Courtney Hawkins, OF, Carroll HS, Corpus Christi, TX: Hawkins is a 6-2, 210-pound right-handed hitter with enormous power potential, 30-plus homers per year if he develops to his maximal extent. He features a strong throwing arm, ideal for right field, and runs well enough to steal some bases. He also swings and misses a lot, and scouts say he needs a lot of work on his plate discipline. Hawkins is a high-risk/high-reward investment who could turn into an All-Star, a decent regular, a Double-A bust, or anything in between. He is committed to the University of Texas but is certainly signable here, and the White Sox wouldn’t have selected him if they felt there was a money issue. They have preferred college talent in recent drafts, but Hawkins’ upside was simply too much to pass up. He won’t move through the minors quickly, and it will be interesting to see how the organization handles him.
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