Butler pitcher Kyle Casteel signs with Chicago White Sox for reported $1.25 million bonus
Kyle Casteel’s pro career has officially begun.
The standout Butler right-hander has signed with the Chicago White Sox and accepted a $1.25 million signing bonus, according to multiple national media reports this week.
The White Sox selected the high school graduate Sunday in the 11th round of the 2026 MLB Draft. According to a Future Sox report, his signing bonus is the equivalent of what’s typical of a No. 69 overall pick, a significant bump from where he was taken — 315th overall.
Casteel was a highly ranked commit for West Virginia University and had been training on campus in the lead-up to the draft, but he will now forego college.
He’s the first Golden Tornado drafted directly out of Butler High since 2003, when Jacob Cuffman was selected in the 14th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“That was definitely awesome,” Casteel said Sunday of hearing his name called. “You knew you did everything you could.”
A call to Casteel Thursday evening was not immediately returned. He had until July 27 to sign with the Sox.
MLB.com’s scouting report ahead of the draft graded Casteel’s fastball a 50, slider 55, change-up 50 and control 50 with an overall grade of 45. Scouting grades are on a scale to 80. He can hit 95 mph with his fastball and typically sits around 92.
He went 10-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 103 strikeouts, leading Butler to its first WPIAL championship and first PIAA championship game appearance.
Of Casteel, The Athletic draft expert Keith Law wrote: “He has excellent feel to spin the ball already.”
Chicago entered the draft with an MLB-leading $20.5 million in bonus pool money available. The White Sox took UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky No. 1 overall, signing him to a record $10.35 million bonus, and Law thinks highly of their draft class.
A record three former Tornado pitchers were drafted Sunday: David Leslie in the ninth round (New York Yankees), Casteel and Madden Clement in the 15th (Kansas City).
