2025 Chicago White Sox Affiliate Preview: Arizona Complex League (Rookie)

The White Sox are in an interesting spot as an organization. They’ve undergone quite a bit of change from a development perspective and one major change was a shift in leadership on the international front. Because of this shift and some of the struggles that led to it, the majority of the signers from the 2024 international class will remain in the Dominican Republic for the upcoming DSL season. Our recent interview Christian Oppor can be found here as well.

The White Sox also haven’t been afraid to challenge teenagers with an early assignment to Low-A with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. George Wolkow made his way to North Carolina early in the 2024 season and recent second rounder Caleb Bonemer started the 2025 season there as well. Southpaw Christian Oppor, righty Luis Reyes, infielder Javier Mogollon and outfielder Abraham Nuñez Jr. are playing full-season affiliate ball to start as well.

The White Sox haven’t had a great deal of success lately on the international market and the majority of their prep picks are already in full season ball which leaves the initial squad in the Arizona Complex League lacking with premium prospects. There are still some interesting players in the desert however. Righties Mathias Lacombe and Maximo Martinez could lead the pitching staff while Jurdrick Profar makes his stateside debut for the club as well.

How Does New Schedule Affect the White Sox?

Major League Baseball made some scheduling alterations to the rookie leagues in Arizona and Florida for the 2024 season. In the past, the Arizona Complex League season would get underway in early June and culminate with a league championship in late August. With the new change, rookie ball will begin in both locations on Saturday May 4 while finishing up on July 25. JJ Cooper highlighted the change last February and elaborated on what it all means for Baseball America.

The biggest change to the schedule is the earlier end date. Due to that decision, players who will be drafted this July won’t be playing in the Arizona Complex League this year. Extended spring training type environments will be created to close out the year so that younger prospects can get their work in throughout while college draftees likely report to Low-A after joining their respective organizations.

The Arizona Complex League is a rookie-level league that has operated in the Phoenix area since 1988. There are 18 teams in the league and they play at the spring training homes of their parent clubs. There are 15 organizations located in the desert and they make up the rosters of the 18 clubs. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants each have two rookie league teams. The alignment of the divisions is as follows:

East: ACL Angels (Los Angeles), ACL Diamondbacks Black (Arizona), ACL Diamondbacks Red (Arizona), ACL Giants Black (San Francisco), ACL Giants Orange (San Francisco), ACL Rockies (Colorado)

Central: ACL Athletics (Oakland), ACL Cubs (Chicago), ACL Brewers Blue (Milwaukee), ACL Brewers Gold (Milwaukee), ACL Guardians (Cleveland), ACL Reds (Cincinnati)

West: ACL Dodgers (Los Angeles), ACL Mariners (Seattle), ACL Padres (San Diego), ACL Rangers (Texas), ACL Royals (Kansas City), ACL White Sox (Chicago)

The White Sox in the Desert

The White Sox reside in the West Division and play their home games at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona which doubles as the franchise’s spring training home. Due to scorching hot temperatures, the ACL is often referred to as the “Fire League”. Games also aren’t heavily populated, with crowds represented by scouts, front office personnel and family members. Games are also free to attend.

There are currently 47 players on the first version of this roster with more likely to join throughout the season and that includes players on rehab assignments or the full-season injured list. The roster is currently comprised of 26 pitchers, 10 infielders, six outfielders and five catchers.

The club will be managed by Danny Gonzalez once again. Gerardo Olivares and Rob Hardy will serve as the hitting and pitching coaches respectively. Veteran staff member Mike Gellinger will assist the hitters and serve as bench coach as well. Donovan Clark and Tyler Coolbaugh will serve as performance coaches for the squad.

