The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McClure set to sign with White Sox
There was little suspense as Kade McClure’s professional baseball career was concerned.
Still, it’s expected to become official on June 28, when McClure will be in Chicago to sign with the White Sox.
McClure’s impressive college career at the University of Louisville is over. The Mentor graduate will arrive in Chicago on June 27. He will stay until June 28. McClure will meet with White Sox general manager Rick Hahn at Guaranteed Rate Field, tour the stadium, undergo a physical and sign his contract.
On the evening of June 27, he and the likes of McClure’s teammate and Louisville pitcher Lincoln Henzman and TCU catcher Evan Skoug will watch the White Sox game vs. the Yankees.
McClure, Henzman and Skoug are the few remaining White Sox draft picks yet to sign because their teams played in the College World Series.
McClure and his Cardinals teammates’ season ended last week with a 4-3 loss to TCU. It completed a 53-12 season, one in which McClure will hold dearly because getting to Omaha, Neb., was a culmination of a three-year process that coincided with his time at the university.
“My class never got to experience Omaha so we wanted to make it there for sure,” said McClure, who will visit with good friend and Bears top draft pick Mitchell Trubisky while in Chicago. “To win it all was the main goal, but we wanted to be there before our time was done.”
McClure pitched Game 2 at the CWS for Louisville in a 5-1 loss to Florida. He pitched well, as he allowed four runs in six innings, but just three hits. Two went for home runs. He also struck out nine.
It was the few moments just before that start that McClure will cherish.
“It was definitely the most fulfilling experience of my life,” said McClure of the CWS. “I remember after my warmups and as I was walking back to the dugout, my catcher said, ‘All right, take a long look around now. Take it in now.’ It was very cool.“
He finished the season 8-4 with a 3.58 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. For his career, McClure was 21-4.
He will fly back to Louisville on June 28, then return to Mentor for a week before departing for Glendale, Ariz., where he will report July 6 for a training camp for White Sox draftees.
“I would imagine because I’ve already thrown (103) innings that I probably won’t throw a ton this summer,” said McClure.
He does expect to start a few games, mostly likely in short-season Single-A.
That would mean a summer stay in Great Falls, Montana, home of the White Sox’s Short-Season Great Falls Voyagers.
McClure, drafted as a starter, said he expects to be shut down by the organization when he nears 130 innings pitched.
“I’m just pumped to be playing professional baseball,” said McClure. “Right now, I’m just anxious to end this waiting game, and get going with the next step.”