2023 White Sox Affiliate Preview: Winston-Salem Dash (High-A)

Looking at their record from last year, the Winston-Salem Dash didn’t experience a great deal of team success. However, the Dash did fare better with individual prospect performances from the likes of Oscar Colás, Colson Montgomery, Bryan Ramos, Tyler Osik, Sean Burke, Tommy Sommer, and (to lesser extents) Matthew Thompson and Cristian Mena.

Last season, the Dash’s pitching staff endured its fair share of struggles and was especially thin after the ‘Project Birmingham‘ promotions. This season it appears that the starting staff could be one of the strengths of the squad.

This Dash roster is built upon its starting pitching and with some interesting top 30 positional prospects mixed in.

(Ages in parentheses as of July 1)

STARTERS

After logging 7.1 innings after signing, Cannon looks to build upon the “potential fast-mover” label. Kelley looks to build upon his promising 2022 season once activated off of the IL after fracturing his foot. Vera and Simas will be looking to build up innings after injuries put a damper on their 2022 seasons.

Dalquist looks to rebound from just a truly abysmal season (but is not on the opening roster) while Sommer is more than capable of covering multiple innings and giving the team a good effort with every outing. Jaquez was a Rule 5 draft selection looking to find success in his new organization. Burns was a starter in both the Arizona and Carolina Leagues last season so he’s capable of eating innings.

RELIEVERS

It’s a sea of names making up the Dash bullpen, a healthy mix of drafted and undrafted players. Coffey may be the most notable as a former third round pick in the shortened 2020 draft, with Gosswein nipping at his heels as a 2021 fourth rounder.

CATCHERS

Fish and Gonzalez both return to Winston-Salem after seeing chunks of time there in 2022, while 2022 ninth rounder Turner joins the catcher group after appearing in two games during his draft year.

INFIELDERS

The group of infielders is led by three of our top 21 prospects, Montgomery, Kath and Chapelli. Montgomery is starting the year on the IL with an oblique injury but is hopeful to return to game action by the end of April. Kath had a bumpy start to his first full season but was able to find a bit of a rhythm at the plate post all-star break before participating in ‘Project Birmingham‘. After making mincemeat of the DSL, Chapelli heads stateside for a much more age appropriate assignment.

Womack, Atwood, Goosenberg, and Matthews all return to Winston-Salem providing depth options across the infield.

OUTFIELDERS

The group of outfielders is headlined by two more of our top 30 prospects. Veras displayed impressive power despite some swing and miss and now seems to be transitioning to the outfield. Tatum missed 50 games last year due to a amphetamines suspension, but fared well in his first taste of Winston-Salem, garnering a trip to the AFL before an injury ended that prematurely.

Gladney flashed good power in Kannapolis while splitting time between the infield and outfield while Norman returns to Winston-Salem where he saw a lot action post ‘Project Birmingham‘ callups.