Chris Sale was one of the many top-level college pitchers being looked at in the 2010 MLB Draft.
I was hoping, as a Cleveland Indians fan, that they would select Sale with the fifth pick. Instead, they went with Drew Pomeranz.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets then drafted Barret Loux and Matt Harvey, respectively, as Sale continued to fall.
After the Blue Jays drafted Deck McGuire, considered the most major league-ready pitcher at the time, the White Sox drafted Chris Sale with the 13th pick.
While the rest of these pitchers have yet to start their careers, and while Loux ended up failing a physical, Sale is already on the White Sox roster, and so far has pitched well for them.
In his first 10 appearances, without pitching in the minors, Sale has allowed one earned run in ten innings with an ERA of 0.90, to go along with a save, seven walks, and 16 Ks.
Doubly good for him is that since he’s the only left-hander not hurt on the White Sox roster, we’ll be seeing more of him down the stretch.
This begs the question… how did he slide so far in the draft? Perhaps Ozzie Guillen just saw something in him that nine other managers and scout groups missed.
He said himself in a blog by Doug Padilla, “They showed 10 seconds [of Sale] and I told [GM] Kenny [Williams], ‘This kid is better than what we have.’ I didn’t know him. I saw him for 10 seconds.”
Was the secret for his rapid ascent something as simple as being fine with the move to the bullpen?
I would have to imagine most first-round starting pitchers drafted would be at least somewhat reluctant to move to the bullpen, at least immediately. After all, they’ve been starters for many years, that’s what they know.
What the answer is, I don’t know. What I do know is that Chris Sale has already become a draft steal. Falling as far as he did, yet already pitching as well as he did, is a rare occurrence.
Only four players from the 2009 draft class have made it to the majors (all college pitchers, hint hint).
All have pitched well, but for Sale to adjust to major league life this quickly is a treat.
To be able to produce for a team trying to get in the playoffs is perhaps an even greater treat.
In the year of the rookie and the year of the pitcher, this rookie pitcher’s story is just as amazing as anyone else’s. I’m hoping for a great career out of him, as I’m sure the White Sox are as well.
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