FutureSox 2023 Chicago White Sox prospect list: Starting Pitchers

FutureSox is highlighting the 2023 Chicago White Sox top prospects by position. This iteration includes the notable starting pitchers.

*Age listed in parenthesis

Noah Schultz, LHP (20)

• Last pitched: Did not pitch for White Sox in 2022

Noah Schultz pitched in the Prospect League during 2022 summer and posted an 0.93 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 19.1 innings against wooden bat collegians. The White Sox signed the left hander for $2.8 million to keep him from attending Vanderbilt following his No. 26 selection of the 2022 Rule 4 Draft.

His 55-grade fastball touched 98 miles per hour in the fall and had tendencies to stick in the upper-90s across short stints. At 6-foot-9, Schultz offers a sweeping slider that MLB Pipeline graded as 60 paired with a low-three quarters arm slot. He begins his first full season of professional baseball and will turn 20 years old in August.

Cristian Mena, RHP (20)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Since signing out of the Dominican Republic for $250,000 in 2019, Cristian Mena is proving to the White Sox its investment was worthwhile. After dominating low-A Kannapolis, largely due to his 60-grade curveball and a well-built 6-foot-2 frame, Mena was challenged at high-A Winston-Salem at 19 years old. The righty impressed enough over 21 combined starts and 94.1 innings that the White Sox felt comfortable pushing Mena to be part of ‘Project Birmingham.’

The 20-year-old enters his second full professional season with 40 pounds of added muscle and a fastball that sits 92-94 mph. Mena will work to incorporate an improving changeup that hovers 87 mph with splitter-like action. He projects as a mid-rotation starter.

Peyton Pallette, RHP (22)

• Last pitched: Did not pitch for White Sox in 2022

The White Sox successfully floated the Arkansas right hander to their pick at No. 62 in round two of the 2022 draft with a $1.5 million bonus. The 6-foot-1, 180 pounder underwent Tommy John surgery in the early part of 2022 and is continuing to rehab with a target to pitch in 2023. Pallette, who turns 22-years-old in May, was considered among the best arms in his draft class, despite the significant elbow injury.

The righty pitched a total of 61.2 innings at Arkansas. Without a lot of miles on his arm, the White Sox are excited to watch Pallette’s 60-grade fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range and touches 99 with riding action, as well as his 65-grade hammer curveball against professional hitters. Industry experts project him to be a top-of-the-rotation starter if he reaches his ceiling.

Sean Burke, RHP (23)

• Last pitched: AAA Charlotte

Sean Burke reached triple-A Charlotte in his first full professional season as a starting pitcher. Before that, the 6-foot-6 right-hander threw 91.1 innings combined in 2021 as a redshirt sophomore at Maryland as well as with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and Arizona Complex League White Sox. In 2022, Burke finished with 108 innings pitched in 27 appearances (26 starts) across Winston-Salem, Birmingham and Charlotte.

His 48 appearances (46 starts) in two years, plus what is now two full offseasons with the White Sox, have prepared the 23-year-old to hold an expectation to again pitch into September this season. Assistant general manager Chris Getz offered high praise to the young arm and can be penciled in as a Major League contributor in 2023.

Norge Vera, RHP (23)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Norge Vera must compile a sizable innings total this season in order for optimism to reign once again on this electric talent. Signed out of Cuba in 2021, Vera debuted stateside last season and dealt with a lat injury that delayed his MiLB campaign until June. His inconsistent velocity in 2022 offered questions regarding fatigue (Keith Law further elaborated about Vera on this episode of the Sox Machine Podcast). The righty is listed at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds and is entering his third year with the organizaion at 54.1 innings pitched.

Getz called Vera a starting pitcher in February. Aligned with a consistent timeline of starts in 2023, Vera will look to maximize his plus-plus fastball and further develop his slider and change. The fastball gets up to 99 mph at times, but was spotted late in the year in the low-90’s.

Jonathan Cannon, RHP (23)

• Last pitched: A- Kannapolis

At 6-foot-6, Jonathan Cannon is an efficient strike-thrower with plus control and a heavy sinking fastball that clocks in between 92-96 mph, an upper 80s cutter that’s considered above average, and a low 80s slider. The Georgia product has also had a four seamer, a sinking change, and a curveball in his repertoire in the past.

Cannon turns 23 in July and is often thought of as more of a “floor over ceiling” type and profiles as a backend starter that could be a quick mover through the system.

Matt Thompson, RHP (23)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Matt Thompson is entering his fifth season with the Chicago White Sox and fourth professionally. The 2019 draft pick turns 23 in August and looks to be part of the big league club’s plans as early as 2023. This is in large part due to Thompson’s confidence in his stuff.

Standing 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, the right-handed starter generates a mid-90’s fastball thanks to his athletic frame. Thompson’s above average curveball has seen much success in the minors as he looks to establish his changeup and a newer “slurvy” pitch that offers sweeping action. He enters 2023 having pitched 185.1 innings as a White Sox farmhand.

Jared Kelley, RHP (21)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Jared Kelley has dealt with shoulder fatigue, forearm tightness and conditioning issues over the past two seasons following his Round 2 selection in 2020. Kelley is, however, trending upward thanks to an encouraging 2022 that saw him pitching to the tail-end of the season at ‘Project Birmingham.’

The 6-foot-3, 235 pound righty compiled 76.2 innings last year, 64.2 at low-A Kannapolis, which was a nice jump from his inaugural professional season. Kelley has developed a two-seam fastball that’s resulted in outs and he’s using his plus changeup along with a developing slider. In order for Kelley to take the next step, he’ll need to shore up command on each of his offerings.

