Top White Sox prospect rankings preseason 2021, 16-30

Spring training is gearing up, which means it’s time for prospect rankings here at FutureSox. Twice a year our writers work together to produce a ranked list of the top 30 White Sox prospects. We usually use a voting system among the staff, but we altered our process due to the canceled 2020 minor league season. This time a group of writers got together on a Zoom call and hashed it out until we had a top 30 we could stand by.

We release the list in two parts. This is the prospects ranked 16-30. The full list comes out tomorrow. We also have scouting reports on players who just missed the top 30.

ELIGIBILITY: We consider a prospect any player in the White Sox organization who has not yet achieved MLB rookie status. In 2020, there was a wrinkle with a few players graduating via days on an active MLB roster as opposed to playing time (Zack Collins, Codi Heuer and Matt Foster). Since our midseason list Heuer (16), Foster (26) and Luis Robert (1) graduated while Dane Dunning (7) was traded.

16. Jake Burger, 3B (Previous: 19, +3)
  • Drafted 1st Round (11th overall) in 2017

Burger’s return to action was a rare feel-good story in 2020. The 2017 first-round pick first played in a collegiate league that was littered with some minor leaguers for a short period before joining White Sox camp in Schaumburg. He also played in the fall instructional league. Scouts still believe in the bat and noticed his bat speed and power to all fields during instructional league. He may not be able to stick at third base after two major Achilles’ injuries but the White Sox will try him in multiple spots. He’s still got a long way to go, but he’s somewhat back on track. He will turn 25 in April, before the 2021 minor league season is expected to start, and hasn’t played above Low-A. Burger should start the 2021 season with an advanced level affiliate.

17. Bryan Ramos, 3B (Previous: 28, +11)
  • Signed from Cuba in 2018

After an impressive showing in the Arizona League as a 17-year-old in 2019, Ramos impressed scouts watching the fall instructional league. Reviews were positive across the board, which is why he is a big riser on our list. Ramos possesses plus bat speed, strength and raw power that could project out to 20 homers on an annual basis. He has a great feel to hit as a teenager and uses the entire field. His speed is below average, but he has a strong arm at the hot corner. Ramos needs to work on pitch recognition and could ultimately wind up in an outfield corner instead of on the infield dirt but the organization has tinkered with the Cuban infielder at second base as well. He should begin the 2021 season in Low-A with Kannapolis and he’ll play the entire season as a 19-year-old.

18. Zack Burdi, RH RP (Previous: 18)
  • Drafted 1st round (26th overall) in 2016

Burdi is 18 for the third straight list. Burdi made his MLB debut in 2020 and his stuff appears to have returned after multiple significant injuries. His velocity took a while to return, but he is throwing in the upper 90s with his fastball and his slider can hit 91. However, his command is still erratic. It’s not even just command as far as walks (he had three in 7 1/3 innings, which is fine), but command within the strike zone. Burdi left a lot of hittable pitches in the zone and was hammered for it. He gave up four home runs, leading to an 11.05 ERA. Burdi wasn’t a finished product before injury so it’s no surprise he still needs some refinement. He will be in a competition for a bullpen spot with the White Sox and likely reports to Triple-A Charlotte otherwise.

19. Bryce Bush, OF (Previous: 20, +1)
  • Drafted 33rd Round in 2018

Bush brings lighting quick bat speed and a ton of pop in his 6-foot, 200-pound frame. Transitioning from third base to the outfield, Bush battled injuries throughout 2019, but also managed to experience about half a season in Low-A Kannapolis at just 19. In 67 games, Bush hit .201/.285/.346 for the Intimidators. He showed a good walk rate (27 in 288 plate appearances), which is the most encouraging sign considering how young he was for the level. He has a violent swing, which helps his power, but will need to be refined as he moves up the minors. There’s a decent chance Bush will be tested again with an assignment to High-A Winston-Salem this year.

