After the absence of a minor league season in 2020, 2021 saw minor league baseball return to action, albeit with some restructuring from the way things used to operate. The short season Advanced Rookie Ball was done away with (Great Falls in the case of the White Sox), so some prospects were given more aggressive assignments than they may have previously received under the old structure. All in all, it was great to see the minors return as we start to move forward with what is now the new normal for minor league baseball.
With our 2022 preseason prospect rankings on the horizon, we are kicking off with position-by-position breakdowns of White Sox prospects. Here’s a look at the top five middle infielders in the White Sox organization heading into the 2022 season:
1. Colson Montgomery — Ranked No. 1 overall. Last level: Arizona (R)
Colson Montgomery checking in at the top spot among the middle infielders shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone following the White Sox system. Montgomery, a three sport start at Southridge High School in Indiana, became the first high school first round pick for the White Sox since 2012.
Montgomery had a strong senior season, batting .333 with 42 runs scored, seven home runs, with 23 RBI that ended in taking home the 3A state championship. Standing at 6’4”, 205 lbs, the White Sox signed the left handed batting shortstop to the full slot value ($3.03M).
After signing, the 19 year old reported to the newly re-branded Arizona Complex League (ACL) and had a solid showing in his debut to the system. Through 26 games and 94 at bats, Montgomery slashed .287/.396/.362 for a 758 OPS, 16 runs scored, 27 hits, seven doubles, seven RBI, and had 13 walks to 22 strikeouts.
Montgomery shows the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the field with a smooth swing and the potential for above average power while being at least an average hitter. He’s displayed a good eye at the plate and will take his walks, although he does have some swing and miss in his game. Despite being a taller shortstop, Montgomery’s an average runner with an above-average arm, and also has sound movements and instincts on the field to give him the tools to potentially stick at shortstop.
Going into his age 20 season, Montgomery should make the jump to full season Kannapolis.
2. Jose Rodriguez — Ranked No. 10 overall. Last level: Birmingham (AA)
As Jose Rodriguez continues to hit at each stop he makes in the minors, he continues to rise up prospect ranks and lists, checking in at the number two spot on our list. Rodriguez started the year as a 19 year old (turned 20 a couple weeks into the season) playing in Low-A Kannapolis and showed up well in an aggressive assignment. In 336 at bats, the 2018 international signing slashed .283/.328/.452 for a 780 OPS with nine home runs, 22 doubles, four triples, 32 RBI, 20 stolen bases (caught stealing five times), 21 walks to 57 strikeouts, and 58 runs scored in 78 games.
The White Sox felt that the Dominican shortstop was ready for another challenge by promoting him to High-A Winston Salem in early August. Once Rodriguez arrived in Winston-Salem he turned into a hitting machine for the Dash. In 119 at bats, he slashed .361/.381/.538 for a 919 OPS, five home runs, four doubles, one triple, 19 RBI, 10 stolen bases (caught stealing five times), five walks to 13 strikeouts, and had 19 runs scored in 29 games.
After his fantastic High-A performance, Rodriguez received another promotion in the last week of the season to AA where he played in the team’s final four games (14 at bats) before Birmingham ultimately missed the playoffs. Rodriguez also got the call to participate in the Arizona Fall League for the White Sox.
As evidenced by the above paragraphs, the key cog that’s been driving the 5’11”, 175 lb shortstop’s ascension has been his hit tool. The young shortstop is known for an aggressive approach at the plate, but has kept the strikeouts at bay with his knack for making adjustments and contact. Rodriguez isn’t a power hitter by trade, but has shown the ability to drive the ball with the potential for double-digit home runs as he progresses.
While he doesn’t necessarily have one exceptional tool, he shows (at least) average tools across the board. Defensively, it’s believed that he’ll be able to stick at shortstop as he shows good instincts and footwork on the dirt. After a very brief cup of coffee, Rodriguez should open 2022 with AA Birmingham.
