2025 Chicago White Sox Affiliate Preview: Birmingham Barons (Double-A)

The Birmingham Barons won the Southern League championship in 2024 but the organization has undergone some change off the field. Longtime broadcaster Curt Bloom has moved on and the play-by-play will sound much different going forward. The experienced Doug Greenwald will take over and handle the announcing for the Barons. He likely can’t tell any Michael Jordan stories but there’s a pretty good rotation in Birmingham.

With the promotion of Sergio Santos to the Charlotte Knights, Guillermo Quiroz will now take over as the manager for the Barons. Former White Sox Nicky Delmonico will return as the hitting coach while John Kovalik will serve as the pitching coach. Former farmhand Daniel Millwee will be the bench coach. AJ Smith will serve as the athletic trainer with performance coach AJ Maldonado.

There are six players from our pre-season top 30 prospect list on the initial Barons’ roster and multiple players landed on the top 30 at MLB Pipeline as well. The pitching staff is star studded and the offense is a bit light on slugging. Prospects should filter in and out of The Magic City all summer as the festivities move along though.

The Barons open the season on Friday April 4th at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama against the Knoxville Smokies; the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. While the club is hoping to continue their success from 2024 and pour some more champagne in 2025; prospect growth and performances will be the key for the organization.

Here’s a closer look at the roster

Starting Pitching

• Wikelman Gonzalez (RHP)
• Riley Gowens (RHP)
• Noah Schultz (LHP)
• Tyler Schweitzer (LHP)
• Hagen Smith (LHP)
• Grant Taylor (RHP)

Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith are generally lauded as the two best left-handed pitching prospects in baseball. Both of them will front the rotation in Birmingham and it’ll be difficult for Southern League hitters. The White Sox selected Schultz out of Oswego East High School in 2022 and the southpaw is now feared at 6-10, 240 pounds. The 21-year-old threw 88.1 innings last season and made 23 starts overall. He ended the year with the Barons and he posted a 2.24 ERA with 115 strikeouts and 24 walks on the year. The goal for Schultz this year is to throw more innings and pitch every fifth day.

The other White Sox lefty went fifth overall in the 2024 Draft and the organization signed him for a record $8 million bonus. The 21-year-old out of Arkansas was the SEC Pitcher of the Year with 17.3 and he also profiles as a future frontline starter. The 6-3, 235 pounder displays a stellar fastball and slider combination with some command concerns. Smith made three starts in Winston-Salem to finish the 2024 campaign with 7.2 innings pitched and a 3.52 ERA.

Grant Taylor being in the Birmingham rotation is a bit of a surprise but his talent was on full display during spring training. The 22-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft out of LSU by the White Sox. With ridiculous stuff and a 6-3, 230 pound frame, the righty posted a 2.33 ERA in 19.1 minor league innings last year with 32 strikeouts and two walks. Taylor missed his junior season at LSU recovering from Tommy John surgery and he was injured again last year.

Taylor just needs innings and he’ll be a top 50 prospect in baseball. His stuff is elite and his presence makes for quite the trio in Birmingham. Wikelman Gonzalez, Tyler Schweitzer and Riley Gowens will round out the rotation for the Barons. Gowens is a 25-year-old from Libertyville, Illinois and he was a former ninth rounder of the Braves. The White Sox acquired the 6-4, 225 pounder in the Aaron Bummer trade last year. The righty threw 122 innings in 2024.

Gonzalez is a 6-0, 220 pound right hander and he was the “fourth piece” in the Garrett Crochet trade return this past December. The 23-year-old was originally signed out of Venezuela in 2018. He posted a 4.12 FIP in Double-A last year in 24 starts but it was a tale of two halves. After struggling in the first half, the righty posted a 1.84 ERA while holding opponents to an OPS under .500. He can run his fastball up to 99 mph with plus secondaries as well.

Schweitzer was a fifth round pick out of Ball State in 2022 and he’s done nothing but perform since entering the White Sox’s system. The 6-0, 185 pounder is ranked #23 overall in the system at MLB Pipeline. The 24-year-old southpaw made 16 starts with the Barons last year and he threw 132 innings total on the season. Schweitzer posted a 4.17 ERA with a 3.50 FIP and 136 strikeouts. He could start serve as a piggyback to Taylor and he could debut in Chicago this season.

Relief Pitching

• Eric Adler (RHP)
• Andrew Dalquist (RHP)
• Tyler Davis (RHP)
• Zach Franklin (RHP)
• Caleb Freeman (RHP)
• Gil Luna (LHP)
• Jordan Mikel (RHP)
• Jake Palisch (LHP)
• Chase Plymell (RHP)
• Jarold Rosado (RHP)

Peyton Pallette and Eric Adler will return to Birmingham and they’re the highest ranked relief prospects in the system currently. Both pitchers were listed on our pre-season just missed list and either of them could make major league debuts in 2025. Adler ranked as the #21 overall prospect in the system at Baseball America recently. The White Sox acquired both of these hurlers via the 2022 MLB Draft in the 2nd round (Pallette) and 6th round (Adler) respectively.

Adler pitched in relief at Wake Forest and the 6-2, 190 pounder has always had pretty premium stuff while struggling with command. He possesses a high 90’s fastball with a plus breaking ball. Adler struck out 52 batters in 40 total innings in 2024 but he walked 24 as well. In 31 innings with the Barons, the right hander posted a 4.06 ERA. He could make his big league debut this season and a promotion to Charlotte could happen pretty quickly.

