Freese pitches in Chicago, waits on White Sox

CEDAR RAPIDS - No news is frustrating news for Dakota Freese right now.

The former Cedar Rapids Washington pitcher hasn't been told much by the Chicago White Sox, who drafted him in the 34th round of last month's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, let alone offered a contract.

Freese decided to leave his Washington team after the draft and play with a high-level 18-and-under amateur traveling team from the Chicago area (the Chi-Town Cream). The hope is pitching right under their noses might entice the White Sox to eventually sign him.

"That's exactly what that is," Freese said. "Things are going very good. The team is winning, and I feel like I'm pitching pretty well."

Freese said he was clocked as high as 92 miles per hour with his fastball in a start over the weekend that was observed by a White Sox scout. Clubs have until the middle of August to sign their draft picks.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander has signed to play junior-college baseball at LSU-Eunice but badly wants to get his professional career started instead. We'll see if the White Sox give him that chance.

"When it comes down to it, nothing has really changed with that right now," Freese said.