2025 White Sox Preseason Individual Top 30: Elijah Evans
Photo Credit: Birmingham Barons
White Sox Prospects 1-6: Star-Level Standouts
- 1. Noah Schultz, LHP
- 2. Hagen Smith, LHP
- 3. Edgar Quero, C
- 4. Kyle Teel, C
- 5. Colson Montgomery, SS
- 6. Braden Montgomery, OF
This is the elite tier of prospects within the White Sox farm system with all of them being essentially consensus Top 100 prospects heading into the season. For me, the top two are clear with Schultz and Smith having legitmate ace upside and both should be in Chicago by 2026. Teel ranks higher than Quero on our list at FutureSox and on the updated list at MLB Pipeline as well.
Where I differ from most at FutureSox is having Quero over Teel when it comes to the two catchers of the future in Chicago. While Teel has flashed more power this spring, Quero had a bit more impressive power output last season while whiffing less as well. Additionaly, it seems to me like Quero may be a tad ahead of Teel in terms of defensive value right now, but both have more work to be done there. It’s a toss up between these two and both deserve to be in Chicago very soon.
After a rough 2024 season in Triple-A, Colson Montgomery drops down to five for me but I still have plenty of hope for him moving forward. Braden Montgomery debuts at six and I can’t wait to watch him in Single-A and High-A this season.
White Sox Prospects 7-10: Right-Handed Pitching Corps
- 7. Grant Taylor, RHP
- 8. Sean Burke, RHP
- 9. Mason Adams, RHP
- 10. Jairo Iriarte, RHP
Following my trip to Spring Training, it was hard to resist the urge to put Grant Taylor even higher on this list. But he has also only thrown in five minor league games, so while his upside is tantalizing, we need to see him healthy and build up innings this season.
Sean Burke shined in his first MLB stint last September and once again on Opening Day. He still has elements of his game to figure out, but he’s showing signs of a legit MLB starter who is as a piece of the future. Mason Adams undergoing Tommy John is brutal as I was very excited to see him debut this year, but that will have to wait a year. Jairo Iriarte has seen his stuff back up a little and nearly dropped further for more, but still has flashed plenty of upside and will look to build on that in Charlotte.
White Sox Propects 11-14: Upside or Ready Hitters
- 11. George Wolkow, OF
- 12. Caleb Bonemer, SS
- 13. Chase Meidroth, SS
- 14. Bryan Ramos, 3B
The George Wolkow and Caleb Bonemer decision was another near toss-up for me but I gave the edge to Wolkow due to his display of true 70-grade power last season. Bonemer may be a more well-rounded player and he could rise up this list fast for me if he shows clear ability to stick at shortstop and produce quality at-bats.
These two have tons of upside but are far away from Chicago. Meanwhile, Chase Meidroth and Bryan Ramos should be with the White Sox for more of this season than not. I leaned Meidroth based on his elite approach and higher likelihood of at least being a big league piece, but Ramos presents more upside offensively.
White Sox Prospects 15-19: Next Wave
- 15. Aldrin Batista, RHP
- 16. Sam Antonacci, INF
- 17. Jeral Perez, 2B
- 18. William Bergolla, SS
- 19. Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP
This is where my list starts to seriously deviate from the FutureSox consensus list. My two favorite sleeper prospects kick off this group with Aldrin Batista being my favorite lower-level arm and Sam Antonacci climbing quickly after his 2024 debut. Antonacci’s elite bat-to-ball skills and approach makes him the highest likelihood MLB player aside from Hagen Smith from last year’s draft class in my opinion.
Jeral Perez and William Bergolla are both young intriguing middle infielders acquired at the deadline last season. They’re both likely second base profiles long term, but I leaned Perez thanks to his power upside that Bergolla does not possess. Wikelman Gonzalez leads the next wave of pitchers with great stuff, but there’s still significant reliever risk.
White Sox Prospects 20-25: Something to Prove
- 20. Jacob Gonzalez, SS
- 21. Javier Mogollon, 2B
- 22. Alexander Albertus, 3B
- 23. Nick Nastrini, RHP
- 24. Juan Carela, RHP
- 25. Blake Larson, LHP
Dealing with swing changes and adjusting to Double-A, Jacob Gonzalez didn’t show very well most of last season but finished strong in the postseason. Javier Mogollon has a lot more work to be done on his approach, but I sided with his power and speed upside over Alexander Albertus who is still recovering from a serious leg injury.
After a tough stint in Chicago last year, Nick Nastrini does slide down this list but stays above two young arms who just underwent Tommy John Surgery. Carela is someone that may have been a bit higher for me before his injury while Larson is one of higher upside arms but is very far away still.
White Sox Prospects 26-30: Potential Risers
- 26. Shane Smith, RHP
- 27. Nick McLain, OF
- 28. Casey Saucke, OF
- 29. Seth Keener, RHP
- 30. Peyton Pallette, RHP
Shane Smith should realistically be much higher, but that has only changed in the past month or so. I honestly did not know much about him as a pitcher prior to the White Sox taking him in the Rule 5 Draft, but he has given every reason to believe he can be a true piece in Chicago.
Casey Saucke and Nick McLain is a close one, but I sided with McLain’s well-rounded tool set over Saucke’s power upside. Both should reach High-A this season, potentially fairly early on. Seth Keener slots in ahead of Peyton Pallette as he’s still being developed as starter, but Pallette likely has more upside if both end up in the bullpen.
