By: Jamie Bronska; Contibutors: Jordan Doyle, Jesse Feldman and Hannah Sundwall

The White Sox will be adding more young talent to their roster at the 2019 First-Year Player Draft tonight. Fans near and far should tune in as the Sox make the much-anticipated third overall selection at this year’s draft.

The 2019 season continues to provide a striking glimpse of the future of the White Sox. Veteran players have prevailed, while young talent has emerged. This level of excitement will only be amplified as the club selects the 40 newest #NextSox (over three days) at this year’s draft.

We sat down with a few previous first round picks to reflect on their draft day experiences:

Nick Madrigal (SS)

Selected by the White Sox with the fourth overall pick in 2018

GETTING THE CALL

“As the draft approached, I had a good idea that I was going to be picked in the first round. But until about five minutes before the pick came in, I didn’t know the White Sox were going to select me. We had a draft party with my family, teammates and I at Oregon State, so I was at the stadium watching it on TV. It came down to the last second when I found out I was going to the White Sox.”

FAVORITE DRAFT DAY MEMORY

“It meant so much to me to have my family and teammates with me when I was drafted. Going through the draft process, I had an opportunity get drafted after high school and, at the time, I thought that was when I was going to sign. But once I turned it down and went to college, being drafted the second time around meant so much more to me and having them there to share those memories with me was awesome.”

FAVORITE BASEBALL MEMORY

“Winning the College World Series. From the first day I stepped on Oregon State’s campus, it was a goal for my teammates and I. Ending my college career that way was a perfect moment for all of us. I was really close to all of my teammates there and being with them was a special moment and something that I’ll take with me forever.”

Blake Rutherford (OF)

Selected by the Yankees with the 18th overall pick in 2016

GETTING THE CALL

“The closer it got to the draft, the more of an idea I had. Until you’re selected, you never want to put it in your mind so you don’t jinx it, but going into draft day, I started to believe it was a possibility that I would be drafted in the first round. I was in my game room at my house with my mom, dad, brother and uncle. My family and friends were waiting in my living room, and as soon as I got the call that the Yankees were going to draft me, I went back into the room and waited to see the announcement on TV.”

FAVORITE DRAFT DAY MEMORY

“Seeing the faces of all the people that were there to support me and how excited they were. It was a huge accomplishment and something I was very proud of. I was very happy to share it with all of the people that had such a big impact on reaching that point in my life. It was a lot of fun and I was excited to see all of the hard work pay off.”

WHO DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

“There are a lot of people, starting with my parents and brother because of how much they supported me and traveled with me all across the country and the world to play baseball. One of my coaches, Tom Costello, who is my best friend’s dad, has coached me in football and baseball since I was a kid. He has taught me how to be a professional and shaped me into the person I am today.”

Zack Burdi (P)

Selected by the White Sox with the 26th overall pick in 2016

GETTING THE CALL

“It was Super Regional weekend going into the draft, so my teammates and I were trying to make the most of our last weekend together at the University of Louisville. As it got closer, I started getting phone calls from agents trying to figure out where I was going to land. I did not expect to go as high as I did or to the team that I really wanted to go to. That made it an awesome experience and a night that I’ll never forget.”

FAVORITE DRAFT DAY MEMORY

“We were in our team room with about 40 friends and family. It was Corey Ray, Nick Solak, Will Smith and I sitting there waiting with all of our teammates cheering us on. Seeing my name get called on the big screen, hugging my mom, dad and brother and then walking outside the room to see 25 of my teammates screaming and cheering for me was a crazy experience and one of the high moments of my life.”

Zack Collins ( C )

Selected by the White Sox with the 10th overall pick in 2016

FAVORITE DRAFT DAY MEMORY

“There was an MLB Network crew at the restaurant with my family and friends, so it was awesome having the cameras there. It felt like I was sitting there forever waiting for my name to be called, but the emotions, excitement and shock that went through me after the announcement was what made that moment so memorable.”

WHO DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

“My dad was the one that raised me in the baseball world. He always threw me batting practice and was my coach until I started playing serious summer baseball in high school. Even after games in college, I would go hit with him and he always worked with me.”

Kodi Medeiros (P)

Selected by the Brewers with the 12th overall pick in 2014

GETTING THE CALL

“Right before I got picked, there were about 15 seconds left on the draft clock and I heard Jonathan Mayo mention my name from the MLB Network set on the side. When I heard him say ‘Medeiros could go here,’ my heart started racing. After the clock ran out, the commissioner (Bud Selig) came up and said my name — it was one of the best feelings of my life.”

WHO DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

“My parents and pitching coach have been a big part of my life and always push me to be the best that I can. My brother also has had a strong influence on my work ethic and making sure that we were always competing.”

FAVORITE BASEBALL MEMORY

“It came off the field, but one of the most memorable feelings was being at MLB Network for the draft. To this day, I can still picture all of the tables set up and sitting in the dugout at Studio 42 waiting for my name to be called and actually hearing my name. It was one of the biggest adrenaline rushes and best feelings I’ve ever had in baseball.”

Michael Kopech (P)

Selected by the Red Sox with the 33rd overall pick in 2014

FAVORITE DRAFT DAY MEMORY

“Seeing the amount of joy, relief and pride in my dad’s face after my name was called. My dad is not a very emotional person, but he put just as much — if not more — energy into the process as I did. It was awesome to see him equally as excited as I was.”

WHO DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

“There’s a list of names, but I got my confidence from my mom and hard-headedness and willpower from my dad. There are pitchers like Nolan Ryan that I grew up idolizing and wanting to be like. There are a number of friends who were close to me like Riley Greenlee, who I grew up with and he was my catcher from the time I was six. If I was off, he would be the first person to let me know and help me out.”

FAVORITE BASEBALL MEMORY

“My MLB debut was an unforgettable experience. The ballpark was so electric, it made that day memorable for my family and I. Unfortunately it was shortened, but even if I had never even thrown a pitch that game, the amount of fans that were there to welcome me and the excitement that I felt was really awesome and it’s hard to match that.”

Tim Anderson (SS)

Selected by the White Sox with the 17th overall pick in 2013