20. Jose Rodriguez, SS (Previous: 29, +9)
  • Signed from Dominican Republic in 2018

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound 19-year-old shortstop had a strong Arizona League debut in 2019. As an 18-year-old, in his first year in the United States, Rodriguez made 200 plate appearances putting up a respectable slash line on .293/.328/,505. Unlike most hitters his age, the shortstop had an impressive 22% strikeout rate and further raised eyebrows by smashing nine home runs. After a year off it’ll be interesting to see if Rodriguez can recapture the momentum of his 2019 campaign. He has power potential at a premium position, even if he may shift to second base down the road. He’s very aggressive at the plate and his first taste of full season ball could be a challenge. Rodriguez likely debuts with Low-A Kannapolis.

21. Benyamin Bailey, OF (Previous: 22, +1)
  • Signed from Panama in 2018

The range of reports on Bailey is wide. That’s what happens with teenagers who haven’t played in the U.S. yet after the 2020 minor league season was canceled. Bailey’s stat line in the DSL is elite for a 17-year-old at the time, but it was still just the DSL. He played in the fall instructional league and received mixed reviews. During batting practice, the Panamanian showed big raw power but he struggled to get to it in instructional league games. Some scouts love his patience and size, projecting more power as he gets older. Some scouts think he isn’t athletic enough and question whether or not he can stay in the outfield. Bailey is one of the biggest boom or bust prospects in the system. He will likely go to full season ball and play for the Cannon Ballers in Low-A.

22. James Beard, OF (Previous: 24, +2)
  • Drafted 4th Round in 2019

Beard was the fastest player available in the 2019 draft out of a small Mississippi high school. The 6-foot center fielder signed for $350,000 and immediately reported to the AZL. The 20-year-old has 80-grade speed and possesses game-changing ability on the bases and in the outfield. He showed a bit more to his game than just speed in the AZL. He has bat speed and hand strength, but is still extremely raw. Beard hadn’t faced a strong level of competition as an amateur. Beard was likely to repeat rookie ball in some capacity in 2020, but it’s not clear if that will still be the plan in 2021.

23. Kade McClure, RH SP (Previous: Unranked)
  • Drafted 6th Round in 2017

The tall right-hander’s fastball reportedly ticked up to the mid 90s at fall instructs. He was typically in the low 90s before, but a velocity increase raised his profile. McClure also has an above-average slider and a decent curveball. He rounds out his repertoire with a splitter. After suffering a major knee injury in 2018, McClure bounced back to make a combined 22 starts between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem in 2019. In 121 2/3 innings he struck out 99 with only 29 walks allowed and a solid 1.225 WHIP. The Louisville product showed enough to earn an invite to 2021 spring training. Multiple teams considered taking McClure in this past December’s Rule 5 draft and he’ll likely begin the 2021 season at an advanced level affiliate.

24. DJ Gladney, 3B (Previous: 25, +1)
  • Drafted 16th Round in 2019

After getting drafted and signing out of high school, Gladney blasted eight home runs in the Arizona League. He hit .264/.309/.428. The local product of Illiana Christian H.S. struck out 82 times in 220 plate appearances, which is a red flag to watch as he develops. Gladney has a projectable 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame with room to grow. Scouts saw him at instructs, but nothing seemed to change from his profile. They still believe in his power while also showing concern about his hit tool. Gladney has also been playing some first base, which could be a ding to his value going forward. It’s unclear whether or not Gladney will report to full season ball or stay in extended to begin his season back in Arizona.

25. Bernardo Flores, LHP (Previous: 27, +2)
  • Drafted 7th Round in 2016

Flores has been a starting pitcher in the minors, but made his MLB debut as a reliever in 2020. That’s partially due to the circumstance of there being no minor league season and him being an extra lefty for the White Sox. However, it could also be a sign of things to come for Flores. Flores is a control pitcher who has never had a K/9 reach 8. His lower three-quarters arm angle could make him an effective lefty reliever. There’s also a spot for guys like that. His ceiling as a starter may not be more than a fifth starter anyway. It’s likely Flores starts for Triple-A Charlotte in 2021, but if he moves to the bullpen at some point, it shouldn’t be a surprise.