Kohl Simas, RHP (23)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Kohl Simas (SEE-miss) was an undrafted $20,000 free agent signing following the 2021 draft. After his time as a relief pitcher at San Diego State, Simas appeared in 10 games out of the bullpen for Low-A Kannapolis in 2021 and ended the year with a 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 23 strikeouts across 18 innings. He followed a strong debut season with a commitment to starting in 2022. Across 16 appearances (15 starts) in low-A Kannapolis, Simas allowed 51 hits in 61.2 innings while striking out 76 and walking 25. 

The 23-year-old has turned heads in the White Sox organization due to his four-pitch mix, which includes a 55-graded fastball, slider and curveball. The fastball jumps out of his hand, topping out at 96 mph with arm-side run. The slider sweeps in the low-80’s and his upper-70’s curveball works straight downward. Simas was among the group who participated in ‘Project Birmingham’ and threw 6.1 innings out of the double-A bullpen. 

Tanner McDougal, RHP (20)

• Last pitched: ACL White Sox, 2021

Tanner McDougal was a fifth round draft selection in 2021 out of high school. He underwent Tommy John surgery in October that same year. McDougal threw in the fall of 2022 and projects to get significant time in low-A Kannapolis in 2023 prior to a likely stint at extended spring.

Some pen work from this past Friday great to be back in AZ ahead of Spring Training !! ☀️🏜️ pic.twitter.com/VpJB6cE7zB

— Tanner McDougal (@mcdougal_tanner) February 6, 2023

Tyler Schweitzer, LHP (22)

• Last pitched: Did not pitch for White Sox in 2022

Tyler Schweitzer transitioned from reliever to starter in his final year at Ball State and notched a 2.65 ERA in 91.2 innings across 17 appearances (16 starts). He struck out nearly 30 percent of the hitters he faced, which helped him earn MAC Pitcher of the Year.

Listed as 6-foot, 185 pounds, Schweitzer is working into a developing professional build. A live arm with 135.1 collegiate innings on it (91.2 IP in 2022), the left-hander is set to begin his first full season as a professional starter. Our eyes are on the development of his fastball.

Jonathan Stiever, RHP (26)

• Last pitched: AAA Charlotte

Jonathan Stiever was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Amatuer Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2020. In August of 2021, Stiever underwent lat surgery that kept him out until late 2022. When healthy, the right-hander gets his fastball in the upper-90s. A middle-relief or swingman role is not out of the question, but the Sox can take the early part of 2023 to evaluate Stiever’s response to his workload post-injury.

Andrew Dalquist, RHP (22)

• Last pitched: AA Birmingham

Professional baseball has been tough on Andrew Dalquist since signing for $2 million as a California prep in 2019. The 22-year-old only threw three innings total in his first two seasons due to the pandemic and is still working on command of his four pitch mix (fastball, slider, curveball, changeup). In 2022, Dalquist posted a 6.95 ERA in 90.2 innings in high-A, striking out 69 while walking 53.

Luis Reyes, RHP (18)

• Last pitched: Did not pitch for White Sox in 2022

The White Sox signed Luis Reyes on January 15th as the prize of this year’s international class for the organization. The 6-foot-3, 190 pounder inked for $700K out of the Dominican Republic. Unlike typical international amateurs however, Reyes has extensive experience in the United States. He was a member of the Miami Miracles and he’s pitched in a multitude of stateside tournaments and competitions.

Marco Paddy had this to say about Reyes after his announced signing:

“He’s a power arm that has three pitches. He’s got a power fastball, a slider and a changeup. He’s got a clean arm, good mechanics and good size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds). He’s a kid that had a lot of experience with Perfect Game in the States, has a lot of competition behind him.

“I’ve seen him pitch and being able to adjust. Even though he was a younger kid, he was able to adjust to older competition extremely well.”

Yohemy Nolasco, RHP (20)

• Last pitched: ACL White Sox

Yohemy Nolasco will turn 20 years old in July and has drawn physical comparisons to Cleveland right hander Triston McKenzie for his tall and slender frame. Listed 6-foot-3, 160 pounds, Nolasco displayed a fastball ranging from 92-96 mph as well as a slurvy breaking ball in his second season with the White Sox and first stateside in 2022.

AJ Alexy, RHP (25)

• Last pitched: Texas Rangers/AAA Round Rock

The White Sox claimed A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The righty was originally drafted in Round 11 by the Dodgers in 2016 and was sent to the Texas Rangers in the original Yu Darvish trade.

"ALEXA! Play @AJ_AlexY_ highlights." pic.twitter.com/6gLgSxQWIf

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) September 7, 2021

Alexy (yes!) pitched in 30 Major League innings since 2021, with his time split between starter and reliever in 2022. He possesses premium arm strength with a fastball that touches 98 mph. He uses a shorter arm action in the form of Lucas Giolito’s mechanical resurgence. Alexy profiles as a back end starting pitcher or long reliever.

Tommy Sommer, LHP (24)

• Last pitched: A+ Winston-Salem

Tommy Sommer was drafted in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. The Indiana product impressed across his first full season as a professional last season, beginning the year at low-A Kannapolis and ending at high-A Winston-Salem. In a combined 123 innings, Sommer posted a 2.71 ERA and 1.081 WHIP.

A four-year pitcher at Indiana University, Sommer’s competitive career sample size suggests he can handle an accelerated development plan. Pitching in Charlotte by the end of the season is a fair goal, should all go well for Sommer.

Brooks Gosswein, LHP 24

• Last pitched: A+ Winston-Salem

Following his time at Barrington Community High School in Illinois, Brooks Gosswein pitched in the Missouri Valley Conferece for Bradley University. The local product was then selected in the fourth round in 2021.

Gosswein finished his 2022 at high-A Winston-Salem. Since becoming a member of the Chicago White Sox, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has worked almost exclusively as a starter (30 appearances, 29 starts) and sits in the mid 90s with big life on his sinker.