1. Colson Montgomery, SS (No change)
- Drafted 1st Round (22nd overall) in 2021
Colson Montgomery has really burst onto the scene. He’s generally been considered to be a top 50 prospect in baseball who is still ascending. The White Sox took the 6-4, 205 pound former multi-sport athlete out of Southridge High School in the first round of the 2021 amateur draft. Montgomery finished his first full season with the group of prospects in Birmingham and he should spend the majority of the 2023 season back there with the Barons.
The 20-year-old has shown advanced plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills as a professional with developing power. The approach at the plate is very polished and his simple swing has been on display. Colson is an average runner and he’s shown to be an instinctual defender with solid footwork, hands and actions at shortstop. The White Sox believe that he will stay at the position while many scouts feel a move to third base will ultimately take shape. His bat will play at either spot however.
Montgomery posted a 125 wRC+ in Winston-Salem after hitting .258/.387/.417 while walking at a 16% clip. Prior to his time in the South Atlantic League, Montgomery played 45 games with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and he posted a 152 wRC+ with five homers and 19 extra base hits.
2. Oscar Colás, OF (No change)
- Signed from Cuba in 2022
Colás looks like the front runner to become the starting right fielder in Chicago this year. The 24-year-old projects as an above average hitter with plus power and while he understands how to take pitches the other way, his pull power early in counts is impressive as well. The 6-1, 225 pounder played lots of center field in his first season stateside but his plus throwing arm and below average speed should slot nicely in an outfield corner.
The Cuban slugger is aggressive at the plate with a disheartening chase rate but he really damages fastballs and mistakes. Colás strikes out too much and doesn’t walk enough but the positives outweigh the negatives in his profile. He signed for $2.7 million out of Cuba last January and played multiple seasons in the NPB after starring in Cuba’s Serie Nacional. Colás should receive upwards of 400 plate appearances with the White Sox in 2023 after accumulating an .895 OPS with 23 homers in his first minor league season last year.
3. Bryan Ramos, 3B/2B (No change)
- Signed from Cuba in 2018
Ramos’ 20 year old season in Winston-Salem got off to a roaring start (1.102 OPS in April) before enduring a rough patch in May (.586 OPS). The Cuban infielder made the necessary adjustments, posting a .773 OPS in June, .853 OPS in July, and .855 in August to wrap up his tenure as a member of the Dash. Playing against competition nearly two and a half years his senior, Ramos walloped 19 home runs, had a 122 wRC+, .821 OPS, .196 ISO, 9.2 BB% and a 16.4 K% before being promoted to take part in Project Birmingham.
As Ramos has been aggressively pushed in the system, the bat continues to respond to each assignment. The hit tool and bat speed allow Ramos to generate above average power from the right side that can be pull-happy at times. Additionally, the approach at the plate has improved as he’s been able to cut down on his chase rate.
A defensive home used to be the biggest question mark for the 20 year old, but improvement at third base has now turned the young Cuban into a viable option at the position moving forward. Ramos’ range, footwork, and arm strength all play at the hot corner. While he may be best suited for third base, the experimentation with him at second base has also yielded positive results, giving way to the belief that he can be at least an average (if not greater) defender at either position in the future.
Ramos is expected to return to Birmingham to begin the 2023 season.
4. Noah Schultz, LHP (Previous: 5, +1)
- Drafted 1st Round (26th overall) in 2022
The 6-9, 220 pound southpaw was the first round selection of the White Sox in last July’s amateur draft. The 19-year-old missed much of the spring and didn’t pitch often for his high school team at Oswego East. Schultz pitched last summer in the Prospect League and posted an 0.93 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 19.1 innings against wooden bat collegians. The White Sox signed the left hander for $2.8 million to keep him from attending Vanderbilt.
Schultz has shown a plus-plus two seam fastball that touched 98 mph this fall during instructional league. The pitch really explodes with run and sink out of a lower slot. He has a high spin slider that reaches 84 mph as well that could be a plus pitch as well. The slider possesses late life and sweeping action but it generally plays up due to the deceptive delivery and sneaky body control that the 19-year-old has. Schultz also has shown a feel to throw strikes. The changeup must improve and he needs to get some innings under his belt in 2023 and it should take place mostly in Low-A with the Cannon Ballers.
