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Credit: Dan Victor/FutureSox

FutureSox: 2024 Midseason Chicago White Sox Top 30 Prospect List

By / / Top 30

The FutureSox 2024 pre-season Chicago White Sox top 30 prospect list was derived from the top 30 lists compiled by writers and staff members here at FutureSox. Each prospect was assigned a number from 1-30 based on their spot on each individual top 30, and then added up to come to the ranking they got on the collective list. Colson Montgomery received 150 points and was the #1 prospect on that list. We will follow the same process for the mid-season list below. The White Sox have added talent via the 2024 MLB Draft as well as the trade deadline. We have six writers contributing to this version of the list.

White Sox Prospects 1-5

1. Noah Schultz, LHP (Previous: 2, +1)

  • Drafted 1st Round (26th overall) in 2022

The White Sox selected the Oswego, Illinois, prep standout in the first round of the 2022 draft. The organization envisioned the premium upside; projecting the southpaw as a future top-of-the-rotation starter. He represented the White Sox in the 2024 Futures Game and is well on his way to becoming a pillar of the franchise. The 6-9, 220 pound lefty has taken a leap this year becoming one of the very best starting pitching prospects in the sport and he’s inching his way to a big league debut in 2025.

Schultz threw 27 innings in 2023 with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in Low-A and he posted a 1.33 ERA with 38 strikeouts over the course of ten starts. He was shut down with a flexor strain and a shoulder impingement during the season but he hasn’t had any health issues to this point in 2024.

The 21-year-old made seven starts for the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A to open the 2024 season. In 27.1 innings, he posted a 3.95 ERA with 42 strikeouts and seven walks. The southpaw is currently pitching in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons and he has posted 1.46 ERA with 55 strikeouts and 14 walks in 49.1 innings pitched. Schultz has struck out 97 in 76.2 innings total on the season.

Schultz is a low-slot lefty who hides the ball and his mid 90’s fastball is extremely deceptive. It has reached the high 90’s and explodes with run and sink. He also possesses a wipeout slider that averages 78-80 mph with late, hard movement and excellent spin. Both pitches could be double plus at their peak. Schultz also throws an above-average changeup and he’s added a cutter to the mix this year as well.

Schultz is currently the 8th ranked prospect in baseball at Baseball America and the 15th overall prospect in baseball at MLB Pipeline. The goal for this year was to pitch weekly and accumulate innings. The left-hander is well on his way toward achieving that and a 2025 ETA looks likely at this point.

2. Colson Montgomery, SS, (Previous: 1, -1)

  • Drafted 1st round (22nd overall) in 2021

Montgomery was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Huntingburg, Indiana. The multi-sport prep star quickly moved through the White Sox’s system after his decision to focus primarily on baseball for the first time. The 6-3, 225 pounder came into the season ranked as one of the top 20 prospects in baseball. It’s fair to say that the 22-year-old has struggled this season for the first time in Triple-A however.

The 22-year-old missed most of the 2023 campaign due to a back issue at the start of the year. Upon his return, the left-handed hitter posted a 198 wRC+ in 17 games in High-A. The shortstop finished his season in Birmingham where he slashed .244/.400/.427 with a 129 wRC+ for the Barons in Double-A. He also played in the Arizona Fall League to make up for some lost time as well.

Montgomery is a large-framed, shortstop with a huge offensive ceiling. The Corey Seager comparisons seemed apt for a bit as well. He still projects to have plus power with on-base skills and he makes good swing decisions but his hit tool has definitely come into question with his struggles in Triple-A and there are some bat speed concerns in regards to catching up with velocity as well. He still controls the strike zone but he becomes too passive sometimes and he’s struggled to hit fastballs in Triple-A.

Montgomery is an average runner and he has added strength to his frame with some evaluators predicting an eventual third base future. The White Sox aren’t concerned as they project him at shortstop with a good first step, instincts and athleticism. It was seen as likely he’d debut at some point during the 2024 season but 2025 seems more appropriate at the moment. The White Sox still believe that Colson Montgomery is a cornerstone piece of their future and we could see him on the south side in the near future.

3. Hagen Smith, LHP, (New)

  • Drafted First Round (5th overall) in 2024

Hagen Smith was the fifth overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft and he received a record, $8 million signing bonus from the White Sox. The organization feels like the 20-year-old has elite, top-of-the-rotation upside. The 6-3, 215 pounder was the Pitcher of the Year in the SEC last season for Arkansas and he posted a 2.04 ERA in 84 innings with 16 starts. The southpaw led all of Division I in batting average against with a .144 mark while posting a 48% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate.

Smith’s fastball and slider are both 70-grade weapons and the White Sox should have no issues developing a changeup or organization familiar cutter to serve as a third pitch in the repertoire. Smith’s fastball has been up to 100 mph and generally sits in the 95-96 mph range. The low three quarter slot delivery helps to create a flat plane to home plate. The southpaw’s hard, mid 80’s slider is a swing and miss pitch as well.

Hagen Smith underwent Tommy John surgery in high school and he’ll need to continue to improve his overall command. He’ll be a top 50 prospect for most publications heading into the off-season and a 2025 big league debut isn’t out of the question. Smith has made his professional debut with the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A. In his first start, he went three scoreless innings while surrendering just two hits and striking out four. Smith is expected to make multiple starts to close out the 2024 minor league season.

4. Edgar Quero, C, (No change)

  • Acquired from Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2023

Edgar Quero has become one of the better catching prospects in all of baseball and he’s knocking on the door of the big leagues. The 21-year-old signed with the Angels in 2021 out of Cuba and he moved quickly through their system prior to being traded to the White Sox at the 2023 trade deadline. In 2022, the backstop hit 17 homers in the Low-A California League as a teenager. The switch-hitter makes hard contact from both sides of the plate but he’s a below-average runner.

