Levine: No. 26 Pick Zack Burdi Can Be A Power Bullpen Arm For White Sox

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The White Sox appear to have gotten their man with each of their first two picks in Thursday evening's MLB amateur draft.

After taking Miami catcher Zack Collins at No. 10 overall, the White Sox had another first-round pick at No. 26, where they selected right-Louisville right-hander Zack Burdi.

A 21-year-old junior, Burdi was right where Chicago's scouting department projected he would be when it ran through the draft possibilities. In Burdi, the White Sox have a power arm with closer potential.

"We are going to keep him in the relief role," scouting director Nick Hostetler said. "That is power stuff that he has. He has three plus pitches to use. It's a 102-mph fastball with a 90-mph slider and 92-mph change-up to get left-handed hitters out. We think he will be a reliever, but next spring in camp we will make a final decision if it's start or relieve."

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Burdi was 1-2 with 11 saves, a 2.20 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 26 innings as Louisville's closer this seaosn.

"We have known Zack for a long time, and we've scouted him since high school," Hostetler said. "We love his tremendous leadership and work ethic."

Burdi was a member of the USA baseball collegiate National team in 2015.He is a native Downers Grove,Illinois resident.He was recommended by scout Phil Gulley.

Hostetler seemed elated with the start of his first draft as the White Sox's scouting director.

" We were pretty happy with our day overall," he said.

"Our room was going crazy today. We accomplished a lot of what we set out to do. It was like we won a championship in there. They were cheering and high-fives all over the place."

In the second round at No. 46, the White Sox selected Oklahoma right-hander Alec Hansen, a 6-foot-7 flame-thrower.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.