The Chicago White Sox have improved their farm system considerably in the past year. 16 of the top 30 players on our new list have been acquired in some form by the organization since July. There is some serious upside at the top of the system but the depth is much improved as well. The organization went from a bottom five unit to a middle of the pack operation pretty quickly.
Matthew Thompson was traded to the Chicago Cubs recently, catcher Korey Lee graduated from rookie status and right-handed starter Cristian Mena was traded as well. All of those players were highlighted on our mid-season top 30 list from 2023.
That brings us to this list: 20 players who didn’t make our list this time around but who our writers all discussed and considered in some fashion. Check out our last version of the just missed group from mid-season 2023.
These are prospects on the cusp of the radar and history suggests that some will contribute value of sorts down the line.
Note: players are listed in alphabetical order
Eric Adler, right-handed pitcher
Adler is one of the best relief pitching prospects in the system and likely would’ve cracked the top 30 if it weren’t for the new additions. The White Sox selected the righty out of Wake Forest in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. He displays a 98 mph plus fastball with carry and a breaking ball featuring depth and slider velocity. In 11.1 innings to start the 2023 season, Adler posted a 3.18 ERA while averaging 15 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9 with the Cannon Ballers in Low-A. With Winston-Salem in High-A, the righty posted a 2.70 ERA but the strikeouts have decreased while the walk rate remains similar. The 23-year-old has the potential for three plus pitches in a back end relief role. He has struggled to throw strikes consistently throughout his career, however.
Brooks Baldwin, infield
23-year-old Brooks Baldwin is a newcomer to this list after making the mid-season top 30 last time around. He didn’t do anything wrong over the winter but the move is evidence of the system improving. Drafted by the White Sox out of UNC Wilmington as a third baseman, Baldwin began his first full season with Kannapolis where he typically manned the hot corner, but did see some action around the infield as well as making some appearances in the outfield. Baldwin put up respectable numbers across 67 games for The Ballers, with a .783 OPS, 10 home runs, and 26 extra base hits (13 doubles, three triples) with a 12.0 BB% and a 21.6 K% while posting a 120 wRC+.
Baldwin was promoted to High-A Winston-Salem on August 8 and was given the task to become the squad’s starting shortstop. In 26 games with High-A Winston-Salem, the switch-hitter excelled with the bat, producing a .327/.375/.495 slash line, an .870 OPS, four home runs, a 7.7 BB% with a 19.2 K% while posting a 136 wRC+. While not necessarily a burner on the base paths, Baldwin has also stolen 21 of 26 bases between both levels (nearly 81% success rate), while being a perfect 7-for-7 thus far in Winston-Salem. He looks like a future utility man and he hit 15 minor league homers in 2023. He could return to High-A but likely spends the majority of the season with Birmingham in Double-A.
Loidel Chapellí, infield
After playing some outfield in Cuba, Chapellí has moved to second base full time as a prospect in the White Sox’s system. The organization signed him for $500K back in 2022 and he torched the Dominican Summer League as a 20-year-old. Now 22, the left-handed hitter spent his first full season with Winston-Salem in 2023. The 5-8, 190 pounder slashed .254/.361/.411 in 106 games in High-A. Chapellí plays with a high energy style and he clubbed 10 homers on his way to a 115 wRC+. He has shown advanced plate discipline with some power potential and he’s an above-average runner who was the Rookie of the Year in Cuba back in 2019. Chapelli should debut in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons in 2024.
Shane Drohan, left-handed pitcher
The White Sox selected the 25-year-old in December’s Rule Five Draft but he’s currently sidelined after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 6-3, 190 pounder was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft by the Boston Red Sox out of Florida State. Drohan possesses a four pitch mix but his changeup is now the highlight of that mix. The southpaw has added velocity and he’s done a much better job repeating his delivery. After some success pitching in Double-A, the lefty really struggled in his first taste of Triple-A while pitching in the International League over the course of 89 innings. The organization will take it easy with him and they might be able to keep him stashed most of the season while dealing with his recovery. He projects as a back end starter or bullpen arm.
Tim Elko, first base
Tim Elko just mashes baseballs consistently and he has yet to be contained in professional baseball other than some struggles in a brief Double-A stint last season. The 25-year-old was selected in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft after leading Ole Miss to a championship during their College World Series title in 2022. The first baseman is 6-4, 240 pounds and hits right-handed. He has been invited to big league spring training as a non-roster invitee by the White Sox this year.