The 5-10, 210 pounder has really improved his defense behind the plate and he’s shown some stellar pop times when throwing out runners. Quero started the 2024 season in Birmingham with the Barons and he posted a 144 wRC+ in Double-A. The catcher hit .275/.360/463 with 12 homers over the course of 72 games. He’ll finish the season in Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights and his International League experience has already been positive as well. The catcher has slashed .313/.408/.506 with a 140 wRC+ while significantly improving his walk rate in 23 games.

Quero has hit 16 homers this season and projects to hit 20 or more annually. He should be the primary catcher in Chicago for the White Sox in 2025.

5. Grant Taylor, RHP, (Previous 10, +5)

  • Drafted 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2023

Drafted in the 2nd round last year after missing his final collegiate season at LSU due to Tommy John Surgery, Grant Taylor flashed the upside of an ace in his brief stint in Single-A Kannapolis. Unfortunately, Taylor suffered a lat injury that seemingly will keep him out for the rest of the year as the White Sox display extreme caution with their second-highest upside pitching prospect. 

After flashing first round talent in his second season at LSU, it was easy to envision Taylor being a steal in the second round given his ability to grab 100+ mph velocity on his fastball paired with two sharp breaking balls. That was all on display in Kannapolis in the five starts he made there earlier this season. Not only was the velocity already back up to its peak in his first official in-game innings in nearly two years, but the command was excellent. Returning with that level of command is not expected following Tommy John and is a large part of why he ranks so highly on this list. 

In his first five professional starts, Taylor registered a 2.33 ERA and 0.72 WHIP across 19.1 limited innings. He struck out 32 in those innings as well resulting in a strikeout rate of 43.1% while walking just one. The sample size is rather limited but his combination of command and stuff makes Taylor’s ceiling one of the highest in the system. He would have been heading to High-A fairly soon if not for the lat injury in June.

Taylor’s fastball reaches 100 mph and features ample ride especially up in the zone due his above-average extension from a 6-3, 230 pound frame. Beyond that, he added a cutter variation off of his already high-level slider that features as a secondary fastball with movement. He mixes in a low 80s curveball as well which flashed as a plus offering and pairs well with the fastball. Health and build up will be a factor, but Taylor has upside to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. He is expected to participate in the Arizona Fall League.

White Sox Prospects 6-10

6. George Wolkow, OF, (Previous 12, +6)

  • Drafted 7th Round in 2023

The White Sox saved money in many of the early rounds of last year’s draft and allocated the majority of the savings towards 17-year-old George Wolkow from local Downers Grove North High School. A projected top two round pick in 2024, Wolkow graduated high school a year early in order to head to the 2023 Draft and get his professional career started. With some of the absolute best raw power in the draft and a 6-7, 240 pound frame, Wolkow commanded a signing bonus equivalent to early third round money. He became the third-highest paid player in the Sox draft class and has quickly shown why in his first professional season.

Wolkow started the year in the Arizona Complex League and quickly proved worthy of a promotion at just 18-years-old by posting an OPS of .994 across 15 games. While Wolkow’s swing-and-miss was high and remains such, he hits with authority and natural pop to all parts of the field. Upon promotion to Single-A Kannapolis, Wolkow struggled with a rough strikeout rate and a lack of consistent contact. However, he showed power early in spurts and exploded with a massive two week stretch in the end of June and early July.

While results have been inconsistent, Wolkow has posted a 139 wRC+ with 11 home runs and 42 RBI across 271 Single-A plate appearances. His strikeout rate of over 40% is the big concern, but he’s walking at a 13% walk rate and his .223 ISO is a sign of his massive power upside.

A huge frame and sneaky plus athleticism makes Wolkow a strong defender in the outfield and particularly in right field where his arm strength will be beneficial. Reducing his whiff and chase rate will be important but Wolkow has plenty of time on his side and has by far the highest ceiling of any hitter in the system. His potential range of outcomes has a wide range, but Wolkow is currently the most intriguing lower level hitter in the system.

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Credit: Dan Victor/FutureSox

7. Jairo Iriarte, RHP, (New)

  • Acquired from the San Diego Padres in 2024

The White Sox acquired Jairo Iriarte as the second piece in the Dylan Cease trade from the San Diego Padres in March 2024. The Venezuelan originally signed with the Padres for $75K in 2018. There has always been strong reliever risk in the right-hander’s profile but the White Sox are convinced that he will start. The 22-year-old is now 6-5, 200 pounds and he possesses high 90’s heat with a mid 80’s slider. Iriarte’s fastball is a double plus offering due to the flat vertical attack angle and extension present.

The fastball generally sits in the 95-98 mph range and it gets carry through the top of the zone. He also throws a changeup with late fading action. Iriarte has done a better job of repeating his delivery this season and he’s added strength to his frame as well. He does sometimes show inconsistencies in his delivery which can cause poor command. In 2023, the righty averaged 15.6 K/9 in Double-A but his strikeout rate is way down with the White Sox.

In 120 innings pitched with the Barons, Iriarte has posted a 3.60 ERA with 116K and 56BB. He is racking up innings and showing that he can handle a starter’s workload with the fallback as a dynamite back end reliever a realistic possibility. He should be an option for the White Sox in 2025.

