Chicago White Sox Prospect Profiles: Kyle McCulloch

Just after seeing his roommate, Drew Stubbs, selected No. 8 overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 MLB Draft, Kyle McCulloch's phone rang.

On the other end was the defending World Series Champions, the Chicago White Sox, and they had selected McCulloch with the No. 29 overall pick.

"I was somewhat surprised," said McCulloch of being selected by the White Sox. "I hadn’t had too much interaction with them before the draft."  

Fans expect their team's first-round pick to rocket through the minors, hell-bent on reaching the major leagues and making an impact as fast as possible.

Some players succumb to this pressure and fold, eternally branded as a "first-round bust."

"Pressure is what you make it of it," said McCulloch a day after throwing six solid innings and allowing three earned runs in a May 1 loss to AA Mobile. "You just have to go out there and make yourself better for your next start and let everything take care of itself."

White Sox fans who have been concerned with McCulloch's progress should take comfort in the fact that the pressure of being a first-round pick won't get to the young 23-year-old right-hander from Bellaire, Texas. After all, McCulloch had to deal with the pressure of playing for the University of Texas for three years, and he came out of that experience with an impressive track record that led to him being picked in the first round in 2006.

"I was about as prepared as I could be," explained McCulloch about his experience after leaving Texas.  "Playing in front of bigger crowds, going into hostile environments, and the added pressure to win and compete really helped get me mentally tough for pro ball."

Having that mental toughness is a huge plus for McCulloch, who does not feature the same kind of electric stuff that fellow first-rounders Lincecum, Scherzer, and Kershaw feature. McCulloch throws a low-to-mid-90s fastball with some natural sink on it, a slider, and a changeup.

"I think I’m pretty good [with my stuff]," said McCulloch. "I’ve worked on commanding both sides of the plate with my fastball and using my breaking ball outside to backdoor hitters along with keeping my changeup low."

However, as McCulloch continues to rise in the White Sox organization, the learning curve will get steeper.

"It’s a game of adjustments," said McCulloch. "Higher level hitters who’ve been in pro ball longer are more advanced at making adjustments."

It's very apparent that McCulloch understands the game well. He's not one to get too worked up about a poor start. Instead, he'll work hard on making adjustments to pitch better in his next start.

That's the key: Working from start to start. McCulloch knows he'll move up in the organization so long as he keeps working at it.

"Everybody thinks about getting [to the majors] as quick as possible," said McCulloch. "I don’t dwell on it and let everything take care of itself."

So, for now, McCulloch will stick to the often grueling lifestyle of minor league baseball. "It’s a grind every day," said McCulloch. "But at the same time, you’re playing baseball for a living. It's been a blast."