A few weeks ago, the White Sox didn’t expect their local protege to make it to pick No. 112, let alone the seventh round.
But after Iowa pitcher Blake Hickman’s velocity dropped and he was roughed up a bit last month, the Simeon graduate and South Side native slipped to the White Sox with pick No. 202 in Tuesday’s MLB Draft.
Thanks to the work of scout J.J. Lally and a longstanding relationship with Hickman, who participated in the White Sox Amateur City Elite program growing up, the organization not only drafted the 6-foot-5 right-hander but also is hopeful he can turn into a solid prospect.