It’s rankings week at FutureSox! We started with the Just Missed list to kick off the week. Prospects ranked 1-30 are out as well.
In addition to our regular content, some of our writers who participated in ranking the prospects (James Fox, Mike Rankin, Dan Santaromita, Steve Hasman, Sean Williams and Jasper Roos) will each release their individual top 30 lists to Patrons throughout the week! This is the fourth edition.
- 1. Andrew Vaughn 1B
- 2. Michael Kopech RHP
- 3. Nick Madrigal 2B
- 4. Garrett Crochet LHP
- 5. Jared Kelley RHP
Vaughn is the consensus top prospect in the system at this point and his combination of bat to ball skills, power and patience leaves him as the front runner to handle designated hitter duties in Chicago. He’s a top 25 prospect in the sport and that’s high praise for a right/right profile as a first baseman. The third overall pick in 2019 can really hit and White Sox fans will find out in short order.
Kopech has returned after opting out in 2020 and still possesses the premium stuff and lofty promise that he’s always had. The big righty will be on a strict innings limit this year and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the majority of those innings are thrown in the big leagues.
Crochet debuted in the big leagues in 2020 after being selected 11th overall out of the University of Tennessee. The southpaw was stellar out of the bullpen and he likely remains in that role this year despite the organization’s insistence on his future in a starting rotation. Crochet possesses more upside than Nick Madrigal but I ranked the infielder higher on my personal list mostly due to safety. Madrigal is a low ceiling player but he’s a definite big leaguer and that matters. He will sport high batting averages while playing above average defense at second base and running well. All four of these players will contribute to the White Sox in 2021.
Kelley has a chance to be the No. 1 prospect in this farm system when we compile these rankings again at midseason. Kelley was a top 25 draft prospect last year and the White Sox landed him in the second round for $3 million. He is your typical Texas prep righty with a now body and power stuff. The righty has plus command to go with a plus fastball and a plus plus changeup. The breaking ball development will determine how good he can become and he fits firmly on this list at No. 5.
- 6. Matthew Thompson RHP
- 7. Jonathan Stiever RHP
- 8. Andrew Dalquist RHP
- 9. Norge Vera RHP
- 10. Yoelqui Cespedes OF
Prospects 6-9 on the list are all right-handed pitchers with some high upside. Two of them were recent draft picks out of the prep ranks. Stiever was a former fifth rounder out of Indiana University and Vera was the top pitcher in this year’s international class. Thompson has taken big steps developmentally since being selected in the second round back in 2019. He’s the most athletic pitcher in the system and the 20-year-old shows multiple plus pitches with a fastball in the mid 90s. Stiever broke out in 2019 which led to a cup of coffee in the majors in 2020. The former fifth rounder struggled in two appearances and he should return to minors to further shape his development this summer.
Similar to Kelley and Thompson, Dalquist signed out of high school for an over-slot bonus. He doesn’t possess the upside of the other two but his floor is higher. The righty had made the necessary strength gains and he possesses four quality offerings. He should join the rotation in Kannapolis. Vera’s destination is a question mark. He still hasn’t officially signed with the White Sox but indications have been that it should become official any day. Vera has bloodlines, projection and and athletic frame and has touched 97 mph consistently in recent months. He should be pitching at a stateside affiliate as well.
Cespedes signed with the White Sox for $2.05 million in this year’s international class. Cespedes needs to play baseball games. Many of the most recent scouting looks were negative, but the White Sox believe in the bat to go along with plus defense, ability in center field and a plus arm. The outfielder has a questionable hit tool but added strength should help his power output if he can make more contact. The high profile signing should begin 2021 at an advanced level affiliate.
- 11. Luis Gonzalez OF
- 12. Gavin Sheets 1B/OF
- 13. Jake Burger 3B
- 14. Micker Adolfo OF
- 15. Jimmy Lambert RHP
The 11-15 group is definitely a tier of players. Gonzalez gets the nod for me because of his ability to hit from the left side and play center field. He’s likely a fourth outfielder on this White Sox team but he could have value to a rebuilding club looking for cheap outfield depth.
Sheets was the drafted in the second round in 2017 out of Wake Forest but his profile has significantly improved since then. The lefty slugger is now working in the outfield corners in addition to first base and it increases his chances of playing in the big leagues. He likely begins the year in Triple-A.