5. Lenyn Sosa, SS (Previous: 7, +2)
- Signed from Venezuela in 2016
Sosa is a completely different player after clubbing 24 homers total in 2022 with a cup of coffee in the big leagues as well. The 6-0, 210 pounder posted a 141 wRC+ after slashing .331/.384/.549 in Birmingham in 62 games. The 23-year-old finished the year with 57 games in Charlotte where he posted a 117 wRC+ overall after figuring some things out. His swing can get long at times and while he doesn’t strike out a ton, he doesn’t walk much either.
Sosa was signed for $350K out of Venezuela in 2016 and made his stateside debut the following season. The infielder has added strength and incorporated his lower half more with a swing change where he better utilizes his legs and back hip with less movement in his load. Sosa has improved his bat speed and made more consistent hard contact of late. He has shown all fields power and is an average defender and second and third. The infielder will return to Charlotte for 2023 and serve as immediate infield depth for the White Sox as a member of the 40-man roster.
6. Jose Rodriguez, SS (Previous: 8, +2)
- Signed from the Dominican Republic in 2018
Jose Rodriguez slides in just outside the Top 5 as a new addition to the White Sox 40-man roster. The 21-year-old infielder, who split time between shortstop and second base last year at Double-A Birmingham, possesses average to above-average tools across the board and can impact the game in a variety of ways. Rodriguez, whom the White Sox signed for just $50,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, struggled over the first couple months of the season before he exploded in the back half, which included six homers in his final eight games. A broken hamate bone ended his season prematurely.
April-May — .235/.290/.324, 1 HR, 11 SB, 15.8 K%, 6.0 BB%
June-August — .307/.371/.496, 10 HR, 29 SB, 12.3 K%, 9.0 BB%
Whether Rodriguez sticks at shortstop or moves to second base will be determined by continued improvement to his range and other factors — Colson Montgomery’s timeline and Tim Anderson’s future contract situation.
7. Cristian Mena, RHP (Previous: 6, -1)
- Signed from Dominican Republic in 2019
Cristian Mena opened last season at No. 20 in the FutureSox Top 30 list and became a rapid riser through the system. The 6-foot-2 Dominican right-hander got his first taste of full-season ball at Low-A Kannapolis and excelled from the get-go. He displays solid command of the strike zone and knows how to use his secondary pitches, highlighted by a 60-grade curveball, to keep hitters off-balance. Mena, 20, maintained an 11.1 K/9 rate across 11 starts with the Cannon Ballers before he earned a promotion to Hi-A Winston-Salem in June and a second bump to Double-A Birmingham to close the season. If his mechanics stay in check as he steadily increases velocity, Mena has the chance to blossom into a mid-rotation starter as early as 2025.
8. Peyton Pallette, RHP (Previous 10, +2)
- Drafted 2nd Round in 2022 (62nd overall)
The White Sox successfully floated the Arkansas right hander to their pick at No. 62 in round two of the 2022 draft with a $1.5 million bonus. The 6-foot-1, 180 pounder underwent Tommy John surgery in the early part of 2022 and is continuing to rehab with a target to pitch in 2023. Pallette, who turns 22-years-old in May, was considered among the best arms in his draft class, despite the significant elbow injury.
The righty pitched a total of 61.2 innings at Arkansas. Without a lot of miles on his arm, the White Sox are excited to watch Pallette’s 60-grade fastball that sits in the 93-96 mph range and touches 99 with riding action, as well as his 65-grade hammer curveball against professional hitters. Industry experts project him to be a top-of-the-rotation starter if he reaches his ceiling.
9. Sean Burke, RHP (No change)
- Drafted 3rd Round in 2021
Since he entered the organization, we considered Burke to be a fast riser — specifically if his command and changeup would improve. Well, Burke managed to pitch at Charlotte in his first full professional season as a White Sox starter. Beginning the year in Winston-Salem, Burke ripped through the South Atlantic League in his first six games (five starts) and posted a 2.89 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28.0 innings. The White Sox organization approached the Maryland product aggressively, and promoted him to Birmingham halfway through May. Burke completed double-A with 73 innings pitched.
Burke’s command still eludes him at times, but the 162 strikeouts in 125 career innings show he’s been missing plenty of bats in the process. 2023 offers promise for the 23-year-old, as the White Sox have referred to him as a possible Big League option this year.
10. Norge Vera, RHP (Previous: 4, -6)
- Signed from Cuba in 2021
Cuban right-handed starter Norge Vera has polish, upside and the look that makes him a serious pitching prospect in a White Sox system that is building a strong foundation of arms. Standing at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Vera signed in the same international draft class as prospect Yoelqui Cespedes and has shown flashes of brilliance, but remains a ways from his projected ceiling. The biggest indictment of his first full professional season in 2022 was availability. Vera tossed a 35.1 total innings and reports indicated a drop in fastball velocity late in the year. Assistant general manager Chris Getz called the righty a starter and expects to work as such in 2023.
