White Sox use No. 10 pick in MLB Draft on shortstop Billy Carlson, adding another piece to rebuild puzzle

“I love shortstops,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said last week when talking about what his front office could do in the first round of the MLB Draft. “I really do.”

Now there’s another one with a prime position in Getz’s long-term rebuilding project after the Sox spent the No. 10 overall pick on Billy Carlson, a high school shortstop from California, on Sunday night.

“I was ecstatic,’’ Carlson said. ‘‘I was so happy seeing all my hard work pay off. I’m super excited to get to work and help the White Sox win some games.”

Fans initially might scratch their heads and wonder why the Sox, who just promoted highly rated shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery to the majors, would take another shortstop as they map out a future lineup.

But just because Carlson — who was rated the No. 7 prospect in the draft by MLB.com — spent his time at Corona High School playing shortstop doesn’t mean that’s where he’ll end up if the Sox get him to the majors. The same, truthfully, could be said of Montgomery, who long has faced questions about what his eventual defensive position will be.

Getz explained last week that the athleticism required to play that position makes it easier to move to different positions during player development.

“Shortstops are very difficult to find,” Getz said. “It’s not easy to pry an everyday shortstop [away in a trade]. The best way to get that talent into your system is likely drafting them or signing them on the international side.

“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.”

That said, Carlson has a reputation as a defensive whiz at shortstop, so much so that his bat is not described as a strength. But he thinks differently.

“I think it gets slept on a little bit,” Carlson said. “This spring, I showed I can bang with the best of them and really have some thump for my size [6-1, 185 pounds]. Super excited to be able to prove that and show that these next few years.

“I feel like we are barely scratching the service as far as the hitting side. I feel like there are a lot of good years coming with the stick. I don’t think it needs to be a worry for anyone.”

Carlson, 18, is the third shortstop selected by the Sox in the first round in the last five drafts, joining Montgomery, the team’s first-rounder in 2021, and Jacob Gonzalez, who was taken in 2023.

The Sox used their second-round pick on a local product, outfielder Jaden Fauske from Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. Another local product, Young’s Brendan Summerhill, went 42nd to the Rays.

Hot-corner Colson

Montgomery got his first major-league start at third base in the Sox’ 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Guardians on Sunday after seeing some action there as an in-game substitute in the first game of the doubleheader Friday.

He made some fine plays early but was unable to field a ball hit his way in the 10th inning, setting up the game-winning sacrifice fly.

“I thought it was all right,” manager Will Venable said of Montgomery’s afternoon at third. “He’s continuing to get comfortable. He made some good plays. He’s continuing to work on stuff.

“It’s the hot corner for a reason. He’s doing a great job putting in the work.”

Montgomery, who has spent most of his time at short, has at times looked rather impressive defensively, noteworthy considering the questions about his glove as he rose through the minors.

As for his more heavily touted bat, he went 2-for-18 on the seven-game homestand.

Sox wrap first half

If there’s a silver lining to be had in the Sox’ first half, it’s that they’re faring slightly better than last year’s squad, which set a modern record for the most losses in a season.

After Sunday’s loss, the Sox are 32-65, slightly better than the 27-71 mark they carried into the All-Star break last summer.

“Baby steps,” outfielder Andrew Benintendi said. “Guys are getting their feet wet and experiencing this level and playing more. It can only go up from here.”