Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com interviews Doug Laumann, the scouting director for the Chicago White Sox, who explains the thinking behind drafting pitcher Chris Sale from Florida Gulf Coast University with the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft.
“We talked a lot about college pitching,” White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann said. “We were happy to get him at this position in the draft. Some of our scouts saw him pitch last year in the Cape Cod League, and he pitched well for them. He’s a lanky kid, but a McDowell comparison is pretty accurate.”
Laumann was only talking about body type not what they expect from Sale, 21, down the road.
“Our intentions are that he will be a starter,” Laumann said. "Before he goes out to the minor leagues we might cut his innings back just a little bit. We’re impressed with all his pitches.
“In one game I saw him pitch he started throwing his fastball 88-92. In the late part of the game, seventh, eighth and ninth inning, he was up to 92 to 96. So as you can see he got stronger as the game went along. He has a good slider and a strikeout-type changeup that gets swings and misses.”
Laumann also states that both the White Sox and Sale believe they will be able to come to terms on a contract soon.