8. Mason Adams, RHP, Previous 28, +20)

  • Drafted 13th Round in 2022

The development of late round draft picks and other under-the-radar prospects will be crucial for the next phase of the White Sox rebuild. Mason Adams has been one of the absolute best developments over the past two seasons and has taken his prospect status to the entirely next level this season with a dominant campaign in Birmingham that led to his recent promotion to Triple-A Charlotte.

Drafted in the 13th round of what is becoming a rather strong 2022 draft class, Adams served as the piggyback starter to Noah Schultz in Kannapolis at the onset of their first full season last year. While striking out nearly 11 batters per nine innings and only walking two, Adams proved he should start games on his own and rose all the way to Double-A at the end of his first season. He continued to impress with a blend of improving stuff and strong command. He made three starts in each High-A and Double-A while allowing just a total of nine runs in those starts.

This emergence last year led to him starting the year in the loaded Birmingham rotation that was possibly the best in all of MiLB through the first couple months of the season. In 18 Double-A games this season, Adams posted a 2.44 ERA while registering a strikeout rate of 24.6% and a walk rate of just 4.6% in 103.1 innings.

Adams utilizes a deep arsenal led by his pair of fastballs and pair of breaking balls. Adams runs his heater into the mid 90’s and his low 80’s curveball is often his best put-away pitch. His slider has grown into a trustworthy secondary breaking ball with late deception. Adams is command over stuff but has continued to miss bats at each level which is encouraging for the future. He was recently promoted to Triple-A and should have a shot to debut in Chicago this September or at least early in 2025.

9. Bryan Ramos, 3B, (Previous 3, -6)

  • Signed out of Cuba in 2018

One of top prospects in the system heading into the year has experienced plenty of ups and downs this season, but is in a great place heading into the final stretch of the season. Ramos got a taste of the big leagues with the White Sox largely due to a complicated 40-man crunch and he excelled in his first few games. He dealt with a minor injury that set him back which led to him returning to Charlotte where he should have been for much of this season anyways.

After a rough stretch and trouble catching up to fastballs particularly, Ramos is settling into Triple-A and should have a chance to get back to Chicago this year. Since July 9th, Ramos has a .833 OPS and has done an excellent job improving his approach as seen by his strikeout rate of just 16.8% and a walk rate up to 11.5% in that stretch. While throws can be errant at times, Ramos is a strong defender at third and is showing signs of more balanced hitter than he has in the past year and is still just 22-years-old in Triple-A.

Ramos has the profile of an all-around player in the infield with the upside of 15-20 home runs and solid contact rates. If he can continue his recent trend of picking his pitches better and reducing his whiff, Ramos could reach his ceiling of an everyday third baseman.

10. Ky Bush, LHP, (Previous 16, +6)

  • Acquired from Los Angeles Angels in 2023

Acquired last year from the Los Angeles Angels alongside Edgar Quero as the return for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, Ky Bush has pitched his way into an MLB stint this year. Bush dealt with injuries last season, but has looked fully healthy all year so far. He started off with AA Birmingham, and was arguably their best pitcher, maybe 2nd behind Drew Thorpe.

Across 80.2 IP, Bush posted a minuscule 2.12 ERA, striking out 25% of the batters he faced. The southpaw then rightfully earned a promotion to AAA Charlotte, where he did scuffle a bit. But that’s to be expected in the very hitter friendly environment, and clearly that didn’t sway the White Sox from calling him up to make his big league debut in Oakland on August 5th.

Standing 6 feet and 6 inches tall, Ky Bush is a big dude. He takes up space on the mound, and is able to get down the hill quite far. His nearly 7 feet of extension helps his 91-94 MPH fastball play up a tick. It’s a cut-ride fastball that plays well on the edges of the zone, if Bush can locate it consistently. Bush’s main offspeed pitch has been a gyro slider at 82 MPH, with a little bit of glove side movement to it. It’s not designed to be a big chase pitch, as he just steals strikes with it.

The bigger breaking ball you might have seen is a curveball in the low 70s with true downward action. This is the pitch that has taken a step forward, as Bush has further separated it from his slider this year. There is a changeup with some tail to it in the bag as well, but Bush hasn’t explored it much yet. It’s a solid offering, as it’s in the upper 80s, shaving off only a few ticks from his heater.

Ideally Bush can stick in the rotation going forward, but with the control issues he’s shown, he may be destined for the bullpen eventually. I’d absolutely give him every opportunity to stay as a starter, but he might get pushed out due to the incredible depth of rotation pieces the White Sox have stockpiled recently. If that does happen, he could be a valuable long relief arm, like a Jared Shuster type this year.

White Sox Prospects 11-15

11. Caleb Bonemer, SS, (New)

Drafted 2nd round (43rd overall) in 2024

The White Sox are very familiar with Caleb Bonemer as he played on their Area Codes Team last summer. The 18-year-old really stood out overall on the showcase circuit and he possesses premium upside according to the organization. The club used the 43rd overall pick on the Michigan prep but his $3 million bonus was in line with back of the first round money. The 6-0, 195 pounder is currently playing in Arizona for the Bridge League and he’ll be a prominent member of the instructional league team this fall.

Bonemer bats and throws from the right side and he’ll stay at shortstop initially. The infielder is a stellar athlete who offers and exciting combination of power and speed. He has shown good bat speed and strength at the dish and makes consistent hard contact. The former Okemos star also displays plus raw power potential while being a plus runner. If he can’t stay at shortstop long-term, he profiles just fine at third base and the bat should play there. He likely begins the 2025 season with the Arizona Complex League White Sox in rookie ball and he’s one of the highest upside bats in the system.

12. Jeral Perez, 2B, (New)

  • Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2024

Acquired in the three-team Erick Fedde deal at this year’s trade deadline, 19-year-old Jeral Perez joins the farm system as one of the best young hitters in the farm system with potentially more room to grow. Perez signed with the Dodgers for a tad under $400k in 2022 and performed excellently in the DSL before translating that to the ACL last year. He hit 11 home runs and produced continually with an advanced approach in the Complex League. He generates pop and very strong exit velocities for his 6-0, 180 pound stature.

In his first full year of affiliated ball, Perez has continued to flash his power and approach in Single-A with 10 home runs and a 13.7% walk rate in his 75 games with the Dodgers. Perez has quick hands and has produced some of the hardest contact rates for a player of his age around baseball. He also can pull the ball and elevate consistently in large part due to pitch recognition skills. While he has played all over the infield, Perez is best suited for second base in the future with average arm strength and athleticism.

Adding additional young hitting prospects to the organization was a clear priority at the deadline and Perez is now one of the better young assets at the lower levels of the organization.

13. Brooks Baldwin SS (New)

  • Drafted 12th round in 2022

One of the best pure hitters in the organization, Brooks Baldwin has seen a meteoric rise through the system since he was selected in the 12th round of the 2022 draft. After an aggressive assignment to AA Birmingham to start the year, Baldwin put his name on the map, leading the Southern League in batting average through 74 games with the Barons.

That number peaked at .366 on June 2nd, but even after a mini slump, Baldwin hit .322 in his time in Birmingham. That earned him a promotion to AAA on July 4th, where he sent some early fireworks into the Charlotte sky, homering on the first pitch he saw. He didn’t stick in Charlotte for long, as he hit .345 with 2 HR’s across 8 games before getting the call from Chicago to make his debut on July 19th.

While he didn’t get off to the hottest of starts, Baldwin has been hitting better as of late. Since August 3rd, Baldwin’s wRC+ sits at 99, a big step up from the 21 it was pre-8/3. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention Baldwin’s 92nd percentile sprint speed, at 29.1 ft/sec. Additionally: in just 238.2 MLB innings played in the field, Baldwin has racked up 3 Outs Above Average. While that doesn’t seem like a monstrous number, that 3 OAA places him second on the White Sox to only Nicky Lopez’s mark of 4 OAA. Nicky has played the full year, so one can assume if Baldwin plays the full 162 he’d run laps around him.

Baldwin profiles as a second baseman going forward, but the utility role could be a valuable asset for him to play as well. He’s played all over the diamond since being drafted, and that versatility could be a key piece in his MLB role. While I don’t think he’ll ever hit .360 like he did in Birmingham, anywhere from .290-.310 seems fairly realistic. He doesn’t project for more than 15-18 HR’s a year going forward, but there is room to grow into some power. The old adage of “putting on 15 pounds of muscle” has been the downfall of many White Sox prospects, but for Baldwin it could be the key.

14. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, (Previous 7, -7)

  • Drafted First Round (15th overall) in 2023

The first of a large group of prospects who dropped seven or more spots on our list, 22-year-old former first rounder (15th overall) Jacob Gonzalez is (still) struggling. The former Ole Miss and Team USA standout started the season with Winston Salem, and was moved up to Birmingham on May 20th, after hitting .273 with a .399 SLG for the Dash. Gonzalez’ Barons career started out with a bang, as he went 14 for his first 33 (.424 average) over his first seven games, not going hitless once. After that torrid stretch, however, Gonzalez’ candle has started slowly extinguishing on the season.

In July, Gonzalez hit .151 with a .195 SLG, including a 4-for-34 stretch to end the month. He was basically an automatic out at the dish from July 20th through the early portion of August. After posting a 121 wRC+ in High-A, he’s struggled to the tune of an 84 wRC+ in the Southern League. Gonzalez also hasn’t walked in Birmingham with a 7% rate after seeing an 11.5% rate in High-A. Gonzalez has hit just seven homers this season.

Between the critical scouting reports after the White Sox drafted Gonzalez last season, the poor first showing in pro ball and now the complete cratering in his first full season in the minors, there’s only so much a Spring Training hype piece can do before it is time to start to worry about Gonzalez (and the way the White Sox are developing him, because let’s be honest… it’s the White Sox, and they haven’t been able to develop position players to save their lives). There is still time for the former 15th overall pick to improve but things haven’t trended positively for Jacob Gonzalez and the White Sox this year.

15. Jake Eder, LHP, (Previous 6, -9)

  • Acquired from Miami Marlins in July 2023

As if it wasn’t already hard enough for Jake Eder to have to deal with being the return for the trading away of fan favorite slugger Jake Burger, the left-hander has struggled tremendously so far in 2024. After being assigned to Birmingham, the former Vanderbilt Commodore was seemingly held to an innings count, as he did not pitch past the fifth inning in eight of his first 12 starts with the Barons.

He did pitch fairly well in those first 12 games though, as he only gave up 3 or more runs in four outings and walked more than three batters only once. In the meantime, he struck out 75 in 61.1 innings and gave up more than three runs only four times.

So where did it go wrong? Somewhere around Eder’s June 20th start against the Montgomery Biscuits, Tampa Bay’s AA affiliate. Eder coughed up six earned runs and did not give up fewer than three runs per game from there on out, including several starts of five earned runs or more. His strikeout numbers cratered (after eight out of 12 starts with six K’s or more, to six out of eight starts with four strikeouts or fewer), his walk rate went up and his ERA currently sits at 61 for the season. Eder posted a 3.78 FIP in Birmingham while striking out 10.4 K/9 and walking 3.75 per nine.

Whether it is a case of running out of steam early after multiple seasons of very limited pitching due to injury, or whether the decline is by design and ‘training-caused’ is unclear at this point. What is clear is that the soon-to-be 26-year-old left-hander is further away from the big leagues than ever before. It’s make or break time for Eder, and if he is unable to regain some of the early season success, a move to the bullpen could be the only solution to reviving his prospect status.

White Sox Prospects 16-20

16. William Bergolla, SS, (New)

  • Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in July 2024

In a late deadline deal that sent Tanner Banks to Philadelphia, the White Sox acquired another 19-year-old infielder in the form of William Bergolla. He initially signed with Philly for a tad over $2 million in 2022 as one of the top international prospects in his class. With his best attribute being his hit tool, Bergolla doesn’t offer much in the power department as a 5-9 left-handed hitter. Despite mediocre offensive numbers, Bergolla struck out just 17 times in 2023 while walking 30 times which shows his plus approach that raises his offensive ceiling.

Bergolla made the jump to High-A to start the season at just 19-years-old and has largely held his own while also utilizing his athleticism more than in the past on the base paths. After just a pair of stolen bases last season, Bergolla has stolen 26 this season with eight coming in just 14 games since being traded. He posted a .735 OPS while still within the Phillies organization and has upped that to a .763 mark with Winston-Salem since the trade. His impact at the plate will be limited but Bergolla has shown plus contact skills and approach in addition to some athleticism.

Probably a second baseman as he develops, Bergolla has been playing shortstop largely in Winston and he has a strong arm for his size. He’ll probably end up sliding to second in the future, but has the profile of a solid contact-orientated utility piece.

17. Alexander Albertus, 3B, (New)

  • Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July 2024

One of the pieces in the three team deal that sent Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to St. Louis, along with Michael Kopech to the Dodgers, Albertus may be one of the best prospects acquired by the White Sox at the deadline. Although a leg injury will keep him out of game action until next season, Albertus was in the midst of a solid age 19 season, getting promoted to Single-A midway through the year.

The Aruba native has seen some power come on in recent months, which is going to be a key piece in his development. He’s shown advanced plate discipline, with a quick swing that allows the barrel to stay in the zone longer than expected. Across 51 games in 2024, Albertus slashed .298/.420/.409 with a 124 wRC+. Even after a bit of a rough stretch in his 19 Single-A games, Albertus walked more than he struck out, and showed a knack for pulling the ball in the air.

Albertus has above average athleticism, and he’s likely going to stick at 3B because of it. He’s got the arm to do so, but if he slows down a step, he can easily slide to 2B or even 1B in a pinch. He has played a few games at SS as well, but probably will get pushed to another spot. He did make some highlight reel plays at SS upon being called up to Rancho Cucamonga, showing off his arm on a couple balls deep in the hole.

Going forward, Albertus will likely start 2025 with Kannapolis, with the opportunity to get to Winston-Salem if he performs well. The key will be getting comfortable with higher level pitching, as he’s only had 82 at bats above rookie ball (although he did hit a homer off Bobby Miller in Dodgers spring camp). He’s a prospect to know for next year, with a real up arrow next to his name.

18. Nick Nastrini, RHP, (Previous 5, -13)

  • Acquired from Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023

It has been an up-and-down season for 24-year old Nick Nastrini. After being acquired in the Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly swap with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, the former UCLA Bruin spent the rest of 2023 in the minors, before showing enough in Spring Training that the Sox called him up from Charlotte when they first needed a fifth starter this season, on April 15th.

Despite carrying 7.71 ERA to the bigs after two starts with the Knights (7 IP, 6 ER, 2 HR, 3 BB, 13 K), Nastrini looked very good in his first career big league start. Against the Royals, he pitched 5.0 innings, giving up just two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five. Philadelphia proved to be a bigger hurdle in his second start, and Nastrini was sent back down after giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 3.0 innings against the Phillies, and that’s where the roller coaster started.

Nastrini returned to Charlotte with a 7-earned-run outing, before settling back down again for three starts. The White Sox called up him back up on May 22nd, for a start against Toronto in which the right-hander coughed up eight earned runs. Five days later, he held the same Blue Jays to just three earned runs. In spite of a good start against Milwaukee and a very good start against Boston, Nastrini found himself — perhaps somewhat surprisingly — demoted to AAA again in the first half of June and he has not seen Major League action since.

Nastrini has thrown 92-95 mph pretty consistently this year after touching 98 mph in the past. The 6-3, 215 pounder also throws a mid 80’s tight slider with high spin rates. The righty throws a curveball as well. Some recent mechanical adjustments have helped Nastrini harness his control and command and while he struggles to repeat his delivery at times, he’s back on the big league radar and could return Chicago at any moment to finish out the 2024 season.

19. Blake Larson, LHP, (New)

  • Drafted 2nd round (68th overall) in 2024

Blake Larson signed for $1.4 million after being selected by the White Sox with a competitive balance round B pick. The scouting department was very familiar with the 6-3, 185 pound lefty because he was originally an Iowa prep and he was also a member of the White Sox Area Codes Team. The southpaw transferred to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season and he improved his draft stock. The southpaw has a history of being erratic and he’ll need to continue to sharpen his control and command.

Larson displays a high-effort delivery with some moving parts and a head whack at the end as well. He does it all from a low three-quarters slot though with a fastball that has gotten up to 96 mph. It’s a swing and miss pitch with running life and it projects to be high 90’s in the future. The 18-year-old also throws an upper 70’s sweeping slider that has reached 2800 RPM of spin. I’m sure he’ll also have a cutter in no time. He’ll be on the White Sox’s roster for instructional league with debut likely coming in the Arizona Complex League in 2025.

