Sink-or-swim appears to be a theme for many White Sox prospects in 2021. A year off from Minor League Baseball and the removal of a rookie ball affiliate has forced some players to make aggressive leaps without the typical prep. The Winston-Salem Dash have a few top 30 prospects, but also a number of fringe prospects who have a chance to break through at a new level.
The Dash open the season Tuesday at home against Rome. Winston-Salem has 30 players, 18 pitchers, on its Opening Day roster. The bigger roster allows for more depth without requiring players to switch between affiliates during a pandemic.
Pitchers
Right-handed pitchers (16): Vincenzo Aiello (26 years old), Sal Biasi (25), Jason Bilous (23), Cooper Bradford (23), Hansen Butler (25), Isaiah Carranza (24), Declan Cronin (23), Johan Dominguez (25), Caleb Freeman (23), Davis Martin (24), Pauly Milto (24), JB Olson (26), Wilber Perez (23), Lane Ramsey (24), Luke Shilling (23)
Left-handed pitchers (2): Dilmer Mejia (23), Taylor Varnell (25)
The first thing that stands out about this pitching staff is the ages. The youngest pitchers on the staff are 23, which is fine for High-A, but definitely not young.
There are no top 30 prospects on this pitching staff, but a few are potential sleepers. Bradford was drafted in the 13th round in 2019 and is making the jump from Arizona rookie ball to High-A. He’s a good example of the sink-or-swim theme. He’s still mostly new to pro ball, but at 23, he has to get it done in High-A.
Freeman could be an interesting reliever. He has received praise from White Sox evaluators and racked up strikeouts in three levels. He got as high as Kannapolis in his draft year in 2019.
After dealing with injuries, Shilling is set for an aggressive assignment for his pro debut. Shilling was a 15th round pick out of the University of Illinois in 2018. Similarly, Carranza is set for his pro debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery in his draft year. Carranza had been a well-regarded prospect in the draft, but hasn’t been healthy enough to showcase his talent. He should get his long-awaited shot now.
Varnell could be the staff ace. He posted a 3.23 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 106 innings for Kannapolis in 2019 and got promoted for four starts with the Dash (3.38 ERA there). The problem is he turns 26 on Wednesday. The lost 2020 really hurt a guy like him.
Catchers
Evan Skoug (25), Henri Lartigue (26)
Skoug spent some of 2019 with the Dash and Lartigue has been as high as Double-A in his career.
Tyler Osik is expected to join this group. Osik started working out at catcher after the 2019 season and would be the most intriguing name of this group. He posted a .909 OPS in Kannapolis in 26 games in his draft year in 2019 so the bat has some value, too.
Infielders
Johan Cruz (25), Luis Curbelo (23), Lazaro Leal (24), Harvin Mendoza (22), Travis Moniot (23), Yolbert Sanchez (24), Lenyn Sosa (21)
This group has some talent and some potential. Sanchez is a top 30 prospect making his U.S. debut. His glove is his best asset, but he is 24 and will have to show his bat has some value, too.
Curbelo was a sixth-round pick in 2016, but hasn’t delivered. He struggled in two stints in Kannapolis in 2018 and 2019. Now, he gets a crack at Winston-Salem. Sosa, another former top 30 prospect, has a similar story, but is only 21. He probably could have used another year at Kannapolis, but the talent there has forced him up.
Mendoza, a first baseman, had been a decent hitter in rookie ball, but this is a big jump. Like Sosa, he is likely being pushed up to give room for those below him. Mendoza is skipping Kannapolis.
Leal is a Cuban who will be making his stateside debut. He wasn’t a big money signing, but given his age, he has to deliver quickly to become a noteworthy prospect.
Outfielders
Bryce Bush (21), Alex Destino (25), Duke Ellis (23), Luis Mieses (20)
Bush is the biggest name and the highest-rated prospect on this team. He was in Kannapolis in 2019 so this assignment isn’t that aggressive, but he did struggle with the Intimidators (.201/.285/.346). This still seems like a reasonable assignment given the time off.
Mieses is the youngest player on the roster. He turns 21 on May 31. Due to his age, he has been a notable prospect, but he is skipping Kannapolis. Mieses hasn’t posted as high as .650 OPS anywhere in his career. This will be a tough assignment for him.
Ellis was an undrafted signing in 2020. He is known for his glove in centerfield and the White Sox are throwing him in the deep end to begin his pro career.
Destino gives the group some experience. He got four games with the Dash in 2019 after spending most of the year in Kannapolis.
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