Chicago White Sox select Ole Miss baseball 1B Tim Elko in 2022 MLB Draft

Tim Elko did enough in his Ole Miss baseball tenure to earn himself a statue in Oxford, but his professional baseball journey begins now.

The Chicago White Sox selected Elko with the No. 311 pick in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft Monday. A right-handed corner infielder and designated hitter from Lutz, Florida, Elko was a three-year captain who set Ole Miss' single-season home run record and led the Rebels to a College World Series championship his senior year.

Here's a look at Elko's accomplishments and how he fits as an MLB prospect.

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Tim Elko has massive power

Elko batted .300 with a 1.049 OPS and a school-record 24 home runs in 2022, driving in 75 runs in 65 games. His skills played up in the most important games too. He batted .319 with a 1.076 OPS in SEC play and batted .372 with 14 RBIs and five home runs in 11 NCAA Tournament games.

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Elko has the build and strength to be a corner infield power threat. He'll have to develop his approach against breaking balls more; he struck out 84 times last season. But despite his swing-and-miss struggles, he still sported a .407 on-base percentage and walked 43 times in 285 plate appearances.

Tim Elko is a folk hero

Elko's 2022 season provided the storybook ending, but his 2021 season was the stuff of legend. He was named national player of the month in March 2021 after hitting .424 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 17 games. Then, on April 5, he tore his ACL in a collision running to first base.

Instead of electing for surgery, Elko rehabbed and waited. Less than a month later on May 1, Elko returned as a pinch hitter. Gradually, he returned to the Rebels' lineup as a designated hitter and first baseman. He appeared in 21 games post-injury, batting .296 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs.

What will Tim Elko play?

Before his injury, Elko was a versatile player who lined up primarily at third base and occasionally in the outfield. After the ACL injury, Elko was relegated to first base and designated hitter.

He played first base every game for the Rebels in 2022 and fielded his position well, showing a knack for moving to his right. It wouldn't be a shocker to see Elko migrate back to third base at some point, but testing the mobility in his knee will be key to see if he gains that versatility or if pro teams view him only as a right-handed power bat at a premium offensive position.

Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss baseball's Tim Elko to Chicago White Sox in 2022 MLB Draft