20. Samuel Zavala, OF, (New)

  • Acquired from the San Diego Padres in 2024

Sent over to Chicago in the deal that shipped Dylan Cease to San Diego, it hasn’t been the step forward we expected to see from Sammy Zavala in 2024. Although he’s shown his calling card of great plate discipline, Zavala is only slashing .185/.338/.296 in 101 games for A+ Winston Salem, good enough for a 95 wRC+. All is not lost for Zavala, as it was a fairly aggressive assignment to start him in A+ as a 19-year-old. The plate discipline is still there, he just needs to shorten up the swing. If everything clicks, Zavala has true five tool upside. He’s swiped 13 bases for the Dash, and has made some phenomenal catches while patrolling center field.

If the statements made by Chris Getz come to fruition of hiring a “hitting version of Brian Bannister” (if such thing exists), Zavala is one of the first prospects I expect to get an overhaul. He’s got a very big, effort-y swing that starts with a leg kick that almost reaches his rib cage at its peak. It will almost certainly need to get quieted down, as Zavala has shown some difficulty catching up to high heaters.

There is also some launch angle optimization needed, as over 50% of batted balls from Zavala are either ground balls or infield pop ups. This would also get fixed with a newer, shorter swing. It would sacrifice some power, but that shouldn’t dissuade the organization from fixing it.

There’s no doubt that Zavala is one of the higher upside prospects in the system, but he’ll need some help getting there. There’s a lot to like in the raw talent, especially on the defensive side. He’s got the arm strength to handle any OF spot, and the speed to stick in center long term. Zavala likely returns to Winston Salem to start 2025, but this off-season will be an important one in his development track. If everything goes well, Zavala could rebound and put his name back into Top 100 talks, as he was at the end of 2023.

White Sox Prospects 21-25

21. Aldrin Batista, RHP, (Previous 30, +9)

  • Acquired from Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023

One of the best pitchers at the lower levels throughout this season was acquired for international signing money last year but has emerged as a legitimate prospect this season. Batista signed with the Dodgers for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic three years ago. He was dominant in the Dominican Summer League throughout 2022 and has experienced plenty of success over the past year in Single-A Kannapolis prior to his recent promotion to High-A. He posted a 3.51 ERA with 87 strikeouts across 84.2 innings of work in Kanny to start this season and has posted a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings over the course of three starts with 19 strikeouts and three walks.

The 21-year-old right-hander has an old school windup as he rocks back into motion, generates ample extension, and releases from a very low arm slot. This has allowed him to generate plenty of arm side run on his sinker and a lot of horizontal movement on his deceptive slider. Batista operates in the mid 90’s with his pair of fastballs and in the low-to-mid 80’s with both his slider and changeup. He could add a little more velocity as he physically matures and adds strength to his currently listed frame of 6-2, 185 pounds.

Batista has generated whiff at a high rate and pounds the zone at a good rate for his level. He has grown into one of the best young arms in the system and could continue to rise if he throws the way he has so far in High-A.

22. Javier Mogollon, 2B, (Previous 24, +2)

  • Signed from Venezuela in 2023

One of the standouts of the 2023 international signing class for the White Sox, Mogollon has done nothing but hit in his two years with the organization. Signed for just $75,000, he’s playing like someone who should’ve earned a seven figure bonus. As a 17-year-old in 2023, he posted a 156 wRC+ in the Dominican Summer League, and followed that up with a 134 wRC+ in the Arizona Complex League this year. He was hampered by injuries, and missed almost a third of the ACL season, but performed like one of the best rookie ball hitters when he was healthy, blasting eight long balls in just 46 games.

Mogo plays with his hair on fire, sprinting out any ball that gets put in play, forcing the defense to make a play on his plus speed. In rookie ball, you’re not going to see Gold Glover’s at every position, so it’s pretty understandable that Mogollon wants to put the pressure on. Once he gets on base, good luck trying to get him off the basepaths. He was 16 for 16 on stolen base attempts, the only player in the ACL to swipe 15+ and not get caught once.

Standing at only 5 feet and 8 inches tall (if that), Mogollon brings power you’d expect from someone twice his size. He’s a twitchy, fast middle infielder whose swing is eerily reminiscent of a fellow undersized second baseman. While throwing a Jose Altuve comparison on Mogollon would be incredibly outlandish, there are some resemblances.

There’s a long way to go before Mogollon reaches even 10% of Jose Altuve’s career, and it’s going to hinge on the strikeout. A strikeout rate of 38.3% isn’t going to cut it. However, the last 20 official games of the Arizona Complex League’s season, Mogollon did cut that to a more manageable 27.9%. Coincidentally, that’s also a week after he changed his swing, adding a leg kick on non two strike counts. Once he does get to two strikes, he widens up and doesn’t stride at all, instead shifting his weight while keeping his feet planted. Could that be a key going forward?

While Mogollon is presumably a second baseman in the future due to his size, he does play shortstop well and should be given every opportunity to stay there. Surprisingly, he wasn’t promoted to Kannapolis once the Arizona Complex League season ended, and time is running out to give him looks in affiliate ball in 2024. Even if he doesn’t get up in 2024, Mogollon should start the year as the every day 2B in Kannapolis in 2025. Lottery tickets like Mogollon are fun, especially when they hit.

23. Casey Saucke, OF, (New)

  • Drafted 4th round (107th overall) in 2024

The 21-year-old outfielder was one of the best prep players on the east coast coming out of high school and he chose to attend Virginia. The White Sox paid him $850K in the fourth round which is in line with the amount of a third round bonus. The 6-3, 200 pounder hit .344/.407/.578 with 14 homers for Virginia as a junior. Saucke struggled as a sophomore and while on the cape and it prompted him to change his swing. The White Sox really believe in the change that was made along with the outfielder’s makeup.

Saucke uses a crouched setup, high hands and a moderate leg kick to drive the ball with authority to all fields. He has displayed bat speed and above-average raw power. He reduced his strikeout rate last year with the Cavaliers and despite playing all over the infield as a prep, he now projects in an outfield corner. The White Sox have sent Saucke straight to High-A to play for the Dash in an aggressive starting assignment.

24. Nick McLain, OF, (New)

  • Drafted 3rd round (78th overall) in 2024

With two brothers in professional baseball already, the youngest will try to make a name for himself as well in the White Sox’s system. The 5-10, 190 pounder started his career at UCLA but he missed his entire freshman season with a back injury. McLain transferred to Arizona State for his final two college seasons and he missed time there as well after breaking the hamate bones in each of his wrists. The switch-hitter finally played consistently thing spring though and he was impressive for the Sun Devils.

The 21-year-old batted .342/.457/.663 with 12 homers and he walked more than he struck out. McLain can play all three outfield spots but profiles the best in right field due to a plus arm. He’s a tweener as a smaller corner guy but he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The White Sox love his makeup and the bloodlines. He signed for $800K in the third round and he’ll likely finish the 2024 season in A ball before heading out to instructional league.

25. Seth Keener, RHP, (Previous 15, -10)

  • Drafted 3rd Round (84th overall) in 2023

Seth Keener has fallen a bit on this list after being selected in the fourth round out of Wake Forest in 2023. Pitching primarily out of the bullpen in his final college season at Wake Forest, Keener made the transition into a full-time starter role within the White Sox organization.

Known for his elite slider, Keener is working to develop command and movement on his fastball and changeup in order to be a true starting option. The 22-year-old hasn’t advanced past Low-A as a professional to date. Keener’s mid-80s slider could make him a great reliever if the transition doesn’t go smoothly as he develops, but his fastball that sits 92-94 mph on average has movement that can be effective.

The 6-2, 195 pounders changeup is a work in progress, but he has a good chance to become a starter if he can improve his control and ability to rack up more innings comfortably. Keener has thrown 64.1 innings for the Cannon Ballers this year over the course of 14 starts but he has missed some time with an injury. He has posted a 3.36 ERA with a 3.26 FIP and struck out 75 hitters in those 64.1 innings. Keener’s walk rate has ballooned however which has been an issue this season. If healthy, the former third rounder rounder should advance rapidly through the system in 2025.

White Sox Prospects 26-30

26. Ronny Hernandez, C, (New)

  • Signed from Venezuela in 2022

Another international signing out of Venezuela, Ronny Hernandez signed for just $30,000 and just like Javier Mogollon, early returns say he should’ve earned much more. One of the more unheralded stories from the first half winning Kannapolis Cannon Ballers has been the presence of 19 year old Ronny Hernandez. In 87 games, Hernandez has struck out just 51 times (13.7%) and walked 54 times (14.5%), while hitting 17 XBHs, good enough for a 119 wRC+. Among catchers aged 19 or younger above rookie ball, only Top 100 prospects Blake Mitchell and Samuel Basallo have higher wRC+ numbers next to their name than Ronny Hernandez.

While there hasn’t been much power from Hernandez so far-only 1 home run in 2024 so far-there’s plenty to like in Ronny’s game. A left handed hitting catcher with good plate discipline doesn’t come around often. He’s currently hit-over-power, but that’s likely due to more ground balls than preferred. One would think if he lifts the ball more, he can use his 6’1, 200 pound frame to lean into more power. While that shouldn’t come at the sacrifice of bat to ball skills, more power from the catcher position is always good to add.

The athleticism at the plate has been tested this year, and that’s something Hernandez will need to work on going forward. 84 of 96 runners who attempted to swipe a base were successful, a 12.5% caught stealing rate. Not great, but there’s room to grow. Hernandez has an average to above-average arm, but the transfer from glove to hand isn’t the quickest.

On a positive note, every report to come out of Kannapolis says he’s fantastic at working with pitchers on game-planning, pitch calling, etc. We’ve seen the impacts Edgar Quero had on the Birmingham staff while he was there, and Hernandez seems to be working some of the same magic. Ideally, Hernandez starts off 2025 at Winston-Salem, with a chance to reach Birmingham. He’s got the talent to be a premiere catcher in the organization, and handling upper level pitching will be the key for him.

27. Tyler Schweitzer, LHP, (New)

  • Drafted 5th round in 2022

Left-hander Tyler Schweitzer logged more than 100 innings in his first professional season, which is impressive as he entered the year still in a transitional period from his time as a reliever at Ball State (converted to a starter during his junior season). The 23-year-old southpaw shined at Low-A Kannapolis to begin the campaign, where he maintained a solid 10.11 K/9 rate, 2.79 BB/9 rate, and worked through five innings in 12 of 13 starts.

The White Sox promoted him to High-A Winston-Salem in mid-July of 2023. While none of Schweitzer’s individual offerings will carry him to the big leagues, his overall pitch-ability and continued direction toward a starter’s workload should enable him to reach his floor as a back-of-the-rotation arm. Schweitzer averaged over ten strikeouts per nine in his 39.2 innings thrown in High-A last season.

To begin the 2024 season, the former fifth rounder out of Ball State started nine games for the Winston-Salem Dash and posted a 3.74 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 14 walks in 45.2 innings in High-A. Schweitzer was then promoted to Double-A and he’s thrown 64.1 innings over the course of 12 starts for the Birmingham Barons. The southpaw has posted a 4.34 ERA with a FIP of 3.53 while striking out 69 nice hitters and walking 18. He profiles as a back end starter.

28. Wilfred Veras, OF, (Previous 18, -10)

  • Signed from Dominican Republic in 2019

After a strong post-promotion performance in 38 with the Barons in 2023 (.879 OPS, six home runs, 30 RBI), now 21-year-old corner outfielder Wilfred Veras returned to Birmingham for his first full AA season. A hot start saw Veras with a .351/.364/.554 slash line (.918 OPS, 167 wRC+) with nine extra base hits (six doubles, three home runs) and eight RBI through his first 74 at-bats (19 games) in the month of April while playing at the cavernous Regions Field. That production did come along with a 36.4 K% and a 1.3 BB% within the same time frame, which has been one of the knocks on the outfielder’s offensive profile.

The hot start hit a speed bump, as Veras’s production slowed over the next three months. In his next 70 games, the Dominican native hit .225/.271/.363 (.634 OPS, 85 wRC+) with 20 extra base hits (12 doubles, eight home runs) and 29 RBI, but was able to bring his strikeout percentage down to 26.4 and increase his BB% to 5.3.

August has seen Veras’ production pick back up and adjustments made at the plate. Playing against competition that’s, on average, nearly three years his senior, he’s hit .306/.394/.500 (.894 OPS, 162 wRC+) with five extra base hits (double, triple, three home runs) and 11 RBI to go along with a 12.7 K% and 11.3 BB% over 62 at-bats (16 games). A small, but encouraging, sample size of a young playing improving and adjusting to an advanced level of competition.

Despite the rougher middle-portion of his season, Veras’ cumulative line is respectable considering age and competition level at .261/.308/.420 (.720 OPS, 112 wRC+ with 14 home runs (19 doubles, one triple), 48 RBI, 19 stolen bases (caught seven times), and a 25.9 K% to 5.6 BB%.

Defensively, it’s a lot of the same concerns that hover around Veras. He’s mostly played in right field in 2024 while seeing some limited action in left, has average to slightly above arm strength, but still has some limitations given he’s not the fleetest of foot (covering lots of ground in Regions Field surely makes it tougher too).

The calling card for Veras and what will drive his value is going to depend on how he’s able to progress offensively. If he’s able to continue to build upon the adjustments made in August, with his huge raw power, strength to all fields, and newfound selectivity, that will only further his prospects as a potential lineup masher, even if he’s limited to left field/DH duties as he continues to progress higher in the system.

29. Peyton Pallette, RHP, (Previous 8, -21)

  • Drafted 2nd Round (62nd overall) in 2022

It’s been a roller coaster for Peyton Pallette in 2024. After starting 2024 in the Winston-Salem rotation, a weekend starter at that, 24 walks and a 7.21 ERA in 43.2 IP gave the organization no choice but to move him to the bullpen. That single move probably saved Pallette’s career.

Since being moved to the bullpen on July 5th, Pallette has been the best reliever in the White Sox system, bar none. Since that move Pallette went 23.2 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 35 K for Winston Salem. That’s a 0.78 ERA for those keeping track. Deservingly so, Pallette earned a promotion to Birmingham on August 20th, where he promptly fired four scoreless innings with 4 K’s overall, lowering his reliever ERA to 0.70.

Pallette is a little over two years removed from Tommy John surgery. Many people were expecting a step forward in 2024, as control plagued him in 2023, and that’s usually the last thing to come back following the surgery. This is a step forward, just not in the way we all expected. Pallette has always had closer written all over him if he never could find the zone, and it looks like that’s where he’s headed now. That’s not a bad thing either, as Pallette likely wouldn’t be pitching for much longer had he stayed in the rotation.

His stuff has always been above average, command was the key. The fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, with some life at the top of the zone that induces whiffs and weak contact. The main breaking ball is a big overhand curveball that goes from eyes to toes in a fraction of a second. There’s a changeup that Pallette has been more comfortable throwing recently, and gives him a great weapon to throw against left handed hitters. All of them have ticked up a bit since the move to the arm barn, and Pallette is thriving.

Now that he’s one of the best relief pitchers in the organization, Pallette’s timeline look quite different than what it did at the beginning of the year. There’s now a real chance he breaks camp with the big league club in 2025. Assuming the bullpen role is permanent, he could fly through the system. While I’m sure the door to being a starting pitcher isn’t fully closed, I’d take the relief success and roll with it going forward. Peyton Pallette has true closer potential, and we’re just starting to see that potential emerge.

30. Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, (New)

  • Signed as international free agent in January 2024

Fajardo has been one of the lone bright spots of the White Sox’s 2024 international class. The 17-year-old signed back in January for $400K and he immediately was being tabbed a sleeper by guys like Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 6-3, 185 pounder has made 12 starts in the Dominican Summer League and he’s posted a 3.97 ERA in 47.2 innings. The righty has posted a 2.45 FIP with 62 strikeouts and just eight walks as well.

The Venezuelan is looking like one of the top arms in the international class. He displays starter traits and he can definitely add more mass to his frame. When teams were scouting Fajardo, his fastball was consistently in the mid-to-upper 80’s but he now gets it up to 95 mph regularly. The right-hander is a good athlete, with a lively fastball and a clean arm action. He also repeats his delivery exceptionally well for someone his age. Fajardo’s best secondary offering is a low 80’s slider and he has some feel for a changeup as well. He’ll likely begin the 2025 season stateside with the Arizona Complex League team in Glendale.

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