FutureSox: 2025 Midseason White Sox Prospect List 16-30

The FutureSox 2025 pre-season Chicago White Sox top 30 prospect list was derived from the top 30 lists compiled by writers and staff members here at FutureSox. Each prospect was assigned a number from 1-30 based on their spot on each individual top 30 and then added up to come to the ranking they got on the collective list. Noah Schultz received 180 points and was the #1 prospect on that list. We will follow the same process for the mid-season list below. The White Sox have added talent through the 2025 MLB Draft, trade deadline and the complex league players have come into focus. We have six writers contributing to this version of the list.

Players who have exceeded rookie status will not be present on this list. 50 innings pitched, 130 at-bats or 45 days on an active, big league roster is the exclusionary criteria for rookie status in Major League Baseball. Sean Burke, Chase Meidroth, Edgar Quero, Shane Smith, Grant Taylor and Kyle Teel exceeded that status in 2025 and they’re no longer prospect eligible. Pitchers Jake Eder (traded to the Angels) and Nick Nastrini (claimed on waivers) are no longer with the organization.

16. Jeral Perez, INF, (Previous: 18, +2)

• Acquired from Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024

A key piece in the trade that sent Erick Fedde to St. Louis and Michael Kopech to Los Angeles at last year’s deadline, Jeral Perez came over from the Dodgers organization after being signed in 2022 out of the Dominican Republic. The 20-year-old was one of the best hitters in the Arizona Complex League in 2023, leading to an aggressive assignment to Single-A as a 19-year-old in 2024. He performed admirably, slashing .262/.370/.423 with 12 homers across his time with the Dodgers and White Sox organizations, notching a 121 wRC+.

Perez has good pop for a hitter of his size (listed as 6’0, probably closer to 5’10), and quick hands that get the barrel through the zone quickly. He pulls the ball in the air particularly well, leading to 25 doubles and two triples in 2024. Perez likely profiles more as a second baseman going forward, but has seen some time at shortstop as well as third base since debuting.

The 20-year-old has hit 18 homers while playing over 100 games for the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A. Perez has posted a 117 wRC+ with 18 homers but his walk rate is down and the batting average is low which causes the overall on base percentage to lag behind as well. The profile is carried by big power potential that has translated so far in the low minors.

17. Mathias LaCombe, RHP, (New)

• Drafted 12th round in 2023

The White Sox selected LaCombe in the 12th round of the 2023 draft out of Cochise Community College and he was the second ever French born player to be drafted. He’s determined to be the first native of France to reach the big leagues. He received a bonus of $450,000 which is equivalent to fifth round money in the draft. The 6-2, 185 pound righty posted a 1.74 ERA with 97 strikeouts in 67.1 innings at the community college level.

Lat issues delayed LaCombe’s professional debut but he was one of the best pitchers in the Arizona Complex League this year. His stuff and pitch data was exceptional and he posted a 2.52 ERA with 50 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35.2 innings. Since a promotion to Low-A, the 23-year-old has punched out eight batters in 5.2 innings. He’s likely on an innings limit and it’s unknown how many he’ll throw in total.

LaCombe’s fastball sits in the 92-95 mph range and touches 97 and the pitch shows carry and armside run. The player development staff has really helped to improve the right-hander’s secondary offerings. LaCombe now has a sweeping low 80’s slider and a changeup with splitter action. The delievery employs deception and life from a low arm slot and release height. The righty will develop as a starter but could move very quickly in a relief transition.

18. Blake Larson, LHP, (Previous: 23, +5)

• Drafted 2nd round (Competitive Balance B) in 2024

Blake Larson was selected in the 2024 draft out of IMG Academy in Florida after beginning his high school career as a prepster in Iowa, also appearing on the White Sox Area Codes team. Larson stands 6-3, 185 pounds and throws from a low three-quarter slot from the left side, touching 96 mph with his fastball that has life. A low-80s, high-spin slider is his main secondary offering, while a changeup in the upper-80s needs refinement. The White Sox acquired the selection used to take the left-hander in a trade that sent righty Gregory Santos to the Mariners.

Larson can have an erratic delivery at times but did display improved command during his senior season after dealing with some issues in the previous summer.  The southpaw didn’t appear in any affiliated games after being drafted, but did make some appearances during instructional league play. Unfortunately for the recently turned 19-year-old, he has since undergone Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2025 season. The organization doesn’t believe that the young lefty will be set back too far in his career while rehabbing and gaining strength. He likely wouldn’t have thrown many innings this year any way, but it’s an unfortunate injury this early for the player.

