White Sox
Credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights

2024 White Sox Preseason Individual Top 30: Elijah Evans

By / / Analysis, Top 30

1-7: Top Tier Assets for White Sox

1. Colson Montgomery (SS)
2. Noah Schultz (LHP)
3. Edgar Quero (C)
4. Bryan Ramos (3B)
5. Drew Thorpe (RHP)
6. Nick Nastrini (RHP)
7. Jairo Iriarte (RHP)

This top of the White Sox farm system is completely different than a year ago as just three of these seven players were even in the organization at the onset of 2023.

Headlined by consensus top-15 prospect in baseball Colson Montgomery, there’s an argument for each of these seven players to be among the top 100 prospects in baseball. Montgomery’s advanced approach and feel to hit makes him one of the best prospects in baseball and he’ll get a shot to put that on display in Chicago at some point this coming season.

Noah Schultz, while limited by injury last season, has the upside of a true ace with his upper 90s velocity and lethal slider. He’s a top 50 prospect in the game and the clear second prospect in the organization until proven otherwise because of the immense upside.

This is where I may differ from most as Drew Thorpe will likely be ranked at the third spot for the majority. While I think Thorpe is a great pitcher, I tend to value hitting prospects slightly higher and right now I do think Thorpe has a slightly limited ceiling due to his average fastball.

That’s why I ranked Edgar Quero and Bryan Ramos at the third and fourth spots given their positional value and offensive upside. I think Quero has a chance to be the first true franchise catcher the White Sox have had in years if he can clean up his receiving a little and tap into the power he possesses. Ramos could be a 20+ home run hitter with strong defense at third base as his contact skills continue to grow.

Thorpe, Nastrini, and Iriarte, all acquired in the past year, should have a shot to crack the rotation in Chicago at some point in 2024. Thorpe was one of the best pitchers in the minors last year and was the headliner of the Dylan Cease deal. With quite possibly the best change up in Minor League Baseball, he excels at forcing soft contact and whiffs. He appears on track for a mid-to-late season call up.

Nick Nastrini should have a real shot to crack the White Sox rotation following the Dylan Cease trade and Michael Kopech’s move to the bullpen. He has been excellent this spring and looks to be essentially MLB ready. Command will be the determining factor for Nastrini, but he could be a great rotation piece given his excellent stuff.

Jairo Iriarte, acquired by the White Sox with Thorpe from San Diego, has electric stuff and flashed otherworldly strikeout rates at times last season. He needs to find his command more frequently as seen by walk rate over 10% last year, but has the makings of middle of the rotation starter if his change up develops further alongside the command.

This top seven is stronger than it has been in quite some time as every player here aside from Schultz should be at least in Double-A this season and many will debut with the White Sox later in the year.

8-13: A Lot of Upside for White Sox

8. Jake Eder (LHP)
9. Samuel Zavala (OF)
10. Jacob Gonzalez (SS/2B)
11. Peyton Pallette (RHP)
12. George Wolkow (OF)
13. Jonathan Cannon (RHP)

This group is filled with players that have ample upside but still face more challenges than the prior group on their way to becoming White Sox.

Jake Eder was one of the best left-handed prospects around baseball a few seasons ago with the Marlins. After undergoing TJ and dealing with a foot injury, he never found his stuff again in 2023 after being traded to the White Sox. This season will be a crucial one for Eder to get back on track, but he has shown the stuff previously to be a top prospect.

The third piece acquired recently from San Diego was outfielder Samuel Zavala. The 19-year-old has on-base skills for days but will need to add more impact as he ages and progresses to the next level.

Jacob Gonzalez is going through a swing adjustment this spring after a rough first couple of months of his career. He was drafted in the first round last year though and had plenty of success at the highest level of collegiate baseball. He may end up as more of a second baseman rather than a shortstop, but could be a consistent hitter as he rises through the system.

Peyton Pallette was able to make starts all season coming off of Tommy John and has a lot of arm talent. This season will be a test to see if his stuff can make a jump a full season after arm surgery.

One of the highest upside players in the entire White Sox organization is 18-year-old George Wolkow, who was drafted last season after forgoing his senior year of high school. I rank him higher than most because the power upside is off the charts with his 6’7 frame and he’s one of the prospects who could turn into a cornerstone.

The first player to debut from this group is likely to be Jonathan Cannon, who is a polished pitching prospect working to simplify his game right now. Cannon doesn’t have the best stuff, but commands the zone well and is a smart pitcher who is already at the Double-A level.

14-19: Immediate Impact for White Sox and Long Term Potential

14. Dominic Fletcher
15. Wilfred Veras
16. Grant Taylor
17. Seth Keener
18. Jordan Leasure
19. Jose Rodriguez

This group features a blend of a few assets that will be making an impact this season in Chicago and others that have the upside to rise up this list. The first player on the list is likely to open his full rookie campaign as at least a platoon starter in right field. Dominic Fletcher was acquired this winter to help solve the perennial issue in right field and his blend of contact and speed should be warmly welcomed on this roster.

