ESPN's Keith Law recently ranked the Chicago White Sox as the worst farm system in baseball and only Addison Reed made his Top 100 list, but that doesn't mean White Sox GM Kenny Williams hasn't stopped looking for creative ways to improve the organization's talent pool. In fact, on Thursday the Sox signed former five-star college quarterback prospect Mitch Mustain to a minor league deal, according to NWAhomepage.com and then followed up by Mustain on Twitter:
Thanks for the well-wishes. Excited for spring training and to be part of the White Sox organization.
— Mitch Mustain (@MitchMustain) February 10, 2012
The 23-year old athlete started his college football career 8-0 at the University of Arkansas but clashed with coaches and transferred to USC, where he only started one more game in his NCAA career. After going undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft, Mustain briefly played in the Canadian Football League but was cut. He was mulling a career in the Arena Football League with the Georgia Force, but apparently decided the opportunity with the White Sox presented a better option.
Mustain is an athlete with a big-arm, but he hasn't pitched since high school. Essentially, Mustain's potential is completely unknown, although he claims he threw 90 mph for a White Sox scout. SB Nation's White Sox blog, South Side Sox, points out that the organization has not been shy about taking low-risk chances on busted out former college quarterbacks, but the results haven't exactly been inspiring:
It's an unorthodox way to make the minors more interesting, but given the White Sox's occupation of the cellar in all major farm system rankings, we'll have the resources to keep track of him. The Sox signing a former college quarterback automatically brings to mind Joe Borchard and Josh Fields, but hey, Clayton Richard turned out OK.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago White Sox be sure to visit South Side Sox. Check out MLB Daily Dish for off-season rumors and reports.