Carlson has one of the best floor/ceiling combinations of any prep player in this draft. He is currently committed to Tennessee.
Jojo Parker, SS, Purvis (MS)
Parker is one of the better pure hitters in the entire class, with a plus hit tool and above-average raw power that should generate 20+ home runs a season at his peak. While his defense isn’t quite as well-regarded, he shows average range and actions, giving him a chance to stick at the position. Still, his bat will play if a move to 2nd or 3rd is necessary. He and his twin brother Jacob are both currently committed to Mississippi State.
Steele Hall, SS, Hewitt-Trussville (AL)
After reclassifying to the 2025 draft class, Steele Hall is one of the youngest prospects in this draft at just 17. With some outlets giving him an 80 grade for his speed, Hall is one of the most dynamic athletes in the draft. At the same time, he has a very good chance of sticking at shortstop. While his bat needs some refinement, he shows an ability to hit to all fields and has been building muscle to improve his power production. He is currently committed to Tennessee.
Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest
More known for his glove than his bat, Houston is a true shortstop prospect with one of the more reliable defensive profiles in the draft. Combining that with an above-average hit tool, and Houston is a first-round lock in this draft. There isn’t a ton of power to his game, but he has everything else going for him. This makes him one of the safer draft options.
Outfielders
Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona
Summerhill has a very well-rounded profile, showing at least average tools across the board. While he has battled through some injuries as of late, when healthy, he can be an impactful player both at the plate and in the outfield. A local kid who attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, he should be firmly cemented on the White Sox radar.
Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
Prior to the beginning of the 2025 season, it would have been a pipe dream for Jace LaViolette to be a possibility at 10th overall. Now, that might be his ceiling in this year’s draft. LaViolette has one of the highest upside bats in this draft, with his 6’6″ 230 lb frame generating some of the best power in the draft. There are serious concerns about his ability to hit, however, as his batting average dropped nearly 50 points from his sophomore to his junior year. He does show an advanced approach at the plate, however, so if the Sox think they can work with him to make more consistent contact, they could get a steal with LaViolette. The question is whether the risk outweighs the potential reward here.
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Featured Image: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