(Ages in parentheses)

Pitchers

• Marco Barrios (18)
• Angel Bello (18)
• Jordany Chirinos (19)
• Kevin Davis (26)
• Reudis Diaz (19)
• Jeremy Gonzalez (20, LHP)
• Jommy Hernandez (19)
• Connor Housley (23)
• Mathias LaCombe (22)
• Denny Lima (20)
• Maximo Martinez (20)
• Max Roberts (27)
• D.J. Snelten (32, LHP)
• Gray Thomas (22)
• Fabian Ysalla (20)

The White Sox selected Mathias LaCombe in the 12th round of the 2023 draft and he signed for $450,000 out of Cochise Community College in Arizona. The French born righty signed for a bonus equivalent of a fifth rounder so the organization has high hopes for the 22-year-old. The 6-2, 185 pounder has made two starts in the Arizona Complex League this season. He has thrown 5.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

LaCombe pitched for France in the World Baseball Classic and he struck out 97 hitters with 14 walks over 67.1 innings in his draft year. The right hander throws a mid 90’s fastball with a solid breaking ball as well. He’s the highest upside pitching prospect on the club in Arizona and he could reach Low-A this year. Another interesting righty on this staff is Venezuelan Maximo Martinez.

The White Sox acquired Martinez from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Aldrin Batista at the 2023 trade deadline. Injuries have derailed multiple seasons for the 6-2, 185 pounder and he’s working to advance past rookie ball. The 20-year-old threw 8.2 innings for the ACL White Sox last season. He displayed swing and miss stuff with the Dodgers previously and pumps fastballs in the 95-98 mph range. He’s shown a plus breaking ball with a compact and repeatable delivery when he takes the mound as well.

There are multiple recent international signings from the Dominican Republic and Venezuelan pitching in the desert to start the ACL season. Jordany Chirinos is a 19-year-old who has made one start so far. The 6-3, 195 pounder threw 80 innings in the Dominican Summer League over the past two seasons. 20-year-old righty Denny Lima has started and pitched in relief but the 6-0, 170 pounder should get some starts in Arizona. Venezuelan righty Fabian Ysalla posted a 3.79 ERA in the DSL last year and the 20-year-old should be in the rotation to start this year as well.

18-year-old Marco Barrios, 18-year-old Angel Bello and 19-year-old Jommy Hernandez have thrown innings out of the bullpen so far. 19-year-old Reudis Diaz is a 6-1, 180 pounder who has made three appearances already as well. 23-year-old righty Connor Housley was a Rangers draftee in 2019 and he’s a member of the bullpen too. 27-year-old Max Roberts and 22-year-old Gray Thomas are members of the pitching staff too. 26-year-old Kevin Davis is a Homer Glen, Illinois native and he was recently signed.

32-year-old D.J. Snelten is currently injured but he’s on the comeback trail and he will pitch in the Complex League to start. James Fegan of SoxMachine wrote about the Lake Villa native this off-season. 20-year-old Jeremey Gonzalez throws from the left side as well. Nick Altermatt, Bryce Collins, Yohemy Nolasco, Vince Vannelle and Garrett Wright are in Arizona on rehab assignments.

2024 supplemental 2nd rounder Blake Larson was expected to pitch in Arizona but he underwent Tommy John surgery during spring training. He’s a top 30 prospect in the system and signed for $1.4 million out of IMG Academy. Juan Carela and Colton McIntosh are on the full-season injured list as well and Ethan Hammerberg and Marcelo Valladares are currently on the 60-day injured list.

Outfielders

• Marcelo Alcala (19)
• Leandro Alsinois (20)
• Albertson Asigen (23)
• TJ McCants (23)

In the early going, 2024 third rounder Nick McLain and former Ole Miss Rebel Matt Hogan are playing some rehab games in the Arizona Complex League. Some others are expected to be fixtures on this squad though. 23-year-old outfielder TJ McCants can play the infield as week but he’s listed as an outfielder and he’s not expected to be in Arizona for long time; just a good time.

The White Sox selected McCants in the 16th round of last year’s draft and he posted a 132 wRC+ in a brief stint for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers last year after joining the organization. McCants walked a ton in his debut and that will serve him well moving forward. The 6-3, 200 pounder played at Ole Miss in college and transferred to Alabama for his final season. McCants hits left-handed and the organization believes that he can be a super utility type.

