Nick Madrigal Drafted by The Chicago White Sox in the First Round

The Chicago White Sox have selected Oregon State Second Baseman Nick Madrigal with the 4th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

The list of Nick Madrigal’s achievements in Corvallis is long. Madrigal was selected as a first team All-American by D1Baseball and Baseball America in 2017. He was also the Pac-12 Player of the Year that year. Even in his 2018, which was shortened by injury, he still managed to be a Golden Spike Award Semifinalist. Madrigal never showed a lot of power, but was reliably able to both generate hits, and find walks. His level of control at the plate drew 66 walks over his time at Oregon State, while he only struck out 36 times.

In the Beavers’ games during the Corvallis Regional, Madrigal was especially effective. Madrigal had 7 hits over the weekend, including his first home run since the spring games in Surprise, Arizona. Madrigal was also key to the defensive effort that kept the LSU Tigers under control in their first game against the Beavers, despite Luke Heimlich’s early struggles with control.

Madrigal was considered short for an MLB prospect, but his ability to get on base and his defensive talents have moved him steadily up the draft boards over his career. Chicago is getting one of the best to ever put on an Oregon State uniform.