The first rounder from 2017 is Jake Burger and he’s also participating in big league spring training. Burger is in great shape and can still really hit. He’s on the 40-man roster and he’ll likely head to an advanced level affiliate. He could make the biggest leap from where he is now to the midseason list.
Adolfo is hanging on and he was granted another minor league option which helps his standing in the organization. The outfielder still has an 80-grade throwing arm and plus-plus power but contact issues persist for the big Dominican. Lambert pitched out of the Sox bullpen in 2020 but suffered a forearm injury due to the ramp up. He’s in a battle for a rotation spot but should pitch in the Charlotte rotation.
- 16. Bryan Ramos 3B
- 17. Bryce Bush OF
- 18. Blake Rutherford OF
- 19. Jose Rodriguez INF
- 20. Zack Burdi RHP
Ramos will play the entirety of the 2021 season as a 19-year-old likely reporting to Low-A Kannapolis. The Cuban infielder drew positive reviews from scouts in instructs and he’s a name to watch going forward.
Bush is still just 20 years old and while he struggled in Low-A in his first full season, the bat speed and immense power potential is still in play. He’s now in the outfield full time and can just worry about swinging the bat.
Rutherford will be in Triple-A but he really needs to turn his strength gains into game power. He’s a likely left fielder so he will need to hit for more power to reach his big league ceiling.
Rodriguez is another young Dominican who has done nothing but hit since signing. His approach is very aggressive and he’s likely destined for second base, but the power is real and he’ll be at a full season affiliate to start the year.
Burdi got a taste of the big leagues in 2020 and he was roughed up in the show. He’s finally healthy, however, and his premium stuff has returned. He’s still on my list due to that premium stuff that plays in a high leverage role if the command can be ironed out further.
- 21. James Beard OF
- 22. Benyamin Bailey OF
- 23. Kade McClure RHP
- 24. Yolbert Sanchez SS
- 25. DJ Gladney 3B
Beard and Gladney are recent prep draft picks and Bailey and Sanchez were international signings. Beard is a solid defender in center field with 80-grade run times and bat speed. The former fourth-rounder was raw coming out of a Mississippi High School and he’ll likely return to the AZL.
Bailey is a 19-year-old Panamanian who will get his first dose of affiliated ball in full season. Bailey has big raw power and elite plate patience but he’s big and may end up in an outfield corner or first base.
Sanchez was given $2.5 million after defecting from Cuba and was billed as a Gold Glove caliber defender at shortstop. The instructs reports weren’t glowing but he still projects as a defensive minded utility player and he could move quickly through the system.
Gladney has big raw power and it was on display in Arizona during his initial foray as a professional. The former 16th rounder could report to Kannapolis and he’ll need to get his strikeout rate in order to stay there. McClure appears on my list for the first time. The 6-foot-7 right-hander worked hard and his stuff has ticked up. He’s in big league spring training and he has a legitimate chance to debut in Chicago in 2021.
- 26. Tyler Johnson RHP
- 27. Lenyn Sosa SS
- 28. Caleb Freeman RHP
- 29. Chase Krogman OF
- 30. Cabera Weaver OF
Johnson was selected out of South Carolina in the fifth round back in 2017 and he’s a member of the 40-man roster. He’s not likely to start the season in Chicago but he could get high leverage work in Charlotte. He projects as a possible seventh inning relief arm in the majors and he could receive an opportunity soon.
Sosa is still only 21 years old and he’s held his own at stateside affiliates. The shortstop struggled in Kannapolis in 2019 but he’ll likely head to Winston-Salem any way. He needs to hit because moving off of shortstop is a definite possibility.
Freeman is a sleeper in this system that was drafted in the 15th round back in 2019 out of Texas Tech. He was a below average starter and his stuff has been stellar in relief. Nick Hostetler spoke glowingly of Freeman in the same manner that he did in regards to Codi Heuer the previous year and it’s significant.
Krogman and Weaver were both prep selections in recent years. Krogman was a 33rd rounder and profiles as a corner outfielder with some pop. Weaver is a definite center fielder with speed and some power but the hit tool has questions and he needs to keep adding strength.