ChiSox Sign Top Pick Wells

The Chicago White Sox Tuesday agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Kip Wells, adding their first-round pick in this year's draft to a stable of promising pitching prospects.

The deal is for one year at undisclosed financial terms.

Wells, the 16th overall pick, was regarded as one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the nation last season, striking out 135 batters in 123 2/3 innings as a junior at Baylor. He went 13-4 with a 3.71 ERA and finished the year tied for third in victories among Division I pitchers.

"He has a power arm and was one of the best pitchers available in the draft," said White Sox director of scouting Duane Shaffer. "Adding Kip means that we have one more quality arm in the organization."

The 6-foot-3, 196-pound Wells became the fifth pitcher in two years to be selected by the White Sox within the first two rounds of the draft. He joins 1997 selections Aaron Myette, Jim Parque, Rocky Biddle and Kyle Kane.

"The White Sox organization has been stockpiling pitchers and Kip goes to the front of a quality group of arms," said Larry Monroe, Chicago's vice president of free agent and major league scouting. "He has a high ceiling and we think he has the potential to be a front-line starter in the major leagues."

Parque went 14-15 with a 5.06 ERA in 33 games last season for the White Sox, who finished last in the major leagues with a 5.24 ERA and second to last in strikeouts with 911.

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