Scouts credit Vera, who turns 23 in June, for his effortless delivery and a fastball that sits 93-96 while topping out at 100 mph. His fastball graded on the 20-80 scale was listed as 70 grade by multiple outlets. He incorporates a “slurvy” breaking ball that hovers in the upper-70’s has potential to be plus. His changeup/splitter rounds out his pitch-mix to this point of his career in an effort to simplify his repertoire. Innings are the key for Vera and pitching somewhere in 2023 often is more important than where he pitches essentially.
11. Jonathan Cannon, RHP (No change)
- Drafted 3rd Round in 2022 (101st overall)
After being drafted last summer, Cannon joined the ACL White Sox for a brief appearance (one inning pitched) before finishing out the season in Kannapolis (6.1 innings pitched, three appearances). At his best, the 6’6” right hander is an efficient strike-thrower with plus control and a heavy sinking fastball that clocks in between 92-96 mph, an upper 80s cutter that’s considered above average, and a low 80s slider. The Georgia product has also had a four seamer, a sinking change, and a curveball in his repertoire in the past.
The 22-year-old is thought of as more of a “floor over ceiling” type at this point and profiles as a backend starter that could be a quick mover through the system. Cannon will be looking to take the ball every fifth day in either Kannapolis or Winston-Salem to begin the 2023 season.
12. Matthew Thompson, RHP (Previous: 14, +2)
- Drafted 2nd Round in 2019
The White Sox selected Thompson in the second round of the 2019 draft and signed him for $2.1 million out of Cypress, Texas. The righty only threw two professional innings in 2019 and 2020 due to the pandemic outside of pitching at the alternate site. The 6-3, 215 pounder has been lauded as the most athletic pitcher in the system consistently. In 2022, Thompson threw nearly 110 innings and finished the season in Double-A with the Barons. The White Sox believe that Thompson can become a mid-rotation starter.
The 22-year-old has battled his own confidence and maturity at times along with repeating his crossfire delivery. His fastball has been 93-97 mph with carry up in the zone but he’s been more successful at the bottom of the zone. Thompson has shown an above average curveball with 11-5 shape as well. The pitch flashes plus and he throws a slider and a changeup as too. In 25.1 innings in Birmingham, the right hander posted a 4.33 FIP while averaging 11 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. He should return there in 2023.
13. Yoelqui Céspedes, OF (Previous: 15, +2)
- Signed from Cuba in 2021
Yoelqui Céspedes remains one of the more polarizing prospects within the White Sox farm system. The younger brother of former All-Star Yoenis Céspedes spent the full 2022 season at Double-A Birmingham and posted a wRC+ of at least 100 for the second straight year. Although he likely outpaced expectations with 17 homers, nine of which came at the cavernous Regions Field, Céspedes’ impact at the plate is hindered by inconsistency and a free-swinging approach. He struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats last year and did little to make up for it in the walk department. It’s a similar story on the basepaths. Although Céspedes possesses plus speed and recorded 33 stolen bases in 2022, his weighted stolen base runs (wSB) is exactly 0.0 over the course of his time in Double-A. He is heralded as a smooth defender and has an absolute cannon of an arm.
A wide range of possibilities still exist for the talented 25-year-old. There are flashes of an All-Star-caliber right fielder in his profile. However, without a notable adjustment to his discipline at the plate, he could also merely be a fourth outfielder in a defensive and speed-based role.
14. Jared Kelley, RHP (Previous: 16, +2)
- Drafted 2nd Round (57th overall) in 2021
Jared Kelley was a top 20 draft prospect out of Texas’s Refugio High School back in 2020. The White Sox floated the burly right hander to their pick in the second round and paid him $3 million to sign. The 6-3, 235 pound righty has dealt with shoulder fatigue, forearm tightness and conditioning issues over the past two seasons. Kelley possessed the best changeup in the prep class at the time and he’s started to rely on the plus offering more often.
Kelley is still just 21-years-old and he threw 76.2 innings and posted a 3.52 ERA in 2022. He walks too many hitters, doesn’t get enough strikeouts and struggles to repeat his delivery at times. The right hander has used his two seam fastball that touches 98 mph and also elevates a four seamer up in the zone. He’s shown a fringy slider that needs improvement as well. He should return to Double-A in 2023 to pitch for the Barons.
