You might be in luck if you want the White Sox to take arguably the best hitter in this year’s MLB draft. University of Florida superstar Jac Caglianone was spotted at the White Sox game yesterday afternoon, and James Fox of FutureSox confirmed that Caglianone did meet with White Sox brass. The White Sox hold the fifth overall selection in the upcoming draft on July 14th. 21-year-old Caglianone could very well be the selection given the team’s public interest in him.
Caglianone had an absolutely monster season for the University of Florida. The 6’5, 250-pound left-handed hitter had 35 home runs in only 66 games in 2024. He also hit .419 with a 1.419 OPS and a ridiculous 58 to 26 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His 2024 stats are like playing MLB The Show on beginner mode. Caglianone also pitched this year, striking out 83 in 73.2 innings. But his bat is his calling card. He is currently the #3 draft prospect according to MLB.com.
From the White Sox perspective, their interest in Caglianone makes perfect sense. The team has lacked left-handed power bats for a long time, and that is exactly what Caglianone is. The White Sox also lack top-position player prospects in general. Caglianone would immediately become one of the best hitting prospects in the system should they take him. He is so skilled offensively that he could be in the White Sox lineup tomorrow and hold his own against MLB pitching. Caglianone could also pitch professionally, adding to his appeal as a potential two-way player.
As good as Caglianone is, there are also some concerns. First, he might not even be on the board when the White Sox pick. Considering how good of a season Caglianone had, he might be selected before the White Sox even have a chance at him.
Secondly, he will likely be a first baseman at the MLB level. The White Sox have had no issues drafting first basemen that high in the past, selecting Andrew Vaughn third overall in 2019. Unfortunately, that pick has not worked out as well as they had hoped. While Caglianone’s college stats are better than Vaughn’s, drafting a first baseman that high can be a risky strategy. First basemen have to be elite offensively to justify picking them that high, as they do not typically produce much value in other areas of the game. The pick is justifiable if the White Sox feel Caglianone’s bat is special. But it better be for the pick to age well over time.
The White Sox interest in Jac Caglianone is genuine, and we will have to wait only a few more weeks to find out who they ultimately take. Caglianone is just one of several names linked to the team in the draft process. Mississippi high school outfielder Konnor Griffin and University of West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt are other options. Each draft prospect has its pros and cons, but one thing is clear: the White Sox will get an outstanding player regardless with the fifth overall pick.
