The White Sox selected Cal first baseman Andrew Vaughn with the No. 3 pick in the major league draft Monday.
The 6-foot, 214-pound junior is widely considered to be the best all-around hitter in draft. Vaughn batted .381 with 15 homers and 50 RBI with .544 on-base percentage. Vaughn, who is viewed as an advanced, high average hitter as well as a slugger, struck out 74 times while walking 121 times in three seasons.
“It’s just an unbelievable feeling,” Vaughn, a Santa Rosa, Calif., native, told MLB Network. “I’m just blown away by it.”
Vaughn, a right-handed hitter, was named PAC-12 Freshman of the Year, then hit .402 with 23 homers as a sophomore, winning the Golden Spikes Award for the best amateur player in the country, that year. He is a candidate once again this year.
“I’m not a big guy, obviously,” Vaughn said. “It puts a little chip on your shoulder. If I swing the bat as I know, good things can happen.”
Vaughn finished the regular season ranked third in on-base percentage, 14th in slugging (.728) and eighth in walks (58).
The Orioles selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first pick and the Royals took shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High School with the No. 2 pick, as most forecasts predicted.
The Sox drafted third based on their 62-100 record in 2018.
“We are thrilled to add a player of Andrew’s caliber to the organization,” White Sox director of amateur scouting Nick Hostetler said. “He’s a premium bat who has shown the ability to hit at every level. Andrew is considered one of the top offensive talents in this season’s draft, and we can’t wait to see him grow at the professional level.”
Vaughn joins these recent first-round selections by the Sox: Nick Madrigal (2018, fourth overall), third baseman Jake Burger (2017, 11th), catcher Zack Collins (2016, 10th), right-handed pitchers Zack Burdi (2016, 26th) and Carson Fulmer (2015, eighth), left-hander Carlos Rodón (2014, third) and infielder Tim Anderson (2013, 17th).
Vaughn was recommended by White Sox scout Adam Virchis.
The Sox have one more pick Monday, in the second round (45th overall). Rounds three through 10 are Tuesday and rounds 11 through 40 are Wednesday.