15. Kohl Simas, RHP (Previous: 20, +5)
- Signed undrafted in 2021
Simas (SEE-miss) was an undrafted $20,000 free agent signing following the 2021 draft. After his time as a relief pitcher at San Diego State, Simas appeared in 10 games out of the bullpen for Low-A Kannapolis in 2021 and ended the year with a 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 23 strikeouts across 18 innings. He followed a strong debut season with a commitment to starting in 2022. Across 16 appearances (15 starts) in low-A Kannapolis, Simas allowed 51 hits in 61.2 innings while striking out 76 and walking 25.
The 23-year-old has turned heads in the White Sox organization due to his four-pitch mix, which includes a 55-graded fastball, slider and curveball. The fastball jumps out of his hand, topping out at 96 mph with arm-side run. The slider sweeps in the low-80’s and his upper-70’s curveball works straight downward. Simas was among the group who participated in ‘Project Birmingham’ and threw 6.1 innings out of the double-A bullpen.
16. Wes Kath, 3B (Previous: 17, +1)
- Drafted 2nd Round (57th overall) in 2021
The White Sox selected Wes Kath in the second round of the 2021 draft and paid him $1.8 million out of Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 6-3, 215 pounder has an easy left-handed swing and a mature approach at the dish. He has shown big strength and significant pull side power despite a swing that can get too long at times. The infielder must improve his pitch recognition and cut down on the strikeouts but he did post a 13.4% walk rate in A ball.
Kath hit .238/.343/.397 with a 109 wRC+ in Low-A and he really turned it on in August. He hit six of his 13 homers in that month while slashing .263/.382/.544. He struggled mightily against lefties and struck out 33% of the time. More quickness and range might be essential but he has a plus arm and should be fine defensively at third base. The 20-year-old struggled statistically during his appearance with Project Birmingham and he should spend the 2023 season in Winston-Salem with the Dash.
17. Ryan Burrowes, SS (Previous: 30, +13)
- Signed from Panama in 2022
Burrowes was the most interesting player on the White Sox’s club in the Dominican Summer League in 2022 after signing for $70K out of Panama last January. The 6-3, 170 pound shortstop is a wiry athlete who plays with tons of energy. The teenager has shown an ability to manage the strike zone with an upright and balanced swing. He lacks strength currently but he could provide 20 homer power annually once it develops further.
The 18-year-old skipped instructional league while returning home to graduate from high school in Panama. Burrowes is a plus runner with an above-average arm and he was 12 for 12 in stolen bases during DSL action. He hit .266/.393/.392 with a 12.8% walk rate while posting a 120 wRC+ with high exit velocity readings. The infielder could start in extended spring but making a full season debut in 2023 could be in the cards as well.
18. Jordan Sprinkle, SS (Previous: 25, +7)
- Drafted in the 4th round in 2022
Heading into the season as a possible day one talent, the UC Santa Barbara product followed up a .353/.402/.536 season in 2021 with a .285/.381/.416 line, sliding to the White Sox in the fourth round. Considered to be one of, if not the best defensive shortstops in his class in the collegiate ranks (per MLB Pipeline), Sprinkle is a plus defender at short with above average-to-plus arm strength, good instincts, range, and hands.
After being drafted, the former collegiate-national team member did appear in 27 pro games, five with the ACL club and 22 with Kannapolis (where he did hit one home run and steal eight bases). The point of emphasis for Sprinkle and the development staff is righting the soon to be 22 year old’s approach at the plate. Sprinkle is a plus runner and utilizes a quick swing from the right side at the plate, but his power dissipated in his draft year. The progression at the plate will determine if the former Guacho has an utility-only upside or something greater moving forward.
19. Tanner McDougal, RHP (No change)
- Drafted 5th Round in 2021
The 19-year-old McDougal really popped up late in the process prior to the 2021 draft when he excelled at the inaugural draft combine after producing some of the best pitch metrics in the prep class. The White Sox signed him for $850K out of a Las Vegas area high school and the righty threw in six Arizona League games before undergoing Tommy John Surgery. He has really good stuff and could become a mid-rotation starter.
The 6-5, 230 pounder is back on the mound and ready to contribute in 2023. McDougal’s fastball was up to 96 mph this fall and he still shows an upper 70’s curveball with spin and depth that could be plus in the future. He needs to improve his changeup however. After some work with White Sox instructors, his delivery looks more smooth with less head whack at finish. McDougal should make his full season debut with the Cannon Ballers in Low-A.
