White Sox GM Hahn happy with draft
Carlos Rodon is still out there, and the White Sox' first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall) might wait until the July 18 deadline before agreeing to terms, assuming he signs at all.
Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he is optimistic about signing Rodon, a decorated left-handed pitcher from North Carolina State.
Hahn also was pleased with the rest of last week's haul.
"We're thrilled with the draft," he said. "(Amateur scouting director) Doug Laumann and his staff did a tremendous job. Obviously, the first day gets the most attention. It's a three-day process, and in reality these guys have been preparing for this for every bit of 51 weeks."
On Wednesday, the White Sox announced they've agreed to terms with 28 picks, including nine of their first 10 selections. Second-rounder Spencer Adams and third-rounder Jace Fry top the list.
Adams was 4-2 with a 0.72 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 58⅓ innings this season for White County High School in Georgia. Baseball America ranked the right-handed pitcher as the No. 24 overall prospect in the draft.
Fry, a left-handed starter, was 11-2 with a 1.80 ERA as a junior at Oregon State.
"Taking Carlos in the first round, we get a high ceiling, close to the majors, potential front-end piece to fit in with this rebuilding plan that we have going on now," Hahn said.
"But behind him, in being able to get Spencer Adams in the second round, a high-ceiling high school kid who a lot of people thought would be gone in the first round, was a nice follow-up.
"The kid Fry we took in the third was the Pac-12 pitcher of the year and is a polished left-handed starter who potentially could come quick as well."
Take a break:
Andre Rienzo was Wednesday night's scheduled starter, but the White Sox right-hander was skipped following Tuesday's rainout. He will pitch against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Rienzo has lost his last 3 starts while allowing 15 runs (12 earned) on 22 hits and 5 walks in 12 innings. He thinks getting passed over can only help.
"I think that is good for me because I need to work on some things," said Rienzo, who has been leaving too many pitches up in the strike zone. "I don't think it's about my delivery. I think sometimes it's the release point, something like that.
"I think it's minimal, but I need to find it again, so that time is good for me to find it."
Skating away:
The White Sox signed Olympic short-track speed skater Eddy Alvarez to a minor league contract.
Alvarez won a silver medal in the 5,000-meter relay at the Sochi Olympics. He played shortstop in high school and for one season at Salt Lake Community College.
"Playing pro baseball has definitely been a goal of mine," Alvarez told People magazine. "There were times when I thought of dropping skating completely and just focusing on baseball."