White Sox general manager Chris Getz said the organization will take a bat-first approach Sunday in the MLB Draft, starting with their first pick at No. 10 overall.
That’s perhaps not the most surprising strategy for a team dwelling in the cellar in just about every key offensive category, but it’s an important one for Getz in his latest restocking of the prospect cupboard entering the third year of his tenure.
The Sox entered play Tuesday ranked in the bottom three among major-league teams in hits (662), runs (315) and home runs (70) and were last in batting average (.220) and OPS (.641).
And with the recent promotions of catcher Kyle Teel and shortstop Colson Montgomery, the Sox’ farm system is running low on blue-chip hitting prospects. Their next-highest-touted position player, outfielder Braden Montgomery, is at least a year away from the big time in High-A Winston-Salem.
‘‘Primarily, we’re focused on bats in the draft,’’ Getz told reporters Monday. ‘‘When it comes to trades, we’ll try to pry the best talent that we [can]. It could be pitching, it could be position players. But going into it, we’re looking to improve our offense [for the] long term.’’
That means a focus on more versatile shortstops and center fielders. And while Colson Montgomery just got to the majors, Getz sure sounded ready to stock up on more guys at his position.
‘‘I love shortstops, I really do,’’ Getz said. ‘‘It’s obviously a highly skilled position, and it’s a very demanding position, as well. If they’re able to handle the responsibilities of shortstop, they’re likely to be able to handle the responsibilities of other positions around the field.’’
Analysts say the draft crop is particularly ripe with shortstops, and MLB.com mock drafts consistently have connected the Sox with Mississippi high school shortstop JoJo Parker at No. 10. He’s a 6-2 left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower whose twin brother, Jacob, is a highly rated outfielder.
‘‘Shortstops are very difficult to find,’’ Getz said. ‘‘It’s not easy to pry an every-day shortstop. The best way to get that talent into your system is likely drafting them or signing them in the international side.’’
The Sox’ system still has plenty more on the way when it comes to pitching, though their No. 1 prospect, 6-10 left-hander Noah Schultz of Naperville has surrendered 15 runs in his first three starts at Triple-A Charlotte.
‘‘It’s good for him to go through and navigate some of these outings,’’ Getz said.
The young arms who recently have arrived have provided some much-needed optimism as the big-league club slogs through another last-place season.
Look no further than All-Star right-hander Shane Smith, whose 3-7 record and 4.20 ERA belie the dominance the Rule 5 Draft pick showed in his first 13 starts, holding opponents to three runs or fewer in each of those outings.
Right-hander Grant Taylor, a flame-throwing second-round pick in 2023, hasn’t skipped a beat in his jump from Double-A Birmingham, showing some late-game cool to notch three saves in a month. And right-handers Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon have shown enough mettle to stay in the Sox’ long-term pitching conversation.
Does that trajectory mean the Sox, who are well on pace to surpass 100 losses again this season, might avoid a fourth consecutive season of that level of failure in 2026?
Getz isn’t thinking that way.
‘‘We’ve shown that this year we’re making strides in the right direction,’’ he said. ‘‘We like the group of players that we have here. We’re tacking on more wins. It’s about racking up as many good days as you can, and then you look up and you’ve won seven of your last 10, five of your last six. And before you know it, you’re knocking on the door of the top of the division.’’