20. Wilfred Veras, 1B/3B (New)
- Signed from Dominican Republic in 2019
The 6-2, 210 pounder has shown massive power potential in the low minors. Veras is the cousin of Fernando Tatis Jr. and he signed for $200K with the White Sox in the international market. The 20-year-old Dominican has recently moved to the outfield and it should help his standing as a prospect. He came up as a third basemen and was trending toward first so outfield utility would be positive.
Veras has been known to struggle with his swing path and approach at the dish. He really smashes fastballs but struggles with breaking balls. He’s a below average runner as well. As a member of Project Birmingham, Veras posted a 116 wRC+ and thrived in that environment. He also hit 20 homers at two stops total last year. He should report to Double-A to play with the Barons.
21. Loidel Chapelli, 2B/OF (Previous: 29, +8)
- Signed from Cuba in 2022
Signed as a late addition to the 2022 international class, Chapelli was assigned to the DSL and did was he was supposed to by dominating the league (.344/.448/.636, 1.084 OPS) while playing against competition that was (on average) about 2 years younger. Chapelli displays a good understanding at the plate with hard contact from the left side and surprising power for his 5’8” frame. Defensively, the 21-year-old was primarily an outfielder in Cuba but has made the transition to second base in the DSL and has an opportunity to stick there, possessing average speed and arm strength in tandem with quick hands. The 2023 season will be a much better gauge on Chapelli’s abilities and outlook moving forward as he’ll head stateside and play against age appropriate competition.
22. Erick Hernandez, OF (Previous: 27, +5)
- Signed from the Dominican Republic in 2022
A rare teenage international signing out of the Dominican Republic for the White Sox, the club also ponies up $1 million to sign now 18-year-old Erick Hernandez in 2021. The 6-0 170 pound outfielder struggled with a knee injury in 2022 but still walked at a 10% rate in the Dominican Summer League. Hernandez hits lefty and throws with his left arm well and he was healthy during stateside instructional league.
This Dominican teenager usually has solid plate appearances with a good grasp of the strike zone and feel to hit. Hernández shows and all fields approach with the ability to barrel the baseball. More power should be on display in the future when strength is added. He’s a high energy player who has good instincts in center field but likely moves to a corner. It’s still a hit over power profile however and he’s expected to start his professional career stateside in Arizona.
23. Tyler Schweitzer, LHP (New)
- Drafted 5th round in 2022
The 22-year-old southpaw signed for $325K after being selected in the fifth round out of Ball State in 2022. He’s a 6-0, 185 pounder who was named Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year as a junior after converting to the rotation from relief. Schweitzer was noted to have a low 90’s fastball that missed bats up in the zone with high spin rates and vertical movement. He has shown three average secondary pitches as well and the slider and curveball have both flashed plus at times.
The lefty really improved his command and control in college and projects as a back end starter in the big leagues. Schweitzer posted a 2.65 ERA in 17 starts with Ball State and posited a nearly 30% strikeout rate. Pitchability will carry his profile but he did touch 96 mph with life and spin up in the zone during instructional league outings this past fall. He’ll pitch for one of the White Sox’s A ball affiliates in 2023.
24. Luis Mieses, 1B/OF, (Previous: 22, -2)
- Signed Dominican Republic in 2016
Luis Mieses, a 22-year-old outfielder, has been a model of consistency within the lower levels of the minors leagues over the past two years.
2021 (Low-A & HI-A) — .775 OPS, 5.2 BB%, 104 wRC+
2022 (Hi-A & Double-A) — .772 OPS, 5.1 BB%, 107 wRC+
The 6-foot-3 Dominican does not possess seismic in-game power, but his smooth swing from the left side of the plate should allow him to become a gap hitter at the Major League level. Mieses can handle a glove in the outfield and features a strong arm, but does not cover much ground and is limited to a corner spot. He earned a cup of coffee (23 games) with Double-A Birmingham last season, but a full campaign at a pitcher-friendly Regions Field will dictate his ETA to Chicago. The White Sox list Mieses as an infielder as Spring Training begins, which suggests he’ll be playing some first base. He’s added size over the last two seasons and projects for more power in 2023.
25. Jonathan Stiever, RHP (Previous: 23, -2)
- Drafted 5th Round in 2018
2022 was a tough year for the 6-2, 220 right hander as he spent most of it rehabbing from a torn lat muscle. He closed the season with three appearances in Triple-A and he likely returns to the Charlotte Knights for 2023. The role he will play is seemingly undetermined at this stage however. He’s always been a starting pitcher but a transition to relief could allow his fastball and slider combination to really play up.
