MLB Draft: Chicago White Sox select Carlos Rodon no. 3 overall

The Chicago White Sox might have had a tough choice on their hands with the no. 3 overall selection. That depended on what happened with the two picks in front of them, of course.

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The Houston Astros and Miami Marlins made things easy by passing on left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon, the guy largely regarded to be the most polished arm and who was projected for a while to go to the Astros no. 1 overall.

Rodon could have been a high pick in the 2013 draft, but instead opted to return to North Carolina State for another season. And while Rodon still ended up as a top three guy, he hurt his stock a little bit with the extra season. He took on a big workload for the Wolf Pack this season, and his stuff has not enticed scouts the same way it used to.

That is the unfortunate reality for any top-tier college athlete who decides to return to school. It is a chance to develop, sure, but it also gives people more time to find stuff that’s wrong with you.

Rodon brings a fastball-slider combination that is darn near big league ready. His ceiling might not be considered to be as high as the two pitchers picked ahead of him (Brady Aiken and Tyler Korek), but his floor is high enough that he might contribute for the White Sox sooner rather than later.

Here is a video of Rodon at work, courtesy of Diamond Scape Baseball: