Multiple Top White Sox Prospects Highlight Knights’ Opening Day Roster
Photo: Ian Eskridge
Nothing underscores the marked improvement in the White Sox minor-league system than a closer look at the initial Charlotte Knights’ 2025 roster.
In the not-so-distant past, Knights’ fans were lucky if there were more than two or three legitimate major league prospects on the roster. Today, however, the lineup is filled with highly-regarded prospects on the cusp of their big-league careers. That’s what happens when you become the sixth best system in the big leagues.
Charlotte kicked things off on Friday Night in the Queen City with a 9-1 win over the Gwinnett Stripers that was highlighted by some of the highly regarded prospects in the White Sox’s system. Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Tim Elko all homered while Chase Meidroth does what he does and reached base three times. Former Angels’ prospect Chris Rodriguez made the start.
Lets take a closer look at the roster
Future White Sox on the Infield
- Bobby Dalbec
- Tim Elko
- Tristan Gray
- Andre Lipcius
- Chase Meidroth
- Colson Montgomery
The infield in particular is filled with upside. In fact, I think a lot of Sox fans would be shocked and/or disappointed if almost all of these infielders aren’t in Chicago no later than the trade deadline.
Of course, it all begins with Colson Montgomery at shortstop. A back injury robbed Colson of spring training at-bats; hence, he finds himself in Charlotte, looking to recapture the plate-discipline skills that made him such a desirable prospect. A strong finish to a rough 2024 season and a continued resurgence in the Arizona Fall League season give hope that the former first rounder is back on track.
His middle-infield mate is Chase Meidroth, part of the return in the Garrett Crochet trade. Meidroth got a lot of run in Spring Training, and many believed he was in the running for an Opening Day roster spot in Chicago. But he was just 6 for 41 at the plate, with nine walks and 10 strikeouts in Arizona. I’d expect him to regain form quickly in Charlotte as an on-base machine. Last year, in a full year at Triple-A, the right-handed hitting infielder posted 105 walks to 71 strikeouts — and a stellar .437 OBP to lead the International League. That sounds like a guy who is ready for his shot at the big leagues.
Two big thumpers man the corners in Charlotte with Bryan Ramos at third and Tim Elko at first. Ramos suffered an elbow injury and is just now beginning a throwing program, so his return to Charlotte is unclear. Meanwhile, Elko will look to lower his strikeout rate and mash his way to Chicago.
Infield depth includes former Tigers 2019 3rd-round pick Andre Lipcius, a middle infielder; and Red Sox 2016 fourth-rounder Bobby Dalbec, a corner infielder. Dalbec was a former prospect in the Boston system and while he’s missed time due to injuries of late, he possesses huge raw power from the right side. The 29-year-old Gray can play multiple infield spots and he had a good spring after clubbing 19 homers in Triple-A last season. Lipcius smacked 25 homers for Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024 as well.
Future White Sox Behind the Dish
- Juan Gonzalez
- Edgar Quero
- Kyle Teel
Catching will be divided evenly between Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel. The belief is that three days behind the plate and a couple of days at designated hitter will provide each with sufficient plate appearances. The third-string catcher is Juan Gonzalez, who was acquired in 2023 from Toronto and spent last year in Birmingham.
Teel and Quero are two of the top catching prospects in all of baseball. They slotted in at #2 and #5 overall on the pre-season top 30 prospect list here at FutureSox. The 23-year-old Teel was a recent first rounder out of Virginia who the White Sox acquired in the Garrett Crochet trade this past winter. The 6-0, 210 pounder posted a 145 wRC+ in Double-A last year and hit 13 homers overall. He still needs to conquer Triple-A however.
The White Sox acquired Quero from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline in 2023 and the 21-year-old had a stellar minor league season in 2024. The 5-10, 205 pounder also posted a 145 wRC+ in Double-A while playing for the Barons and the switch-hitter clubbed 16 homers overall.
These should both make their big league debuts this season. “The catching position is very demanding at the major league level, but they’re both really close to being ready to perform, hopefully,” Paul Janish said.
