The White Sox added a pair of undrafted free agent pitchers on Sunday. Austin Marozas (RHP) out of San Jacinto College and Jordan Mikel (RHP) from the University of Illinois-Springfield announced their signings with the organization via Twitter.
Marozas, 21, was originally part of Kentucky’s 9th ranked recruiting class in 2017 before transferring to San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-hander only made two appearances (one start) this spring, going a combined 4.0 IP with four strikeouts. The Plainfield, Illinois native was previously regarded as one of the top pitching prospects out of the state. He was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 1 righty and No. 2 overall ranked prospect from Illinois, accompanied by national rankings of 59th best right-hander and 163rd overall prospect in 2017. He was even considered by some to be a “potentially very high draft pick and/or an elite level college prospect,” before Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2018 season.
“First of all, I’d like to thank my family, friends, and coaches, who helped me get to his point in my career,” Marozas said in a tweet. “It’s been a crazy ride so far, but I can happily say I’ve fulfilled my dream and I’ll be signing with the Chicago White Sox.”
Prep Baseball Report listed Marozas as having a fastball that sits between 91-93 mph, with a 77-78 mph curveball, 83-85 mph changeup, and 78-80 mph slider. Keep in mind, this scouting report seems to be from the righty’s high school days, but it may offer a glimpse at what the San Jacinto pitcher has to offer.
Mickel, a college junior, was Sunday’s other right-handed pitching signee. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound righty was UIS’s number one starting pitcher in 2020, getting the nod in four games this spring. He finished with a 1-0 record and threw a total of 16.2 innings, striking out 25 while walking only five. The Plainfield, Illinois native also had a 5.40 ERA with a .290 opponent average. Prior to UIS, Mickel played for Howard College, where he made six starts and struck out 31 batters over 30.2 innings. He also played one year at Western Illinois, going 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA, one save, 32 strikeouts, and .245 opponent batting average in 18 appearances (24.2 innings).
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of my friends, family, and coaches who’ve all played a role in molding me into the baseball player and person I am today,” Mikel shared in a tweet. “It’s been a crazy journey, to say the least, but I can now proudly say I’ve signed a contract to begin my professional career with the Chicago White Sox!”
For the South Siders, this appears to bring their UDFA total to seven. Marozas and Mickel join a list that features left-handed pitcher Ty Madrigal, right-handed pitcher Brandon Jenkins, infielder Brandon Bossard, and outfielders Duke Ellis and AJ Gill. Again, the organization can sign as many non-drafted players as they’d like to a contract worth up to $20,000.
Keep an eye out for future signings and updates over on our social media @SoxOn35th.
Featured Photo: San Jacinto College/UIS Athletics
