2025 White Sox Affiliate Preview: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A)

Coming off a productive campaign in 2024, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers head into the new season with a roster brimming with future White Sox and highlighted by some of the most promising and dynamic young talent in the system. Though the emphasis at this level isn’t on the standings, the spotlight will remain on the growth and progress of the organization’s key young players throughout the season. Several names on this team project to rise quickly through the system, and Kannapolis should once again be a hotbed for future White Sox contributors.

K-Town faithful, we are proud to announce the roster for your 2025 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers! pic.twitter.com/FckM3PMCaK

— Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (@Kcannonballers) April 1, 2025

As the Low-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, Kannapolis remains a key stop for young prospects making their first leap into full-season professional baseball. The Cannon Ballers are coming off a successful year in 2024, finishing with a 70-61 record and advancing to the Carolina League Championship Series. It marked their most successful campaign since 2018 and their first postseason berth in seven years. Built around recent draftees and international signees alongside a mix of players returning from last year’s roster, the club aims to carry that momentum into 2025 and continue establishing itself as a developmental hub within the White Sox farm system.

Kannapolis will be led in 2025 by new manager Chad Pinder, a former utility player with over 550 MLB games under his belt from his time with the Oakland A’s. Pinder, known for his defensive versatility across the diamond during his playing days, steps into his first coaching role as the Manager of the Cannon Ballers.

Pinder will be joined by bench coach Darius Day, who spent last season in the same role with High-A Winston-Salem. Day, a White Sox ACE program product and a former Rangers minor leaguer, is from Chicago. Charlie Romero returns for his fourth year as hitting coach after helping guide the Ballers’ offense to the top of the Carolina League leaderboards in multiple categories. On the pitching side, Jacob Dorris took over after mentoring the ACL White Sox staff in 2024, where his group ranked among the league’s best in limiting hits.

The Ballers open the year on Friday, April 4, against the Hickory Crawdads, the Texas Rangers’ Single-A affiliate, and will be worth following throughout the season.

Pitchers

• Ricardo Brizuela (RHP, 21)
• Jonathan Clark (RHP, 24)
• Pierce George (RHP, 21)
• Aric McAtee (RHP, 24)
• Jesus Mendez (RHP, 20)
• Mason Moore (RHP, 23)
• Morris Austin (RHP, 25)
• Christian Oppor (LHP, 20)
• Liam Paddack (LHP, 21)
• Carlton Perkins (RHP, 22)
• Nick Pinto (RHP, 24)
• Luis Reyes (RHP, 19)
• Gabriel Rodriguez (RHP, 21)
• Blake Shepardson (RHP, 21)
• Justin Sinibaldi (LHP, 23)
• Manuel Veloz (RHP, 24)
• Jack Young (RHP, 23)

Kannapolis boasts a versatile pitching staff featuring a mix of promising rotation options and relievers with pitch mixes that should excel at the Low-A level. The group includes several potential starters with backend or breakout upside, complemented by bullpen arms whose stuff—whether power fastballs, sharp sliders, or deceptive changeups—has the potential to miss bats and control innings. Together, the staff should offer quality innings while supporting the club’s broader developmental goals in 2025. Multiple pitchers from this staff landed on our pre-season just missed list.

Among those expected to be prominently featured is left-hander Christian Oppor, a former fifth-round pick who is making his full-season debut in Low-A. He works in the mid-90s and generates plenty of swings and misses, averaging 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings (46 strikeouts in 38 innings) in the Arizona Complex League last year. Though he has dealt with some inconsistency, the 20-year-old is still developing and offers legitimate upside as a rotation piece with the potential to leap forward under the guidance of the Kannapolis developmental staff.

Check out the sequence from Christian Oppor, the Sox 5th-rd pick in 2023 who is making his pro debut this season.

The lefty out of Gulf Coast State junior college throws an easy 95 & has topped out at 98. He pairs it with a deadly breaking pitch around 79 mph.

Kannapolis leads… pic.twitter.com/mCGLMdYts5

— jeff cohen (@TripleAJeff) April 2, 2025

Luis Reyes, a 19-year-old righty with a loose, repeatable delivery and electric fastball, could emerge as a breakout name in 2025. A top international signee from the 2023 class, Reyes received one of the largest bonuses handed out by the White Sox that year and has steadily grown into his projectable 6-foot-3 frame. After showing flashes in the DSL and refining his arsenal with the ACL White Sox last summer, Reyes has consistently missed bats thanks to his plus fastball and solid secondary pitches, but his ability to command the strike zone and limit walks will be key to his continued development.

Southpaw Nick Pinto out of UC Irvine works primarily in the low 90s with his fastball. He mixes in a deceptive changeup and a sharp, 12–6 hammer of a curveball that generates plenty of whiffs, giving him a well-rounded arsenal capable of missing bats when he’s sequencing effectively. Justin Sinibaldi is another left-hander who had a standout final season at Rutgers, works primarily in the low 90s and relies on a sinker/slider mix to generate weak contact. He earned the start in Game 1 of the Carolina League Championship Series.