Future White Sox in the Outfield
- Zach DeLoach,
- Greg Jones Jr.,
- Corey Julks,
- Cal Mitchell
Zach DeLoach returns to the Charlotte outfield after he was acquired in a trade with the Mariners last year. He struggled early in 2024 before ending the year as one of the Knights’ most consistent hitters, with a slash line of .287/.375/.446.
While DeLoach is a prototypical power-hitting corner outfielder, he’ll be joined in Charlotte by two guys who are looking to make a name for themselves in Corey Julks and Cal Mitchell. Dominic Fletcher could be on this roster as well but he’s currently in DFA limbo while Oscar Colas has been optioned to Charlotte as well after clearing waivers recently.
Before Fletcher was acquired in a trade with the White Sox after the 2023 season, the 5’8, 185-pound lefty was a hitting machine in Double- and Triple-A, as well as 93 at bats in the major leagues with the Diamondbacks. However, in 223 at bats with the White Sox last season, he hit just .206.
The White Sox claimed Greg Jones Jr. off of waivers from Colorado and he’ll be on the Knights roster as well. The former first rounder out of UNC Wilmington is blazing fast and clubbed 16 homers last year but he’s always struck out over 35% of the time in the high minors. Jones made his big league debut with the Rockies in 2024.
Likewise, Julks flashed some interesting skills in 2023 in the big leagues with the Astros, prompting the Sox to take a flyer on the 29-year-old righty with a career .265 MILB average. But, like Fletcher, Julks struggled as well last year in his big league audition with the Sox.
Cal Mitchell, meanwhile, was the Pirates’ second-round pick in the 2017 draft. He was a career .274 hitter in the minors, but his big-league shot came in 2022 with Pittsburgh and he was only able to muster a .226 batting average. The 26-year-old did hit 22 homers in Triple-A with the Padres last year after slashing .277/.359/.512.
Future White Sox on the Mound
- Justin Anderson (RHP)
- Adisyn Coffey (RHP)
- Justin Dunn (RHP)
- Jairo Iriarte (RHP)
- James Karinchak (RHP)
- Trey McGough, (LHP)
- Nick Nastrini (RHP)
- Chase Plymell (RHP)
- Chris Rodriguez (RHP)
- Garrett Schoenle, (LHP)
- Jared Shuster, (LHP)
- Gus Varland (RHP)
- Owen White (RHP)
- Steven Wilson (RHP)
Injuries to Ky Bush, Juan Carela, Drew Thorpe and Mason Adams are testing the strength of the Sox minor-league system — starting pitching. The White Sox also recently designated southpaw Jake Eder for assignment and he’ll likely return to Charlotte if he clears waivers in the coming days.
Those injuries leave a Charlotte rotation that includes Nick Nastrini, former Rangers’ top prospect Owen White, Jairo Iriarte and Chris Rodriguez. Rounding out the rotation is Justin Dunn, an off-season free agent addition. The 29-year-old righty was the Mets’ first-round pick in the 2016 draft and appears to have been highly coveted, given the two high-profile trades he was a part of.
In the first one, in 2018, he was one of five prospects sent to Seattle from the Mets for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. Then, in 2022, he was one of four players sent to Cincinnati for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker. But his promising career has been derailed by recurring shoulder injuries, which resulted in multiple extended IL stints and ultimately surgery.
Like every season, there will likely be a shuttle between the Charlotte and Chicago bullpens. And at the head of the queue, of course, are guys already on the 40-man roster: Justin Anderson and Gus Varland. Varland was solid down the stretch in Chicago to close out 2024 and he could be back in the big leagues in short order with some success in Triple-A.
Beyond these are Sox prospects Adisyn Coffey and Trey McGough; MLB veterans Steven Wilson and James Karinchak; and minor-leaguer Garrett Schoenle who has bounced all over the system and generally pitches well everywhere he goes.
Sergio Santos moves up from Birmingham to manage the Knights, along with bench coach Angel Rosario. They’ll be joined by hitting coach Jim Rickon and pitching coach Scott Aldred. In his second year with the White Sox, Rickon moves up from High-A Winston-Salem (which is the new home for last year’s Charlotte hitting coach Cam Seitzer). Aldred, meanwhile, spent the last five years as the minor league pitching coordinator for the Miami Marlins.
