Plus a heaping helping of UDFAs
The White Sox have announced the signing of all players from their 2024 draft class but one, along with eight undrafted free agents (UDFAs).
The White Sox rounded first-rounder Hagen Smith up from his pick value of $7,763,700 to an even $8 million, giving him the biggest signing bonus for a lefthander in draft history.
Second-rounder Caleb Bonemer also got a sweetener to eschew his commitment to the University of Virginia, getting $2 million instead of the allotted $2.17 million. Sandwich pick Blake Larson also got a bump, albeit a minor one, signing for a $200,000 bump at $1.4 million. Casey Saucke, Sam Antonacci and Blake Combs also signed for more than their selection slots recommended. Reliever Jack Young and outfielder Cole McConnell, taken in the dead zone at the end of Day 2 picks, essentially signed for free ($7,500) as fourth-year seniors.
The White Sox failed to sign their hail mary pick of Myles Bailey, a slugging Florida high-schooler who is committed to Florida State University. Bailey appears to be the “George Wolkow” of this draft, a player the White Sox were committed to and willing to extend, say, a $1 million-plus bonus as a Day 2 pick. But those negotiations broke down, and given the small but existing chance that Bailey might still opt to go pro, the White Sox used their final pick on him.
The UDFAs, a group made up of four infielders, two catchers and two righties, all likely took very low six-figure signing bonuses.
With the Arizona Complex League regular season ending this month, there is no obvious placement for this draft class. Some of the more experienced hands should see some time in Kannapolis, but otherwise most of these players will attend Fall Instructionals and get their careers started next April in A-ball, or later in the 2025 ACL.