Pierce George stands out with explosive stuff and late-inning upside. A 13th-round pick out of Alabama, the right-hander features a fastball that can touch triple digits and pairs it with a sharp slider that creates plenty of swing-and-miss. Command remains a challenge, but the raw stuff is loud. He made his debut with Kannapolis last year, allowing four earned runs over six innings and flashing the traits that make him one of the more electric relief prospects in the system.

Blake Shepardson is a physically imposing right-hander at 6-foot-5 and he enters pro ball with a power sinker/slider mix that could be effective in short bursts. Viewed internally as a sleeper pick in last year’s draft, Shepardson offers late-inning potential if he can refine his control. His imposing frame and movement-heavy arsenal give him a chance to carve out a meaningful role, though his overall impact will hinge on finding more consistency in the strike zone.

Right-handers Ricardo Brizuela and Jesus Mendez both return after logging significant time with Kannapolis in 2024, with Brizuela making 10 starts and Mendez appearing in 41 games out of the bullpen. Gabriel Rodriguez, also right-handed, hasn’t pitched since 2023 but is another multi-year organizational arm. Fellow righty Manuel Veloz has been with the Sox since 2019 and logged 78 innings last season while mixing in a handful of starts. Aric McAtee and Jonathan Clark, both new to the organization, have yet to make their professional debuts after signing.

Quality start ✅. 6 innings of 1R ball for Ricardo Brizuela. #Ballers #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/Htez3Ibzao

— FutureSox (@FutureSox) August 25, 2024

Mason Moore, selected out of Kentucky, made one brief appearance for Kannapolis last season, starting one game and tossing 2.1 innings. Multi-inning arms like Carlton Perkins bring valuable versatility to the bullpen, with the ability to work multiple frames or bridge the gap in extended relief roles. Morris Austin is another name to watch as a potential long-relief piece.

Liam Paddack, a left-handed pitcher and 18th-round pick out of Gonzaga, brings a different look to the Cannon Ballers’ staff. Jack Young, selected in the ninth round out of Iowa, adds intrigue to the back-end bullpen with a whippy low-slot arm action and potential to handle leverage innings as he adjusts to the professional level. It’s not always evident who will be slated for relief or the bullpen in the low minors so piching probables will be something to watch early on.

Catchers

• Jorge Corona (24)
• Calvin Harris (23)
• Ronny Hernandez (20)

Ronny Hernandez returns to anchor the catching corps after an impressive showing as one of the youngest players in the Carolina League last season. The Venezuelan native brings a disciplined approach at the plate with premium on-base skills and an improving hit tool. Defensively, Hernandez is praised for his reliability behind the dish, though he’ll look to bounce back in the caught-stealing department after a down year in that area.

Calvin Harris adds further depth as a left-handed hitter with power and advanced contact skills. However, he’ll aim to refine his consistency and defensive fundamentals after a challenging year at High-A. The former Ole Miss standout brings upside if he can put together a more complete campaign in 2025. Jorge Corona, a non-drafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech, joins the group after a decorated college career. A steady presence behind the plate with a strong arm and extensive experience.

Infielders

• Caleb Bonemer (19)
• Ryan Burrowes (20)
• Mikey Kane (23)
• Lyle Miller-Green (24)
• Javier Mogollon (19)
• Jordan Sprinkle (24)

The infield will be anchored by 2024 second-round pick Caleb Bonemer, a highly regarded prep shortstop from Michigan who enters the season ranked No. 11 in the White Sox system by FutureSox. Bonemer brings above-average athleticism, a quick right-handed bat with advanced barrel control, and flashes both power and speed. He’s considered a strong bet to stick on the left side of the infield long term, and he impressed club evaluators during fall instructs following the draft. He’s expected to be the everyday shortstop for Kannapolis this season.

Meet ⁦@CalebBonemer⁩, the Sox 2024 2nd-round draft pick & #11 in the ⁦@FutureSox⁩ Top 30. He is a big, strong kid. Hard to believe he was in high school a year ago.

⁦@Kcannonballers⁩ ⁦@MiLB⁩ pic.twitter.com/U1eQgIGGRX

— jeff cohen (@TripleAJeff) April 2, 2025

Javier Mogollon heads into his first full-season assignment after putting together two productive offensive years in the DSL and ACL. Though listed at just 5-foot-8, the Venezuelan second baseman generates impressive power for his frame. He’s also shown a strong walk rate and base-stealing instincts but will need to address his swing-and-miss issues to maintain consistency against more advanced pitching. Defensively, he fits best at second base, where his range and quick hands can stand out. He has also implemented a leg kick this off-season to reduce the strikeout rate.

Javier Mogollon with his second hit of the night, this one off reliever Phil Fox, the Sox 2024 7th-rd pick out of Pitt. Jackson Appel would later fire a dart to 2B to nail Mogollon on a stolen base attempt.

