Although doom and gloom courses through the blood of every White Sox fan right now, the farm system produced plenty of encouraging moments throughout the month of May. Top prospect Colson Montgomery returned from injury and posted dynamic numbers with Low-A Kannapolis, while No. 22 prospect Lenyn Sosa continued his remarkable season at the plate.
Let’s take a dive into the FutureSox MiLB Team of the Month for May 2022:
Catcher — Seby Zavala (AAA)
1.127 OPS, 13 XBH, 193 wRC+
Triple-A catcher Seby Zavala put together a dynamic month at the plate to the tune of a 1.127 OPS. The 28-year-old backstop posted nine multi-hit efforts in May, which included a two-homer game May 18 against Norfolk (BAL). Zavala recorded an eye-popping 193 wRC+ throughout the month. He leads the Knights in both OBP (.389) and OPS (.937).
First baseman — Wilfred Veras (Low-A)
.321 AVG, 10 RBI, 119 wRC+
Although he struggled in the final week, unranked infielder Wilfred Veras continued to show promise at the age of 19 with Low-A Kannapolis. Veras delivered a standout .365/.420/.444 slash line through the first 15 games in May. He logged three separate games of three or more hits.
Second baseman — Lenyn Sosa (AA)
1.037 OPS, 26 RBI, 163 wRC+
White Sox No. 22 prospect Lenyn Sosa has only made nine starts this season at second base, but his production in May was too stellar to leave off the Team of the Month. The 22-year-old compiled 15 extra-base hits and an outstanding 1.037 OPS. He also showed solid plate discipline and ranked second on the Barons with a 12.4 percent strikeout rate in May. Sosa is well-deserving of a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, but an already crowded infield (for the time being) limits that possibility.
PERTINENT: Lenyn Sosa is breaking out in Birmingham while reining it in
Third baseman — Wes Kath (Low-A)
13 RBI, 11% BB rate, 121 wRC+
White Sox No. 6 prospect Wes Kath found different ways to contribute in May to earn the nod at third base. Kath kicked off the month with a career-high four RBI, and he reached base multiple times in 10 different games. The 19-year-old also produced a strong 11 percent walk rate and swiped his first two bases of the season.
Shortstop — Colson Montgomery (Low-A)
.973 OPS, 14.5% BB rate, 171 wRC+
White Sox No. 1 prospect Colson Montgomery showed why he is the top prospect in the organization after he posted impressive figures across the board in the back half of May. Montgomery, who missed three weeks due to a hand injury, returned to Low-A Kannapolis’ lineup in grand fashion with a .973 OPS in 14 games to close the month. The 20-year-old shortstop, whom the White Sox selected in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, compiled an eye-popping 171 wRC+ in May. His patience and discipline at the plate was also present, as Montgomery recorded a 14.5 percent walk rate, which ranked second on the Cannon Ballers.
Outfield — Terrell Tatum (Low-A/HI-A)
.915 OPS, 16 RBI, 144 wRC+
Unranked outfielder Terrell Tatum turned heads in May to the tune of a 144 wRC+ in 17 games. The 22-year-old, whom the White Sox selected in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of NC State, recorded four separate multi-RBI games in May and went 5-for-6 in stolen bases. Tatum earned a promotion to Hi-A Winston-Salem on May 4.
Outfield — Mark Payton (AAA)
1.144 OPS, 11 XBH, 200 wRC+
Veteran outfielder Mark Payton drilled Triple-A pitching throughout the month of May and filled the box score in a variety of ways. The 30-year-old former Cincinnati Red posted an absurd 200 wRC+ and 1.144 OPS in 19 games. He also maintained an impressive 12.6 percent walk rate in May and stole four bases. The White Sox signed Payton to a minor-league contract in March.
Outfield — Tyler Neslony (AA)
1.002 OPS, 15 XBH, 155 wRC+
All Tyler Neslony does is produce. After he posted a 1.036 OPS in April, he followed it up with a 1.002 OPS in May. The 28-year-old outfielder logged 15 extra-base hits, which included his first-career multi-homer game Sunday against Chattanooga (CIN). Neslony, whom the White Sox acquired from the Atlanta Braves in July 2021, delivered a dynamic 155 wRC+ throughout the month of May, and he owns a remarkable 178 wRC+ in his time with the Barons (78 games).
Starting pitcher — Kohl Simas (Low-A)
24.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, .193 opp. AVG
Unranked right-hander Kohl Simas logged a 2.25 ERA across five starts in May to earn the Starting Pitcher of the Month honor. Simas, 22, limited opponents to a .193/.253/.296 slash line. Simas earned his team-best third win of the season in his final start of the month, in which he delivered five innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. The White Sox signed Simas, who owns a career 2.29 ERA over 21 appearances, as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in July 2021.
Relief pitcher — Garrett Schoenle (Low-A/Hi-A)
12.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 12.41 K/9 rate
One of the quickest risers among relief-only prospects in the organization, left-hander Garrett Schoenle put together a dominant month of May. Schoenle, 23, has not allowed a run since April 27, which is a span of 15.2 innings. The 6-foot-5 southpaw produced a 12.41 K/9 rate in May, and limited opponents to a .139/.262/.139 slash line. The White Sox signed Schoenle as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati in July 2021.
Honorable mentions
- C/1B Tyler Osik (Hi-A) — .865 OPS, 11 RBI, 135 wRC+
- 2B/SS Wilber Sanchez (Low-A) — 17 SB, 18 R, 21.1% BB rate
- OF Luis Mieses (Hi-A) — .330 AVG, 11 XBH, 127 wRC+
- OF Duke Ellis (Hi-A) — .306 AVG, 15 SB, 113 wRC+
- OF Craig Dedelow (AA) — .944 OPS, 8 HR, 18 RBI, 12.7% BB rate, 138 wRC+
- OF Adam Haseley (AAA) — .878 OPS, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 7 SB, 132 wRC+
- LHP Sammy Peralta (AA) — 10.0 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1 SV, .156 opp. AVG, 12.60 K/9 rate
- RHP J.B. Olson (AAA) — 11.1 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, .190 opp. AVG