3. Romy Gonzalez — Ranked No. 16 overall. Last level: White Sox
Of all White Sox prospects, Romy Gonzalez may have had the best offensive performance of 2021, or the biggest surprise performance, or the biggest breakout, or quite possibly all of the above? After a solid performance in his draft year, the former 2018 18th round pick was coming off a subpar showing in Low-A Kannapolis in 2019 and a lost season in 2020. Gonzalez got his body into shape in preparation for 2021 and his hard work paid dividends.
The Miami product was assigned to AA Birmingham to begin the 2021 season and was tasked with playing shortstop after mainly handling outfield duties in his professional career. The move to the infield dirt didn’t seem to bother Gonzalez offensively, as he started out hot and through 303 at bats, slashed .267/.355/.502 for an 856 OPS, 20 home runs, 11 doubles, 47 RBI, 21 stolen bases (caught stealing six times), 38 walks to 97 strikeouts, and had 52 runs scored in 78 games.
The performance of the 6’1”, 215 lb Gonzalez in AA (and at the cavernous Regions Field) garnered enough attention to earn a promotion to AAA Charlotte in late August, where swinging a hot bat continued for the Knights. Through two separate stints for the Knights and 54 at bats (Gonzalez earned a promotion to the White Sox for a few weeks in September where he received 32 at bats across 10 games), the now 25 year old slashed .370/.417/.704 for a 1.120 OPS, four home runs, six doubles, 14 RBI, three stolen bases (wasn’t caught stealing), five walks to 15 strikeouts, and scored nine runs through 15 games.
The calling card for Gonzalez is his plus power, as that was on display in 2021. He can spray the ball to all parts of the field while displaying solid bat speed and strength at the dish. He does have a more aggressive approach at the plate which has led to some swing and miss in his game, although he has a good enough eye at the plate to help make up for that.
While he began focusing on shortstop during 2019 instructs and had to wait until 2021 to play the position during regular season games, it’s believed he could be average at the position. He could use more seasoning given the lack of experience, and a true defensive home is the main question for the former Hurricane. He has average arm strength and has played every outfield and infield position during his time in the minors, and when paired with his offensive ability, makes him a valuable utility type player in the least as he most likely opens 2022 with AAA Charlotte.
4. Yolbert Sanchez — Ranked No. 17 overall. Last level: Birmingham (AA)
Yolbert Sanchez was the second rated middle infield prospect at this point last year, and going into 2022 he’s dropped two spots. He didn’t drop due to poor performance, it’s more so other prospects in an intriguing middle infield group excelling (or being drafted in Colson Montgomery’s case) that caused the slip.
After receiving the highest bonus amount of any White Sox signee in the 2019 international class and spending that season in the DSL, Sanchez had to wait until 2021 to make his stateside regular season debut due to the lost 2020 season. The Cuban product debuted with High-A Winston-Salem in 2021 and his offensive numbers fell in line with what was touted when he signed: contact ability with questions about his power. Through 217 at bats with the Dash, the 24 year old slashed .286/.340/.387 for a 728 OPS, five home runs, seven doubles, 29 RBI, two stolen bases (caught stealing once), 18 walks to 33 strikeouts, and had 28 runs scored in 60 games.
Despite the modest offensive numbers in High-A, Sanchez was promoted to AA Birmingham in late July. The young middle infielder rose to the occasion as something seemed to click offensively upon his promotion. Through 143 at bats for the Barons, the Havana native hit .343/.369/.469 for an 838 OPS, four home runs, six doubles, 13 RBI, three stolen bases (wasn’t caught stealing), five walks to 16 strikeouts, and had 15 runs scored in 39 games. Sanchez was also a participant in the Arizona Fall League, where he saw limited action (12 games, 35 at bats) but had a .400/.533/.514 slash line (1.048 OPS) with one home run, one double, eight RBI, and 10 walks to two strikeouts.
