Some view Kelley as a high-risk, high-reward pick in the sense that he comes with signability questions but was ranked as the 12th-best prospect by MLB.com. He was rumored to have a high asking price to sign, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reported. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Kelley has committed to go to Texas, one of the top programs in the country. Kelley's fastball sits in the mid-to-high 90s.
After taking Kelley, the White Sox used their ensuing draft picks in a manner that suggested they were saving money to give Kelley more than his usual slot signing bonus.
The White Sox selected Wabash Valley College (Illinois) right-hander Adisyn Coffey in the third round, then followed that by taking Grand Canyon University (Arizona) right-hander Kade Mechels in the fourth round. Both were unheralded prospects who weren't on anyone's radar in that range, according to draft analysts.
In the fifth round, the White Sox drafted Auburn left-hander Bailey Horn.
The amateur draft was shortened to five rounds this year as part of the coronavirus fallout.