Wilfred Veras is noticeably higher for me compared to most of the FutureSox staff. Questions surround his defense and approach at the plate, but he was arguably the best hitter in Birmingham during his stop there down the stretch. Veras can flat out mash but he does have a lot of work to do in order to reduce his whiff rates and provide any sort of defensive value as he settles into a corner outfield role.

Grant Taylor and Seth Keener were drafted with consecutive picks in the second and third round of the 2023 draft. Taylor is working his way back fro Tommy John Surgery while Keener is working on developing into a starter after primarily being a reliever in college. Both have ample upside after pitching effectively at the highest level of collegiate baseball. I can foresee a world where either or both of them push towards the top 10 of the farm system with a strong first full season with the organization.

The next player on my list is reportedly going to make the White Sox Opening Day roster and I think he’ll be closing games in Chicago sooner than later. In terms of talent regardless of positional value, Jordan Leasure could easily be much higher on this list. He has all the makings of a late inning relief pitcher with an elite fastball and slider combination and the addition of a curve ball in the past year.

Last season was another productive one for Jose Rodriguez, but he does fall noticeably from where he sat on my list last year. In large part, this is due to the wealth of depth added to the organization. but I also have some reservations about his overall impact. His speed and defense will allow Rodriguez to get a shot in the big leagues fairly soon, but his swing decisions and approach at the plate are still a concern.

20-26: Time to Grow for White Sox

20. Jacob Burke
21. Tanner McDougal
22. Mason Adams
23. Javier Mogollon
24. Ryan Burrowes
25. Juan Carela
26. Aldrin Batista

This is a rather fun group with a ton of players that I can envision taking big steps forward this summer. Starting it off is one of the biggest breakout players from 2023 in Jacob Burke. He fell in the draft in 2022 when he really should’ve been taken before day three but the White Sox were able to capitalize on that. He’s a premium defender in center field has continued to develop at the plate with steady contact skills.

In his return from Tommy John Surgery last year, Tanner McDougal showed flashes of his immense upside but has a lot more in the tank. He’s the type of pitcher, at just 20 years, who could climb this list quickly. Mason Adams, while he is older than most pitchers listed here, was phenomenal last season and made it all the way to Double-A. He could be a sneaky high floor 2025 option for the White Sox if he keeps it up.

The next pair of players on this list are international signings that have both flashes plenty of tools at a rather young age. Javier Mogollon was unbelievable in the DSL last summer while Ryan Burrowes transitioned over to Rookie Ball in Arizona. Mogollon, if he makes his way over to the states, could rise up this list rapidly for me. I need to see more of him at a higher level, but his talent at just 18 years old is undeniable. Burrowes has plus speed and athleticism that makes him an intriguing name to watch.

Two more former international signings round out this group for me that is loaded with potential. Juan Carela was a quietly excellent trade pick up at the deadline and finished the season strong in Winston-Salem. He’ll open up as a focal point of the rotation in Winston and should be able to reach Double-A at 22 years old this year. Aldrin Batista got his first taste of affiliated ball in five games with Kannapolis last year where he excelled at limiting base runners with a 1.06 WHIP. These two pitchers are not the most well established but were very impressive in 2023 and deserve to be ranked as I’m honed on in them.

As a whole, this group features a lot of guys that I have circled to keep an eye on this season. Look for a few of these players to make a big jump and push their way into the top half of this system.

27-30: Making Adjustments

27. Terrell Tatum
28. Zach DeLoach
29. Prelander Berroa
30. Ky Bush

My final group features four players that are ranked higher for most than they are for me right now, but this is largely because I think they are the midst of making some adjustments. Terrell Tatum was excellent last year in High-A with an approach of a seasoned veteran and speed that allowed him to steal bases constantly. He struggled in Birmingham though with higher strikeout rates and his ability to make an impact hitting is questionable given his already advanced age.

Zach DeLoach and Prelander Berroa were acquired from the Mariners in the Gregory Santos deal. Both will have a good shot to impact the White Sox but need to make some changes to be effective. DeLoach has a lot of natural power, but strikes out too often and is working on his approach still. Berroa’s command is shaky but he possesses the stuff to be a late inning piece.

Another player brought into the system last deadline could be set for a change of roles in the near future. Ky Bush dealt with some injuries that held him back from being his best self last year, but the stuff just didn’t look great as well. I think Bush could be better suited as a bullpen pitcher where he could reach the MLB level sooner.

Age is not on the side of these four but they all still can make necessary adjustments to make their way onto the White Sox roster in the near future.