Rongey: Big part of team-building happens today for White Sox
If you're a casual baseball fan, you're probably unaware that the first-year player draft starts Monday. And even if you're a serious fan, there's still a chance you're unaware, or are largely uninterested.
It's true the MLB draft isn't nearly as stimulating as those in the NFL and NBA, mainly because the players selected over 40 rounds are unlikely to see a big-league field for another couple of years. Yes, Carlos Rodon has found his way into the White Sox' rotation less than a year after being selected, but that's unusual.
Last year 1,215 players were drafted by MLB teams, yet only three of those are in the majors this year (all are pitchers). Baseball is just the kind of sport where players almost always need some degree of additional development before being promoted, especially with position players. There's just too much nuance in the game that has to be learned.
But just because it isn't rousing to the average fan, the draft is hugely important to long-term achievement for organizations. Drafting and developing players effectively increases a team's margin for error in free agency, provides a greater safety net in case of injuries and allows flexibility in the trade market.
Simply put, operating efficiently in this area gives a team options.
It's well-known the White Sox have not been particularly proficient in this aspect for the last decade or so. While they've done well building pitching talent, we haven't seen much in the way of impact position players in quite some time.
Gordon Beckham was selected six years ago, but there is not a single everyday position player in the starting lineup this year who was drafted and developed in the Sox' system.
Some of that is bad luck, as drafting young players is often unpredictable, especially after the first 10 picks. But much of it was unwillingness in years past to invest significant resources in players who may never see the big leagues when that money could be spent on the club's payroll.
Understandable, but the Sox have since realized the great value in devoting funds to the lower levels. Under the new collective-bargaining agreement, the Sox have allocated more money at those levels over the last few years. The result is their Baseball America minor-league ranking has improved from near last in 2013 to 20th overall this year. Still not great, but the arrow is pointing up.
Jose Abreu and Alexei Ramirez were free agents and didn't spend any time in the minors, but they're a product of another area that has improved in the last few years as the Sox have increased their presence in Latin America.
Assistant general manager Buddy Bell joined me on "White Sox Weekly" on Saturday and was confident the amateur talent situation is greatly improved and continues to progress. Bell mentioned the greater investment in Latin players as young as 16, including Micker Adolfo, who's just 17.
Which doesn't really benefit the impatient. If you're a White Sox fan, it's tough to wait around for draft picks to make an impact, even tougher to wait 4-6 years for that talent to pass through the minors.
But make no mistake, what happens the next three days in New Jersey matters greatly to the Sox' future. And lately they've been spending like it does.
• Chris Rongey is the host of the White Sox pregame and postgame shows on WSCR 670-AM The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisRongey and at chrisrongey.com.