In 66 games with the Cannon Ballers in Low-A, Elko hit .297/.360/.556 with a 153 wRC+. He was then promoted to High-A Winston Salem where he slashed .319/.374/.569 with a 149 wRC+ for the Dash. Elko finished the season in Double-A with the Birmingham Barons and the onslaught continued for awhile. He had 28 homers total on the year but his strikeouts increased while his walks plummeted in Double-A. Elko’s profile is a murky one as a right/right first base only slugger but he possesses big power and leadership traits. He’ll need to cut down on a strikeout rate that has spiked over 30% consistently while also increasing his walk rate. Elko has the potential to mash though and he could reach the big leagues.
Fraser Ellard, left-handed pitcher
The White Sox selected Ellard in the eighth round out of Liberty in 2021 as a senior sign and paid him $20K to sign. The 6-4, 205 pounder compiled 63 strikeouts in 44.1 innings in his final college season. The 26-year-old isn’t currently on the 40-man roster but he could debut this season in Chicago. The southpaw missed 3.5 months with injuries last season and he ended up throwing 19.1 innings in Double-A with the Barons. He averaged 12 K/9 but still walked too many hitters. Ellard displays a really funky delivery that is tough for hitters to pick up and he was excellent in the Arizona Fall League where he posted a 2.00 ERA and struck out 14 while walking just one in nine innings. He likely starts the season in Charlotte.
Adam Hackenberg, catcher
Prior to the organization’s acquisition of Edgar Quero and Korey Lee, the White Sox system severely lacked catching depth, but Adam Hackenberg offered potential as a defensive-minded backup. That profile for the 23-year-old still exists, but is now clouded by the presence of others. Hackenberg still hits far too many ground balls to contribute at the big-league level right now, but he’s a natural athlete who has the ability to generate lift with his swing. He finished the year at Triple-A Charlotte, but continued refinement to his game across the board (or an injury-dictated call-up) could allow him to reach Chicago sometime during the 2024 season.
Hackenberg’s calling card has always been his mobility behind the plate and his plus arm strength. However, after erasing 36 percent of base runners in 2021 and 32 percent in 2022, his caught stealing numbers took a major dip as he advanced to the upper levels of the minors (22 percent last season). The Clemson product (and brother of former New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg) enjoyed the best offensive stretch of his career while at Double-A Birmingham for most of the 2023 campaign, which included a .308 clip at the plate in the month of June and an .899 OPS in July.
Calvin Harris, catcher
The White Sox selected Calvin Harris in the fourth round of the 2023 draft out of Ole Miss. They’d tracked him as an Iowa prep standout and he’s now a member of the organization after excelling with the Rebels in the SEC. The 22-year-old signed for $600K and he hits left-handed. He’s a 6-0, 215 pound backstop with defensive projection remaining at the position. He makes hard contact consistently but his defense has earned mixed reviews from scouts and evaluators. Harris was the 7th catcher from Mississippi to get drafted over the past decade. He has some experience at other positions as well due to the amount of quality catching that has filtered throughout the college program. He was solid last year after debuting with Kannapolis. In 130 plate appearances, Harris posted a 103 wRC+ with a high walk rate.
Ronny Hernandez, catcher
The 19-year-old should make his full season debut for the Cannon Ballers in Low-A this season. The 6-1, 200 pounder hits left-handed and was originally signed for $30K in the 2022 international class. Hernandez was the best hitter on the White Sox’s Arizona League rookie affiliate last season after slashing .338/.430/.493 with a 134 wRC+. His ISO% improved but his BABIP increased to .427 as well. He clubbed three homers in 45 games. He also performed well in his Dominican Summer League debut the previous season when he hit .268/.383/.526 with a 136 wRC+. In 34 games, the backstop smashed six homers and compiled a 15% walk rate in the process. He has shown a calm approach with a quick, left-handed swing while displaying solid plate discipline. More defensive refinement is needed but the club believes that he could be an average defender in the future with 15 home run potential and the ability to cut down runners from behind the plate.
