The White Sox used their fifth, and final pick of the 2020 MLB draft on Auburn left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn. He was the 142nd overall selection and the fifth pitcher the White Sox took in as many picks.
Bailey, a redshirt junior with the Tigers, looks to be geared more towards the bullpen once he begins play in the minors. He stands in at 6-2, 212 lbs and previously had Tommy John surgery while playing at McLennon Community College, prior to his Auburn days. That now marks back-to-back picks who have undergone the procedure, though Bailey looked fine last year during Auburn’s postseason run.
During four starts in 2020, Horn held a 2.08 ERA in 17.1 IP, while having 27 strikeouts compared to only 5 walks. The lefty throws a fastball that sits in the 92-94 mph range, along with a low-80s slider but gets outs effectively.
First Look
MLB Pipeline Grades: Not Listed
Draft Rankings: Not ranked
Pros vs. Cons
The Good: Horn makes batters pay with his mid-90s fastball and slider that comes in at a tough angle. He had good stats to begin play this year after finally finding his stuff coming off Tommy John in 2019. He could very well prove to be a good reliever option down on the farm.
The Not-So Good: In 2019, it took him some time to bounce back from his injury. Once he got going, he was filthy but could have benefitted from a full-season. We’ll have to see if he can continue moving in a positive direction. Another thing that might cause some people to discount him right away is his low-to-mid 90s fastball, but manages to use it to garner outs.
Why it makes sense
This was a good pick for the White Sox to continue to save money and be able to afford to sign the two premier pitchers they got in rounds one and two. This also helped them build even more pitching depth in a draft that turned into an arms race. Look for Horn to be working in relief once he gets started in the system.
For additional draft coverage, follow us on social media @SoxOn35th!
Featured Photo: Auburn Baseball/Twitter