26. Tyler Johnson, RH RP (Previous: 23, -3)
  • Drafted 5th Round in 2017

Johnson was with the group in Schaumburg, but didn’t get a shot in the majors in 2020. He has good stuff and minor league production (23 K, 6 BB, 10 H in 18.1 IP for Double-A Birmingham in 2019) on his resume. Johnson is on the 40-man roster so he starts spring training in big league camp. This is a good opportunity for him to show he is worthy of a shot in the majors in 2021. The White Sox have plenty of righty arms in the bullpen though so it may take a couple injuries. Johnson likely reports to Triple-A Charlotte to begin the 2021 season.

27. Yolbert Sanchez, SS (Previous: 17, -10)
  • Signed from Cuba in 2019

Sanchez, the top dollar getter from the 2019 international class, was said to be capable of playing shortstop at the major league level after he signed. The question is if he would be able to hit enough or tap into any power to be considered more than a defensive-minded utility player. Sanchez slashed .297/.386/.441 in the DSL in 2019, albeit against much younger competition. Upon joining the team at instructs this fall, it was said he’d been working on gaining more strength and was noticeably bigger. The reason for his fall in the rankings is that recently scouts weren’t impressed with his conditioning and what he showed with the bat during instructs. The lack of a 2020 minor league season hurt Sanchez, as he’s going into his age 24 season without having played any stateside professional baseball to this point. Sanchez will likely be the primary shortstop at one of the club’s A ball affiliates in 2021.

28. Bailey Horn, LH SP (Previous: Unranked)
  • Drafted 5th Round in 2020

The lefty out of Auburn was drafted in the fifth (and final) round of the 2020 draft, after the White Sox spent pretty much their entire budget on Crochet (slot) and Kelley (well over slot) in the first two rounds. Horn received the third highest bonus amount ($150,000) from the White Sox. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound southpaw was the Sunday starter for the Auburn Tigers in 2020. He posted a 3-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17.1 innings before the college season was shut down. Horn is a strike-thrower with a good slider and fastball, who could be a fast mover in the minors and likely projects as a reliever in the future. The White Sox like Horn’s athleticism, aggressive mentality and fastball carry and he could begin the season in High-A with the Dash.

29. Caleb Freeman, RH RP (Previous: Unranked)
  • Drafted 15th Round in 2019

Freeman had battled with control issues during his draft year while at Texas Tech, but he righted the ship once he joined the White Sox system. The 6-foot-1 righty received a lot of helium with his high strikeout numbers across three different stops in the minor leagues in 2019. He finished the 2019 season with Kannapolis and had 38 strikeouts across 24 2/3 innings, a 2.19 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Freeman has a fastball in the mid to upper 90s, complemented with a slider and curveball. The day of publishing is his 23rd birthday. After pitching in three levels in 2019, it’s reasonable to think Freeman could be a fast mover. Establishing a more consistent routine has helped Freeman rather than bouncing between starting and relief.

30. Chase Krogman, OF (Previous: Unranked)
  • Drafted 34th Round in 2019

Krogman signed out of high school for a $190,000 bonus back in 2019, but only managed to get into seven games with the AZL White Sox due to an injury. In a limited 21 at-bats, he hit .190/.227/.190. He turns 20 later this week and both bats and throws left-handed. Krogman is thought to possess the necessary arm strength to be able to handle right field moving forward. The 5-foot-11 outfielder is noted for his great work ethic, and showed good bat speed and power potential during the 2020 instructs. Additionally, the Missouri high school product is said to have a good understanding of the strike zone when at the plate. Krogman will likely play the entire season at Low-A Kannapolis as a 20-year-old.

Photo credit: Sean Williams/FutureSox

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