The Chicago White Sox went for pitching with their second selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, taking University of Louisville closer Zack Burdi with the 26th overall pick on Thursday night.
MLB Draft 2016 results: White Sox take Louisville RHP Zack Burdi with 26th overall pick
This was the pick Chicago received for losing free agent Jeff Samardzija.
Burdi has a 2.20 ERA in 26 games this season as a junior for Louisville, which hosts UC Santa Barbara in a best-of-three super regional beginning on Saturday for the right to advance to the College World Series in Omaha.
The right-hander struck out 46 and walked only seven in his 26 innings, saving 11 games. Burdi earned Louisville Slugger All-America honors in 2016.
The allotted bonus amount for the 26th pick is $2,128,500, per MLB.com.
Burdi is the second Louisville player taken in the first round, along with outfielder Corey Ray, who went fifth to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Chicago already took Miami catcher Zack Collins with the ninth pick.
Burdi was rated the No. 21 prospect in Baseball America's top 500 prospects before the draft. His brother Nick, who also pitched for Louisville, was drafted in the second round in 2014 by the Minnesota Twins and currently pitches for Double-A Chattanooga.
“Like his brother, Zack throws very hard, 95-99 MPH with reported peaks at 101. This is not straight heat, either, and the combination of velocity and movement makes the fastball a plus/plus pitch,” wrote our John Sickels at Minor League Ball. “Zack has a slider that is decent but not as good as Nick’s, however Zack has a better change-up than Nick at the same stage. The change-up is good enough that some scouts believe he can start at higher levels, though he’ll get to the majors faster as a reliever.
“Burdi’s control is unusually good for a pitcher who throws this hard, another reason why he’s expected to move quickly.”
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