Pitching projects, another prep shortstop, and a polished, plate-coverage collegian
Here are some expanded skinnies from our Draft Tracker story, in order to still work every draft pick into a feature on site.
Eighth Round No. 226 Blaine Wynk, RHP, Ohio State University
Wynk saw just five games of action before a shoulder injury shut him down (he entered the transfer portal for a redshirt fifth-year senior season). He was healthy enough to throw at the MLB draft combine, so the White Sox are betting on Wynk’s upside (97 mph fastball). His slot value is $248,700, and it will be interesting to see whether the White Sox will need to lure him away given the chance of him being a much higher 2026 pick.
Ninth Round No. 256 Riley Eikhoff, RHP, Coastal Carolina University
Eikhoff really stepped up with a strong final season with Chanticleers, going 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA and 6.45 Ks per walk. The righty is just 5´10´´, 185 and may face a steep climb into the upper minors.
10th Round No. 286 Daniel Wright, RHRP, University of Iowa
Wright is another hoss, running 6´9´´and 245 pounds, and has been a nomad as a college player. His money pitch is a mid-80s cutter-slider, which overshadows a low-90s fastball — a strange cap, despite his size. Wright has enough of a pitch mix to entertain starting. He seems like another Bannister Pitching Lab guy.
11th Round No. 316 Matthew Boughton, SS, Covenant (Texas) H.S.
Boughton is 6´2´´, 175, which would certainly imply strength to come, as well as a possible move to third base. But the White Sox are clearly just grabbing every shortstop they can and plugging them at positions when push comes to shove. He has signed to play for Texas A&M, so signing him is no guarantee.
12th Round No. 346 Ely Brown, OF, Mercer University
The day after his 21st birthday, the 6´0´´, 190 Brown faces a big decision about whether to jump into the pros to stay back in Georgia to up his value for 2026. The lefty fits the recent White Sox profile of OBP (.459, 46 BBs and 32 Ks) at the expense of power (.401 SLG).