19-year-old Venezuelan Marcelo Alcala has played in four games so far this season and he’s done well. The right-handed hitter is 6-0, 183 pounds. Leandro Alsinois is a 20-year-old who is repeating the level after struggling in the Arizona Complex League last season. He’s 5-10, 175 pounds and plays some center field. Dominican Albertson Asigen posted a 104 wRC+ in Low-A last season but the 23-year-old rounds out this outfield group in rookie ball.

Infielders

• Alexander Albertus (20)
• Mason Dinesen (26)
• Bryce Eblin (23)
• Adrian Gil (19)
• Joe Perez (25)
• Jurdrick Profar (18)
• Grant Smith (24)
• D’Angelo Tejada (19)
• Bryce Willits (25)

20-year-old Aruban Alexander Albertus has been the international man of mystery for the White Sox. The organization acquired him along with Miguel Vargas and Jeral Perez in a much maligned swap with the Los Angeles Dodgers at last summer’s trade deadline. The infielder hasn’t played a game in the system yet because he’s had multiple surgeries while recovering from a stress fracture in his ankle.

The 6-1, 176 pound previously posted a 124 wRC+ during the 2024 minor league season. The right-handed hitter really tore up the ACL and DSL and struggled a bit in full season with Low-A. Albertus possesses a hit over power profile with plate discipline and he ranked at #20 overall in the system on our pre-season list. He’s technically in Arizona on a rehab assignment and he should join the Cannon Ballers at some point.

Adrian Gil is a 19-year-old Venezuelan who plays first and third base primarily and while he’s posted a lot of strikeouts early on, he’s also walked a lot and clubbed two homers already. He posted a 161 wRC+ in the Dominican Summer League during his system debut and he held his own last year after posting a 104 wRC+ with four homers in the ACL. He’s repeating the level but he could make his full-season debut sometime this summer.

Jurdrick Profar is a Curacaon who is the younger brother of major league veteran Jurickson Profar. He was the best performer of the White Sox’s 2024 international class and one of the only offensive players to come stateside for his second season. The 18-year-old shortstop posted a 114 wRC+ in the DSL and the 5-11, 170 pounder is looking to replicate that success in the Arizona Complex League.

Bryce Eblin and Grant Smith signed with the White Sox as undrafted free agents after the 2024 draft. The 23-year-old Eblin played at Alabama and he’s known for his defensive ability. Smith is a 24-year-old from Kentucky. Both are debuting in the ACL. Mason Dinesen is a 26-year-old first baseman who played 27 games in the Sox’s system last year and had some success in Kannapolis.

19-year-old infielder D’Angelo Tejada is a 6-0, 160 pounder from the Dominican Republic and he’s really struggled offensively in his young career. There is some defensive value here but the bat will need to improve in his second season in Arizona. Bryce Willits is now 25-years-old after being selected in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of UC Santa Barbara. He’s been stellar in the ACL after some offensive success in the low minors the past few seasons.

Catchers

• Stiven Flores (19)
• Angelo Hernandez (19)
• Grant Magill (24)
• Jose Mendoza (17)
• Alvaro Rios (18)

The young catching group will be comprised of an undrafted free agent and four recent international signees. Stiven Flores is a 19-year-old from Venezuela who posted a 143 wRC+ in the DSL back in 2023. The 5-11, 180 pound right-handed hitter is repeating rookie ball after playing 43 games in Arizona last season.

Angelo Hernandez is another 19-year-old backstop hailing from Venezuela. The 6-1, 200 pounder had some success in the Dominican Summer League in 2023 as well and he’s also repeating the Arizona Complex League after being assigned there last year as well. Alvaro Rios is an 18-year-old from Panama who signed in the 2024 class and he struggled offensively in the DSL last year.

17-year-old Venezuelan Jose Mendoza signed with the organization this past January and was immediately double promoted stateside to Arizona. It’s pretty uncommon for newly signed international players to skip the DSL entirely. He’s currently on the 7 day injured list but he might be a name to watch. He’s 6-2, 210 pounds and known for defense. 24-year-old Grant Magill joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Indiana State this past July and he rounds out the group.