Ballers up 5-2, B5. After a lot of baserunners early, pitchers have… pic.twitter.com/iUjQWuaCX9

— jeff cohen (@TripleAJeff) April 2, 2025

Ryan Burrowes adds athleticism and raw strength to the group, though he’ll look to bounce back after an uneven 2024 season. Signed out of Panama in 2022, Burrowes showed early promise in the DSL but has faced some growing pains since transitioning stateside, particularly with swing-and-miss concerns and consistency at the plate. Mikey Kane returns after limited game action last year, and Jordan Sprinkle brings defensive reliability with flashes of offensive potential this spring. All three are expected to rotate at third base while also providing backup support across the middle infield.

Lyle Miller-Green, a 17th-round pick out of Austin Peay, is expected to see most of his time at first base and brings an intriguing upside on both sides of the ball. The Russian-born slugger stands 6-foot-6 and offers standout raw power, having delivered a dominant final college campaign before joining the White Sox organization. He has already shown flashes of that impact potential in pro ball. Known for his presence in the box, Miller-Green could be one of the more exciting bats to watch develop in this lineup. He’s also considered a two-way player, though his long-term value is likely tied to what he can do with the bat.

Outfielders

• Nathan Archer (22)
• Nick McLain (22)
• Braden Montgomery (21)
• Casey Saucke (21)
• George Wolkow (19)

The outfield is the highlight of the roster and brings together a dynamic mix of talent with offensive upside and positional versatility. Braden Montgomery, ranked No. 6 in the system by FutureSox, was acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet trade and enters 2025 as one of the organization’s most exciting prospects. A switch-hitter with electric bat speed and significant raw power, Montgomery can drive the ball out of the park from both sides of the plate. The former Texas A&M and Stanford standout also brings elite arm strength, having touched 98 mph on the mound in college, and profiles naturally as a right fielder. However, the White Sox plan to utilize him all over the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup while evaluating his defensive flexibility. After recovering from an ankle injury suffered during the NCAA postseason, Montgomery is expected to make his pro debut this season.

…George Wolkow cracks one over the right field wall, literally out of the ballpark

⁦@FutureSox⁩ pic.twitter.com/vTdUbRL5Pr

— jeff cohen (@TripleAJeff) April 2, 2025

George Wolkow, ranked No. 10 by FutureSox, returns to Kannapolis as one of the youngest players on the roster and one of the most physically imposing. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound outfielder from Chicago brings massive left-handed power and loud bat speed, having launched 13 home runs in his first full professional season. While his ability to drive the ball is unquestioned, refining his approach—especially against off-speed pitches—will be key to unlocking his full offensive potential.

A natural fit in right field, thanks to his arm and size. He’s also expected to get occasional work at first base to increase his defensive flexibility. Wolkow made a loud impression this spring when he hit a home run out of the ballpark during the FutureSox Showdown against High-A Winston-Salem. With a strong work ethic and high ceiling, his stock could climb in a hurry if he takes a leap forward in 2025. He’s also ranked 10th overall in the system for MLB Pipeline.

Nick McLain, a third-round selection in 2024 out of Arizona State, brings an experienced approach at the plate and is known for his mature strike zone judgment. Despite injury setbacks earlier in his college career, McLain rebounded with a strong final season and profiles well at all three outfield spots, thanks to solid reads and a strong arm. He enters 2025 ranked No. 28 in the White Sox system by FutureSox and is expected to be a steady contributor in the Kannapolis outfield. We profiled him earlier this spring as well.

Casey Saucke, drafted in the fourth round out of Virginia, begins his first full professional season after a promising debut at High-A in 2024. Ranked No. 27 by FutureSox, the 6-foot-3 corner outfielder brings above-average bat speed and raw power. While his ability to drive the ball stood out in college, tightening up his plate discipline will be a key focus this year. Saucke projects best in right field but has the arm and athleticism to handle all three spots.

We're on our way to obliterating the ACC Tournament HR record this week.

Casey Saucke gets a middle-middle SL and ambushes it off the scoreboard in LF, a 429 foot shot that left the bat at 104.9 MPH. Showed off his arm cannon earlier, too. Early Day 2 bat. pic.twitter.com/0Pqkohmg6Q

— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) May 24, 2024

Montgomery, Wolkow, McLain, and Saucke are all expected to rotate between the outfield positions and designated hitter throughout the season, creating a carousel of talent that offers the coaching staff plenty of flexibility. With each player capable of handling multiple outfield spots and contributing offensively, the group will allow for fluid matchups and balanced playing time.

It’s also worth monitoring how long this group stays intact, as Montgomery, McLain, and Saucke are all candidates to move up to High-A Winston-Salem by mid-season—particularly following the MLB Draft, when new outfield prospects typically enter the system. It’ll be interesting to see how the organization manages these potential promotions and when they decide to pull the trigger on advancing these bats to the next level.

Nathan Archer rounds out the outfield group. Drafted in the 12th round out of Bowling Green, Archer made history as the school’s highest pick in nearly two decades and was recognized as the MAC Player of the Year in 2024. The athletic outfielder has shown the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways—both at the plate and in the field—and profiles as a potential utility outfielder with the range to handle all three spots. While he’ll likely begin in a reserve role, Archer’s college production and overall makeup could earn him increased opportunities as the season progresses.