19. Landon Hodge, C, (New)

• Drafted 3rd round in 2025

Hodge is an 18-year-old catcher from Crespi Carmelite High School in California. The left-handed hitter signed with the White Sox for $1.1 million after being selected in the fourth round this past July. The 6-1, 175 pounder is athletic and performed well on the summer showcase circuit as an amateur. He currently shows a hit over power profile with an all fields offensive approach. Landon Hodge is an average runner as well.

The White Sox were impressed with his makeup and they believe that there’s significant defensive upside to come. The defensive profile consists of an above-average arm and he does well controlling the run game. The organization was thrilled to get a teenage, left-handed hitting backstop with athleticism at a third round price point at the start of day two. He will play in the bridge league in Arizona before fall instructional league begins.

20. Gage Ziehl, RHP, (New)

• Acquired by New York Yankees in July 2025

The New York Yankees drafted Ziehl out of Miami in the forth round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The 6-0, 223 pounder was also selected in the 11th round by the Cubs out of high school in 2021 but he declined to sign. The White Sox acquired the 22-year-old in a daedline trade this past July for outfielder Austin Slater. The righty has posted a 4.15 ERA with a 3.56 FIP and 74 strikeouts with just 15 walks across multiple minor league levels this year. He’s currently pitching for the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A.

Ziehl can command a fastball in the 92-94 mph range and he’s touched 96. The pitch shows ride and run as well and he also throws a mid 80’s sweeping slider which is a plus offering with two plane break. The strong and durable righty has a mid 80’s changeup in the arsenal too. He throws from a high three-quarters delivery and possesses #4 starter upside.

21. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, (Previous: 19, -2)

• Drafted 1st round (15th overall) in 2023

The White Sox used the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft to select shortstop Jacob Gonzalez. He had loads of championship experience with power potential. He was also an underslot signing which allowed the club to pounce on Christian Oppor, George Wolkow and Mathias LaCombe in later rounds. Gonzalez was the final pick of the previous regime and reports at the time indicated that the big league analytics staff preferred this route more than the scouting staff did. It hasn’t gone according to plan.

Gonzalez has taken a slight step forward in his second full season in the pro ranks. The 23-year-old posted a 100 wRC+ in Double-A this year with six homers while playing solid infield defense. Gonzalez has started using a torpedo bat this year and he’s been good in a small sample for the Charlotte Knights in Triple-A recently where he’s clubbed two homers with a stellar walk rate.

The 6-2, 205 pounder makes consistent contact and controls the strike zone but the power potential hasn’t translated from college where he starred for Ole Miss and even with Team USA. He fits the mold of high makeup and character guys that Scouting Director Mike Shirley has targeted, so the tools to be a contributor at the highest level are there. He’s a below-average runner with good instincts but he might ultimately be best suited for second base where his overall offensive impact will continue to be the biggest question pertaining to his future.

22. Bryan Ramos, 3B, (Previous: 14, -8)

• Signed out of Cuba in 2018

It certainly feels like Bryan Ramos has been on our top 30 lists for quite a while now, but it’s been a slow descension for the Cuban infielder. After a breakout 2023 season in Birmingham that saw his post an .826 OPS as a 21-year-old, injuries delayed the start of his 2024 season and while it didn’t go particularly well (.572 OPS in 24 AA games, Ramos saw some action in Chicago before ultimately settling in at Charlotte for the majority of the 2024 season, posting a .755 OPS there over 64 games. As this season rolled around, Ramos was unable to play in the field initially due to an injury and never really seemed to find a groove at the plate for the Knights, posting a .220/.317/.413 slash line (.733 OPS) with a 9.7 BB%, a 21.3 K%, and an 85 wRC+ in 75 games.

Ramos has been better as of late, posting encouraging numbers in August (.381/.480/.762, 1.242 OPS through six games), but it’s a very small sample size. Ramos still hits the ball hard and is a solid defender at the hot corner with an above-average arm, and has even seen some action in left field this season. Ramos’ 9.7% walk rate is a tick up from his previous seasons while his 21.3 K% is a bit down from where it’s been in the past, but a .239 BABIP in AAA this season is significantly lower from where it’s been in previous seasons (.313 BABIP last year in 64 AAA games). Ramos is still talented offensively, but with the infield group suddenly getting much more crowded than its been in previous seasons, Ramos will need to start producing offensively in order to get his name back into the infield mix.

23. Colby Shelton, INF, (New)

• Signed 6th round in 2025

The White Sox had been interested in Colby Shelton since his high school days and finally added him to the fold with their sixth round pick in the 2025 Draft this past July. The 6-0, 205 pounder was ranked as the #142 overall prospect in the draft class per MLB Pipeline. Shelton is 22-years-old and signed for $450,000. He is currently playing for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in Low-A.

