Billy Carlson has played shortstop since he was 6.
“I take a lot of pride in pitchers liking to have me at shortstop,” he said.
Carlson aims to aid the Chicago White Sox up the middle in the future after being selected by the team with the No. 10 pick in the 2025 MLB draft on Sunday.
“It was kind of a wild draft, so I was keeping my eyes peeled for everyone,” Carlson said during a video conference call. “It was crazy stuff. Honestly, I didn’t even know they were going to take me. I was just in shock as much as you guys were. It was exciting, and (I’ve been) celebrating with the whole fam.”
Carlson, 18, had a .365/.517/.647 slash line with four doubles, six home runs, 34 RBIs, 33 runs and a 1.164 OPS in 31 games as a senior at Corona (Calif.) High School.
“The hand skill, the feet skill, it’s a big-time arm — he does so many things on the defensive side that are elite,” Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley said Sunday night. “The bat speed. He moves very easy.
“I’m super excited about Billy Carlson and glad the White Sox got that opportunity tonight.”
Carlson slashed .308/.442/.515 with 19 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 56 RBIs, 75 runs and a .957 OPS in 95 career games at Corona. He recorded 109 putouts and 115 assists while only committing 17 errors in his career.
“I think it gets slept on a little bit,” Carlson said of the offensive production. “I feel like this spring I showed I can bang with the best of them and really have some thump for my size. Super excited to be able to prove that and show that these next few years. Just super stoked and ready to get to work.”
Carlson, who is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, was named by Perfect Game as the top defensive player in the 2025 class.
“Just trying to perfect that craft and be the best defensive shortstop I can be,” Carlson said.
It’s the third time in the last five years the Sox have drafted a shortstop in the first round. They took Colson Montgomery out of Southridge High School in Indiana in 2021. In 2023, the Sox selected Mississippi shortstop Jacob Gonzalez in the first round.
Montgomery made his major-league debut on July 4. Gonzalez is at Double-A Birmingham.
Carlson, a Tennessee commit, was listed as the No. 7 prospect for the draft by MLB.com. He is the third high school shortstop in White Sox history drafted in the first round, joining Montgomery and Steve Buechele in 1979.
“I was ecstatic, man,” Carlson said of hearing his name called. “I was so, so happy. Seeing all my hard work pay off and giving it to God and letting him do his thing. I’m super excited and excited to get to work and help the White Sox win some games.
“The family was there, and I was soaking it all in with them and giving big hugs and giving some love. That was awesome, it definitely got emotional.”
White Sox area scout Mike Baker recommended Carlson.
“He’s going to accept every challenge we give him,” Shirley said. “The kid will handle whatever we throw at him and he’s a great player.”
No. 44, 2nd round: Jaden Fauske, OF, Nazareth Academy
The Sox selected outfielder Jaden Fauske from Nazareth in La Grange Park in the second round. He had been projected at No. 58 by MLB.com.
Fauske earned 2025 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors after hitting .461 and stealing 29 bases as a senior. He is committed to defending national champion LSU. Fauske, 18, was recommended by Sox area scout J.J. Lally.
“The approach is good because he stays on pitches the other way,” Shirley said.
No. 76, 3rd round: Kyle Lodise, SS, Georgia Tech
The Sox went back to the infield for the third round, selecting shortstop Kyle Lodise from Georgia Tech. Lodise, 21, hit .329 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs this past season.
“He touches (Sox director of hitting) Ryan Fuller’s thing of contact and decisions at a high level,” Shirley said.
White Sox Day 2 picks
- No. 106, 4th round: Landon Hodge, C, Crespi Carmelite HS (Calif.)
- No. 137, 5th round: Gabe Davis, RHP, Oklahoma State
- No. 166, 6th round: Colby Shelton, SS, Florida
- No. 196, 7th round
- No. 226, 8th round
- No. 256, 9th round:
- No. 286, 10th round
- No. 316, 11th round
- No. 346, 12th round
- No. 376, 13th round
- No. 406, 14th round
- No. 436, 15th round
- No. 466, 16th round
- No. 496, 17th round
- No. 526, 18th round
- No. 556, 19th round
- No. 586, 20th round