Crooked Pitch

White Sox minor league director Buddy Bell feels that 2007 first round draft pick (25th overall) Aaron Poreda will reach the majors in 2009. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks that the pitching prospect will fight for a rotation spot in Spring Training.

From minor-league director Buddy Bell gushing about him last week, to the Sox open to the idea of the 22-year-old lefty battling with Clayton Richard for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.

Now, all Poreda has to do is go and get it.

After one full season in the minors and a lights-out showing at this year’s Arizona Fall League, Poreda — the club’s first pick in the 2007 draft — has put himself into position to at least grab a bullpen spot.

The 6′6″ lefty combined for 27 starts in Advanced-A and Double-A. His record was 8-9 with a 3.13 ERA. In his 161 innings of work, Poreda struck out 118 batters while walking 40. Batters averaged .244 against him.

In the Arizona Fall League, Poreda has only been used in relief work. He’s pitched 8.2 innings in nine games, amassed a 5.19 ERA, and struck out 12 hitters while walking five.