Drafted by White Sox The White Sox have selected Crochet with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft. Impact The obvious high-end comp for Crochet is Chris Sale. He is a 6-foot-6, 218-pound southpaw who throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a big fastball, a big slider and a lot of relief risk. Remember, a lot of people didn't think Sale would make it as a starter, even after he reached the majors. Of course, just because he resembled Sale (visually more than statistically) while pitching for Tennessee doesn't mean that's a likely outcome. He gets great extension on his fastball, which has touched triple digits and could be the best fastball in the entire draft. His sweeping slider gives him a second plus pitch, while his changeup can look promising at times but lacks consistency. Crochet made just 13 starts in college, working primarily as a reliever during his first two seasons. His junior season was delayed due to shoulder soreness, but he struck out six while giving up two hits and zero walks in 3.1 innings in his lone 2020 outing, showing evaluators that he was healthy and his stuff was intact. His size, delivery and lack of track record point more toward the bullpen than the rotation, but his 8.3 percent walk rate in college wasn't terrible for a 6-foot-6 pitcher. A common refrain is that he could be a ninth-inning arm if he has to move to the bullpen, but obviously any amateur pitcher's floor is quite a bit lower than big-league closer.
JUNE 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