The former Indiana Hoosier has possessed a mid 90’s fastball with an improving slider and he hasn’t had much interest repeating his delivery as a professional. The 25-year-old has struggled in his three big league appearances so far with the White Sox but he’s a member of the 40-man roster and should serve as some form of immediate pitching depth for the Pale Hose this season.
26. Yolbert Sanchez, 2B/SS (Previous: 18, -8)
- Signed from Cuba in 2019
The White Sox know what they have in Yolbert Sanchez. He’ll deliver solid contact, limited power, mediocre speed and an above-average glove. Likely a utility infielder at the next level, the 25-year-old Cuban saw time at second base (78 games), shortstop (40 games) and third base (7 games) last season. Fitting with the calendar year, Sanchez reached base in 22 consecutive games to begin the ‘22 campaign and quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte in the midst of doing so. His best-case scenario is a 2021 version of current Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez — .300/.365/.378, 2 HR, 43 RBI, 22 SB, 5 DRS.
27. Gregory Santos, RHP (New)
- Signed Dominican Republic by the Boston Red Sox in 2015
Santos is a 23-year-old right hander who the White Sox acquired in a trade from the San Francisco Giants this off-season. The 6-2, 190 pound hurler possesses a 70-grade fastball and slider and his stuff has ticked up since moving to the bullpen full time. The plus-plus fastball regularly hits triple digits now and the slider sits 88-90 mph as well with lofty spin rates.
Santos served a PED suspension in 2021 and has always struggled with control and command of his offerings. He posted a 4.91 ERA in Triple-A last year and walked too many hitters. Santos tallied a 42% strikeout rate with his slider but the overall strikeout totals haven’t matched his stuff so far. The righty threw 5.2 innings in the big leagues last year and should have an opportunity for the White Sox in that regard as well. He likely begins the year throwing high leverage relief innings for the Charlotte Knights.
28. Franklin German, RHP (New)
- Drafted 4th Round in 2018 by the New York Yankees
German was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox after being named their 2022 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Acquired for Theo Denlinger from Boston in early February, the 25 year old righty held a 2.72 ERA across 49.2 innings between AA and AAA with a 32.5 K%, 9.6 BB%, 0.91 WHIP, and seven saves. While the former fourth rounder struggled mightily in four innings (five appearances) with the Red Sox in 2022, he does possess a plus-plus fastball that touches 96-99 mph. German also throws a low 80s slider with depth and a mid 80s splitter against lefties that, when they’re at their best, can be above average offerings. German is expected to compete for a potential bullpen spot with the White Sox this spring, but does have three options remaining.
29. Andrew Dalquist, RHP (Previous: 26, -3)
- Drafted in the 3rd Round in 2019
Professional baseball has been tough on Andrew Dalquist since signing for $2 million as a California prep in 2019. The 22-year-old only threw three innings total in his first two seasons due to the pandemic and a groove hasn’t really been found since. The 6-1, 175 pounder profiled as a polish over stuff guy with a four pitch mix but it hasn’t all translated to date.
The righty has added some extension to his delivery and his fastball velocity now sits 92-95 mph with a low 80’s slider as his best secondary offering. Dalquist throws a curveball and a changeup as well but the command of the fastball has been the big issue and the struggles haven’t allowed the rest of the profile to play quite yet. In 2022, the right hander posted a 6.95 ERA in 90.2 innings in High-A where he didn’t strike out enough hitters and walked too many. He closed out 2022 with the best start of his career in Double-A where he should return this season.
30. Terrell Tatum, OF (New)
- Drafted in the 16th Round in 2021
The White Sox liked Tatum’s tools and athleticism when they decided to select him in the 16th round of the 2021 draft out of North Carolina State. The 6-0, 172 pounder was great in 22 games in the Arizona Complex League in his professional debut and he was stellar in 36 plate appearances in Low-A as well. Tatum missed most of the 2022 season after being suspended for 50 games after testing positive for amphetamines. He also got hurt after he returned.
The 23-year-old ultimately played in 32 games in 2022 with the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A where he posted a 119 wRC+ after slashing .255/.371/.418 with three homers. Tatum walked at a 15% clip but struck out nearly 30% of the time as well. Speed and defense are his standout tools but his above average bat speed should lead to average power. The speed has helped him become an above average defender but the throwing arm is below average. Tatum needs to put more balls in play but should be given that opportunity at Double-A with the Barons in 2023.