Bailey Horn, left-handed pitcher
The White Sox drafted Bailey Horn in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Auburn. He was then traded to the Cubs for reliever Ryan Tepera at the 2021 trade deadline after some success as a starter to begin his professional career. The 26-year-old has moved to the bullpen but he still possesses a fastball that touches 98 mph with a plus sweeper that was developed via the Cubs’ pitching development system. The 6-2, 210 pounder threw 53 innings in Triple-A last year and posted a 4.38 FIP. He averaged over 10 K/9 but walked too many guys. The southpaw has power stuff and profiles as a potential high-leverage reliever but the arm action is violent and he struggles to repeat his delivery. Horn should make his big league debut this season.
Jared Kelley, right-handed pitcher
When drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft by the White Sox, expectations were incredibly high for former high school national player of the year Jared Kelley. With two advanced fastballs that can reach up to 97 mph, Kelley was beyond his years when drafted out of high school. Things haven’t gone very smoothly through his first few professional seasons with command and technical issues, but Kelley has plenty of arm talent and is still only 22-years-old. Kelley began the 2023 season as a starter still with Winston-Salem but transitioned into a relief role after a month of continuing to struggle as a starter. During the month of June, Kelley posted a 2.29 ERA with a 23:9 K:BB ratio in five games pitching as a long reliever. This impressive stint out of the bullpen landed him in Double-A Birmingham where he struggled mightily. It seems like a relief role is best for Kelley at this point and his strong fastball and formidable changeup could make him a good bullpen piece despite the shaky results to this point of his career. Kelley reported to spring training is tremendous shape for the first time in his professional career and we’ll see if the results improve.
Maximo Martinez, right-handed pitcher
The White Sox acquired Martínez along with Aldrín Batista for $1 million in international bonus pool space in early August. The 19-year-old was originally signed by Los Angeles in 2021. The 6-2, 185 pounder posted a 4.76 ERA in the Dominican Summer League over the course of 28 innings during his debut. The righty dealt with some arm issues in 2022 and missed most of the Arizona Complex League season. The Venezuelan threw 26.2 innings in Arizona this season and posted a 4.73 ERA while averaging around one strikeout per inning. He was billed as a polished, pitchability type but now throws his fastball in the 95-98 mph range with a breaking ball that has flashed plus as well. Martínez shows a compact and repeatable delivery. He could make his full season debut finally with Kannapolis but he didn’t leave the complex last year after another elbow ailment ended his 2023 season.
Abraham Núñez Jr., outfield
Núñez was the biggest bonus teenager signed during the 2022 international period by the White Sox. The 6-2, 175 pounder has played center field but could profile in either corner as well. After signing for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic, the now 18-year-old slashed .299/.427/.442 with a 136 wRC+ in the DSL. In 44 games, the left-handed hitting outfielder posted an 18% walk rate while hitting three homers in 44 games. Núñez is an athletic outfielder with good bat speed plus control in the zone and strike zone judgment. He’s also an average runner that performed well in tournaments leading up to his eventual signing date. He participated in instructional league and immediately becomes someone to focus on during the Arizona Complex League season in 2024.
Christian Oppor, left-handed pitcher
The Oakland Athletics drafted Oppor out of a Wisconsin High School in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft and they failed to sign him. After spending the season at Gulf Coast State Junior College, the White Sox selected the southpaw in the fifth round last year and paid him $550K to sign. The 6-2, 175 pounder is high-waisted with an athletic frame and he’s a former basketball player. His fastball sits in the 91-95 mph range and touches 98 in shorter stints. He’s also shown an 80-82 mph slider with horizontal shape and it’s sweeper like. Oppor must improve his changeup as a third effective pitch. The lefty needs to add strength as well. In five games in the Arizona Complex League last year, Oppor posted a 1.17 ERA with nine strikeouts in eight innings. He likely returns to Arizona to start the season.
Luis Reyes, right-handed pitcher
The 18-year-old Dominican was one of the best pitchers available during last year’s international signing period. The White Sox signed the righty for $700,000 and they were impressed with the number of events and tournaments he participated in already in the United States. Reyes has consistently shown a fastball up to 96 mph while displaying a changeup with late sink and fade as well. He shows a low-effort delivery and extension with some feel for secondary offerings but he really needs to tighten up his control.