Pallette was drafted to be a starting pitcher and he had some struggles in that role in the White Sox’s system. Pallette is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and he’s now profiling as a high-leverage relief option. The 6-1, 180 pounder possesses an upper 90’s fastball with a plus overhand curveball in his arsenal. The 23-year-old posted a 1.13 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 10 walks over 39.2 innings to close out the 2024 season. Pallette could make his big league debut in 2025 as well.

Righty Zach Franklin posted a 3.20 ERA last year and struck out 75 in 50.2 innings. Former third round prepster Andrew Dalquist has converted to the bullpen as well and he posted a 3.06 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 47 innings. Caleb Freeman returns to Birmingham as well and he posted a 3.92 ERA with lots of walks and strikeouts.

Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa really struggled in Triple-A last season and he threw 46 innings in the high minors but he’ll start the season on the inactive list. Southpaw Gil Luna compiled lots of strikeouts and walks as well. Joining them in in the bullpen with lefty Jake Palisch along with righties Tyler Davis, Jordan Mikel, Chase Plymell and Jarold Rosado. Adler was recently promoted to Triple-A Charlotte as well.

Infielders

• William Bergolla
• Mario Camilletti
• Jacob Gonzalez
• Shawn Goosenberg
• Jason Matthews
• Rikuu Nishida
• Nick Podkul

Jacob Gonzalez was the 15th pick in the 2023 draft out of Ole Miss. The 22-year-old had a solid campaign in Winston-Dash and struggled with the Barons in 2024 but he was dealing with some injuries and playing through it. The left-handed hitter plays shortstop though and he needs a big season in 2025 to get on the big league radar. Gonzalez posted a 92 wRC+ on the season and while he clubbed eight homers, he just didn’t impact the baseball that often.

William Bergolla was the talk of spring training on the minor league side for the White Sox and the decision makers are happy enough with his progress to assign him to the Double-A Southern League. The 5-9, 165 pounder was acquired at the trade deadline from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for lefty reliever Tanner Banks. The 20-year-old Venezuelan was originally signed as a highly regarded member of the international signing class a few years prior in Philadelphia. The left-handed hitter posted a 121 wRC+ in 22 games for the Winston-Salem Dash last year and he should play shortstop and second base in Birmingham this season.

Rikuu Nishida is quite the experience has been as advertised in the White Sox’s system since being drafted out of Oregon in the 11th round of the 2023 draft. The 23-year-old will serve as a super utility player with the Barons out of the gate and he hit .304/.418/.362 while scoring 114 runs and posting a 137 wRC+ overall on the minor league season. The 5-6, 150 pounder is a bundle of energy on the field and he generally just plays an exciting brand of baseball and finds a way to get on base.

Mario Camilletti and Shawn Goosenberg make up the infield in Birmingham as well. The 25-year-old Camilletti is a left-handed hitter who posted a 132 wRC+ in Double-A last year with a 22% walk rate in 47 games. Goosenberg played mostly at first base and struggled at the plate but he did hit 11 homers on the season. Veterans Jason Matthews and Nick Podkul round out the infield group.

Outfielders

• Jacob Burke
• Oscar Colás
• DJ Gladney
• Wilfred Veras

Burke, Gladney, Tatum and Veras have all had varying degrees of success in Birmingham to this point. Veras is the most highly regarded at this point with 57 minor league home runs in his career. The 22-year-old was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic and he’s been on multiple top 30 prospect lists for various publications. He has big power but must cut down on the strikeouts and be more selective at the plate. Veras hits right handed and he posted a 118 wRC+ last year. He could quickly earn a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte.

Gladney is a local product who was selected in the 16th round of the 2019 draft. The 23-year-old plays different positions around the diamond and he posted a 138 wRC+ for the Barons last year. The right-handed hitter smashed 16 homers overall. Tatum is now 25-years-old and known for quality defense, speed and on-base skills. He’s starting the season in the Arizona Complex League Burke is a big and physical outfielder who cruised through the lower rungs of the system but he’s struggled in Birmingham.

Oscar Colás became a recent addition to the Barons’ lineup from Charlotte after being outrighted from the White Sox’s 40-man roster. The Cuban outfielder was signed in the winter in 2022 for more than $2 million. The left-handed hitter has over 40 minor league homers but he’s struggled offensively so far in his professional career. The 26-year-old has over 300 big league plate appearances to date as well.

Catchers

• Adam Hackenberg
• Omar Narváez
• Michael Turner

Pitchers really enjoy throwing to Michael Turner and he should get the majority of the time in Birmingham once again after splitting with Edgar Quero in 2024. The 26-year-old was originally selected in the 9th round out of Arkansas. Adam Hackenberg struggled offensively last season in Triple-A with Charlotte. The athletic backstop possesses some defensive qualities and pitchers enjoy throwing to him.

The White Sox originally selected Hackenberg out of Clemson in the 18th round of the 2021 draft. The 25-year-old is looking to get back on track. The presence of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero in the Queen City isn’t only affecting Turner and Hackenberg at this point either.

Veteran catcher Omar Narváez has recently re-signed with the organization on a minor league deal. There’s not every day at-bats for the 33-year-old in Charlotte however and he’s apparently agreed to join the Barons. Narváez had a career resurgance under new Pale Hose bench coach Walker McKinven and I’m sure he’s the third catcher on the current franchise depth chart. He should be a graet addition for the young, promising pitchers in this Barons’ rotation.