On Saturday, the White Sox made the 2020 draft theft official.
WHITE SOX SIGN KARLEY SECOND ROUND FILM
CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox signed right-hander Jared Kelley, his second-round pick in the 2020 draft, to a minor league contract with a $ 3 million signing bonus.
Kelley, 18, was named 2019-20 Gatorade National Player of the Year for baseball after not allowing a hit and striking out 34 hitters in 12 scoreless innings. He entered the MLBPipeline.com-rated draft as No. 12 overall, No. 3 in high school, and No. 4 right-handed pitching prospect.
“This is a moment I’ve been dreaming about for as long as I can remember and I still can’t believe it’s real,” says Kelley. “None of this would be possible without the love and support of my mom, dad, brother and the many coaches and teammates I have had along the way. I would like to thank the Chicago White Sox for taking the risk and I promise to give you, and White Sox fans everywhere, everything I have. “
The 215-pound 6’2 ” Kelley had a 0.22 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 65 innings during his junior season. He pitched for the USA 18U national team at the 2018 Pan American Championship, helping his team win a gold medal.
Kelley, a native of Refugio, Texas, was recommended by White Sox scout Tyler Wilt.
With Kelley’s signature and left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn, the club’s fifth-round pick, the White Sox have agreed to strike a deal with all five teams in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Bailey Horn received $ 150,000, Kade Mechals $ 10,000, and Adysin Coffey $ 50,000.
Let’s go ahead and say it: Local explorer Tyler Wilt is the unrecognized hero of the 2020 season. Presumably, he was the one who smelled the possibility that Kelley could be had if there was any (slim, none) chance that Kelley would slip into the Selection No. 47. (Note that several writers, including James Fox from sister site South Side Hit Pen and Future Sox, tagged Kelley with Chicago. No. 1 pick up – he’s so good)
Plus, there’s no pressure: Refugio is the Texas city where another fairly decent right-handed firefighter was born.
Nolan Ryan.