Reyes has the mix to profile as a starting pitcher down the road but he really struggled during the Dominican Summer League season. He finished really strong and struck out 49 hitters in 37.2 innings however. The right hander posted a 7.17 ERA (4.63 xFIP) while walking 30 hitters and he’ll need to improve once he makes his stateside debut during the 2024 season. With the rookie league season beginning sooner this year, it’s likely that Reyes will begin the year in Arizona with the Arizona Complex League affiliate.
Tyler Schweitzer, left-handed pitcher
Left-hander Tyler Schweitzer logged more than 100 innings in his first professional season, which is impressive as he entered the year still in a transitional period from his time as a reliever at Ball State (converted to a starter during his junior season).The 23-year-old southpaw shined at Low-A Kannapolis to begin the campaign, where he maintained a solid 10.11 K/9 rate, 2.79 BB/9 rate, and worked through five innings in 12 of 13 starts. The White Sox promoted him to High-A Winston-Salem in mid-July. While none of Schweitzer’s individual offerings will carry him to the big leagues, his overall pitchability and continued direction toward a starter’s workload should enable him to reach his floor as a back-of-the-rotation arm. Schweitzer averaged over ten strikeouts per nine in his 39.2 innings thrown in High-A.
Braden Shewmake, shortstop
Acquired in an off-season trade for Aaron Bummer, the former first rounder is looking to crack a remade infield for the White Sox. The Braves selected the 6-3, 190 pounder back in 2019 out of Texas A&M and paid him $3 million to sign. The 26-year-old is a solid defender at shortstop and can play second base as well. He hits left-handed and was moved aggressively through the Atlanta system but he’s always struggled to hit at every level. Shewmake has solid bat-to-ball skills but it turns into mostly soft contact overall. He profiles as a utility player and likely needs some sort of swing change to be more than that. The infielder smacked 16 homers for Triple-A in Gwinnett and he should be with the Charlotte Knights this season if he makes it through roster cuts.
Alex Speas, right-handed pitcher
Fangraphs ranked Speas as the #11 overall prospect in the White Sox’s system this off-season and noted the electric stuff in the 25-year-old’s right arm. The Texas Rangers selected the righty out of a Georgia High School in the second round of the 2016 draft. The 6-4, 180 pounder pumps his fastball up to 102 mph but he’s moved to a cutter heavy approach after working out at Tread Athletics. Speas also throws a 85-87 mph slider but he lacks control of his arsenal. He threw two innings in the majors last year after uneven returns in the minors. The right-hander was stellar in 28.1 innings in Double-A where he struck out 47 and walked 13. He struggled in Triple-A despite striking out 38 batters in 28.1 innings. There is high leverage relief upside in this profile but plenty of variance in the potential outcomes.
Michael Turner, catcher
The White Sox have created some catching depth of late and Michael Turner is another interesting name in the group. The 25-year-old was selected as a senior sign out of Arkansas in 2022 and he’s had success since starting his professional career. The 6-2, 205 pound backstop hit .369/.430/.441 with a 144 wRC+ with the Dash in High-A last year. Turner hit four homers and walked at a 17% rate as well. He’s a good defender, hits left-handed and has been lauded for his game-calling and leadership abilities behind the plate. He will likely report to Double-A Birmingham but the catching position is a crowded group in the high minors currently.
Norge Vera, right-handed pitcher
Standing at 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Vera signed with the White Sox in the same international draft class as heralded signing Yoelqui Cespedes and had 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 35.1 total innings and reports indicated a drop in fastball velocity late in the year. Reports on plus stuff filtered in from scouts last year despite the lack of innings and poor numbers overall.
The 23-year-old Cuban still boasts a significantly lofty ceiling as a right handed pitcher but 2023 was basically another lost season. He really needed to build up innings and injuries derailed him once again this year. Vera has threw just 15 innings between the complex and High-A Winston-Salem last year and he walked way too many guys in both places. This might be the last chance for a guy who once looked like a future fixture. Vera’s stuff could play up in a relief role and it’ll be interesting to see how he’s used if healthy. Upside remains here but time is unfortunately running out.
I have yet to see — anywhere — an assessment or status of Cespedes. He was signed with such hullabaloo, but so far…crickets.
Any thoughts about catcher Stiven Flores, who posted outstanding offensive numbers (and very few strikeouts) in the DSL last year? All of a sudden, at any rate, the Sox have good catching depth in the system.
Excellent post!
In many ways, 2 years ago, many of these players would have been rated between 10 – 30! The system was really bad 3 to 4 years ago.