When the 5’11, 176 lb Cuban was initially signed back in 2019, his defense at shortstop was touted as nearly being major league caliber. However, it was reported after 2020 instructs that his conditioning had suffered during the pandemic and he didn’t look quite as rangy at shortstop as previously advertised. Throughout the 2021 season, the Cuban split time between second base and shortstop, logging the majority of his appearances at second between between both Winston-Salem and Birmingham.
Despite all of that, the defensive prowess is still his calling card, as his sound movements, fielding ability, and strong arm would allow him play anywhere on the diamond if called upon. While a return to AA Birmingham may be conservative given his age and relative baseball experience, Sanchez could very well be in line to make his 2022 debut for AAA Charlotte to maximize his playing time.
5. Wilber Sanchez — Ranked No. 29 overall. Last level: Kannapolis (A-)
Wilber Sanchez, another newcomer to the list, rounds out the top five middle infield prospects. Sanchez, a shortstop by trade, was a member of the 2019 international signing class out of Venezuela. A solid showing in his debut season in the DSL saw the then 17 year old receive 177 at bats with a 787 OPS and nearly a 1:1 walk to strikeout rate across 52 games.
Sanchez, now 19 years old, made his stateside debut in 2021 for the ACL White Sox and through 78 at bats had average, yet unspectacular numbers at the plate. The Venezuelan slashed .269/.313/.385 for a 698 OPS, two home runs, three doubles, eight RBI, six stolen bases (wasn’t caught stealing), five walks to 23 strikeouts, and had 10 runs scored in 19 games. Keeping up with the trend of middle infield promotions, Sanchez was called upon to make his Low-A Kannapolis debut in early August.
Sanchez struggled offensively in his first taste of Low-A, but Kannapolis was an aggressive assignment for the the young man after a brief stint in the ACL. Through 115 Low-A at bats, the 19 year old hit .200/.254/.339 for a 593 OPS, four home runs, two doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, 11 stolen bases (was caught stealing once), seven walks to 55 strikeouts, and had 12 runs scored in 34 games.
Sanchez is said to have good bat to ball skills and the ability to stick at shortstop, as he’s currently a strong defender at the position and logged the majority of his 2021 appearances there. How much Sanchez progresses with the bat however likely determines if his future outlook is more than a defensive minded infielder. The 5’10”, 160 lb Venezuelan seems likely to repeat Kannapolis to begin 2022.
Just Missed: Lenyn Sosa — Unranked. Last level: Birmingham (AA)
Lenyn Sosa checks in at the just missed portion of the list. The 2016 international signing may seem like he’s been around for quite a bit, but is only 21 years old (turns 22 later this month). Sosa has been aggressively pushed during his tenure in the White Sox system, when he skipped the DSL entirely in 2017 and played stateside.
Sosa began 2021 season with High-A Winston Salem and put up some nice numbers for the Dash. In 334 at bats, the Venezuelan shortstop slashed .290/.321/.443 for a 764 OPS, 10 home runs, 19 doubles, one triple, 49 RBI, three stolen bases (was caught stealing four times), 14 walks to 77 strikeouts, and had 45 runs scored in 82 games. The White Sox liked what they saw out of the 21 year old and promoted him to AA Birmingham in early August.
Facing stiffer competition, Sosa’s offensive numbers tailed off from his time in Winston-Salem. In 117 at bats with the Barons he hit .214/.240/.282 for a 522 OPS, one home run, five doubles, seven RBI, no stolen bases (was caught stealing once), two walks to 28 strikeouts, and had 10 runs scored in 33 games.
The 6′, 180 lb Venezuelan shows a good ability to hit for contact and started tapping into some of his power potential this year. Plate discipline could still use some fine tuning, his simple swing should allow him to hit for average at the very least. Defensively, Sosa played the majority of his games at shortstop in 2021 and has average to above average hands and a strong arm, with the White Sox believing he’ll be able to stick at shortstop despite him being a below average runner.
Photo Credit: Sean Williams/FutureSox
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Glad to read something new. I expect big things from Yolbert Sanchez. I would put his floor at Leury Garcia.
Happy New Year FutureSox! Thanks for all the coverage