Relievers rule the bottom of the draft, including one — just one! — left-handed pitcher
Here are some expanded skinnies from our Draft Tracker story, in order to still work every draft pick into a feature on site.
14th Round No. 406 Max Banks, RHP, University of Washington
Never with an ERA worse than his 2024 3.86 ERA across four years of college ball (just one in Division 1), the 6´4´´, 225-pound Banks appears to be a solid arm, period. Unlike some of the other “project” arms with some size taken earlier in this White Sox draft, Banks is a solid prospect as of this minute.
15th Round No. 436 Caedmon Parker, RHP, TCU
Things just did not pan out too well for the 6´4´´, 190-pound starter in 2025. Parker was picked in the 11th round last year by the Brewers, and looking to this year as his chance to join the Horned Frogs rotation and push into the higher rounds come draft time, the righty instead crumbled to a 5.40 ERA and a spot of wildness. Not sure what the White Sox thinking is here, or whether Parker is so hungry to go pro he’ll jump while at his lowest value.
16th Round No. 466 Kaleb Freeman, OF, Georgia State University
Well, relief pitcher and Draft Class of 2019 15th-rounder Caleb Freeman, meet outfielder and 2025 16th-rounder Kaleb Freeman. The White Sox want ALL the Freemen! Kaleb can MASH, going for a .732 slugging percentage and 1.236 OPS in 2025 for the Panthers. He’s also got a nice speed-power combo, swiping 15 bags and putting 16 out of the park. Freeman was drafted as an outfielder but played the vast majority (43 games) at second base this season. He’s also a nomad, playing in four different places over four years and somehow also now transferring (?) to Texas despite being listed as a fourth-year senior?
17th Round No. 496 Derek Cerda, OF, University of Kansas
Another power-speed outfielder, Cerda sat out 2024 as a juco transfer and then lit it up with a .503 slugging percentage and .912 OPS as a Jayhawk. Fits the bat discipline profile the White Sox are building in the system. Not as sexy as a 30-30 player, but Cerda did go for 10 and 10, so he has some quicks as well.
18th Round No. 526 Landen Payne, RHRP, Southern Miss
Payne is the second pitcher drafted as a reliever this year for the White Sox, and unlike 10th-rounder Daniel Wright Payne has demonstrated the ability to close for the Golden Eagles, with five saves in 2025. The 6´2´´, 226-pound fits the crazed-closer role to a T, full-on “wild thing” mode, big beard, yelling on the mound, et. al.
19th Round No. 556 Nick Weyrich, RHRP, Marshall University
Not certain what jumps out with this 6´4´´, 200-pound closer, but it’s the 19th Round, after all. Weyrich closed games for the Thundering Herd in both 2024 and 2025, but carries a high ERA (3.80) and sloppy WHIP (1.378) into his professional debut.
20th Round No. 586 Andrew Sentlinger, LHRP, Virginia Tech
The White Sox went against type all draft, and almost pulled off a southpaw-free class. But on the final pick of Chicago’s day, the draft room couldn’t help itself. Sentlinger is 6´2´´, 200, and has stats that would not seem to merit an UDFA deal, much less a draft pick. The White Sox see something here.