The White Sox believe in Shelton’s left-handed power and he hit 52 homers over three seasons at Alabama and Florida. The offensive approach was deeply rooted in power previously but the infielder struck out too much. He changed his stance at the plate and he was a better all around offensive performer with a decrease in power. Shelton is a below-average runner and he’s unlikely to stick at shortstop. He could move through the system fairly quickly as an offensive-minded second baseman however.

24. Javier Mogollón, 2B, (New)

• Signed out of Venezuela in 2023

The White Sox originally signed the Venezuelan for $75,000 during the 2023 international period. He posted a 156 wRC+ and led the Dominican Summer League in homers while walking at a 13.6% clip in just under 200 plate appearances in his first season. In 2024, the right-handed hitter slashed .259/.406/.524 in 180 plate appearances in Arizona. He posted a 134 wRC+ with an 18% walk rate but he struck out in close to 40% of his plate appearances. The organization has incorporated a leg kick into his setup at the plate with the hope that it would decrease the strikeouts.

Mogollón has been injured for most of the season but he did play 51 games for Low-A Kannapolis. The infielder had a solid season in full season ball with five homers and a 116 wRC+. Mogollón hit .220/.347/.387 with a 13.4% walk rate and a 25% strikeout rate. The 5-8, 165 pound infielder packs a punch with 18 professional homers across the DSL and ACL in his first two seasons prior to full season ball and he’s a stolen base threat as well.

25. Shane Murphy, LHP, (New)

• Drafted 14th round in 2022

Shane Murphy was recently named White Sox Pitcher of the Month in the organization and the 24-year-old is on the big league radar as he’s also Rule Five eligible this December. The 6-5, 210 pound lefty was drafted in the 14th round out of Chandler Gilbert Community College back in 2022. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Mark Buehrle and Tanner Banks as lefties from that region who were scouted by John Kazanas and ultimately end up in the majors.

Murphy is a command oriented four pitch southpaw with backend rotation upside. The lefty’s 87-91 mph four seamer plays up due to deception and the amount of strikes he throws. Murphy also shows a slider, changeup, cutter and curveball and he locates well with a high three-quarters delivery. He’s a consistent performer with a 1.39 ERA in Double-A who has 100 innings on the season. Murphy averages just 7.2 K/9 but he barely walks anyone.

26. Luis Reyes, RHP, (New)

• Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2023

Reyes has made 19 starts this year for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in Low-A and he’s posted a 3.97 FIP in 77 innings. The 19-year-old has struck out 74 while walking 33 but he’s accumulating innings in the process. The White Sox signed the right-hander for $700K out of the Dominican Republic in 2023 and they were impressed with his tournament experience in the United States as a teenager. He originally signed for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2023.

In his debut, the righty posted 49 strikeouts in 37.2 innings in the Dominican Summer League but he really struggled overall. He displays a low-effort delivery and lots of extension but command has been an issue. The 6-2, 190 pounder throws a two and four seam fastball and pushes them up to 97 mph. He throws an 81-84 mph slider as well. The 19-year-old posted a 4.60 FIP in 10 starts over 42.1 innings in the Arizona Complex League last year. Reyes struck out 51 and walked 21.

27. Ky Bush, LHP, (Previous: 17, -10)

• Acquired from Los Angeles Angels in 2023

Lefty Ky Bush was acquired in the Giolito/Reynaldo deal with the Angels, as the secondary piece to Edgar Quero. In the middle of a tough season in 2023, Bush arrived in Birmingham and struggled, before righting the ship tremendously in 2024. With the Barons, the southpaw started 14 games, pitched 80.2 innings and gathered a 2.12 ERA (78:32 K:BB, with a 1.03 WHIP).

The 25-year-old struggled in Triple-A, to the tune of a 7.01 ERA in four starts (six appearances). The 6-6, 250 pounder even saw four starts with the White Sox in the Majors in August, but the 5.60 ERA and just 11 strikeouts in 17.2 innings was a rough start. It was announced at the start of spring training that Bush has undergone Tommy John surgery, and he will be out for the entire season. He’ll have to rebuild some of his prospect status in 2025 as he’s been placed on the 60-day injured list.

28. Gabe Davis, RHP, (New)

• Drafted 5th round in 2025

The White Sox took Gabe Davis in the fifth round of July’s draft and the club feels like he has big time upside. The 6-9, 234 pounder only threw 24.1 innings this spring at Oklahoma State after breaking his collarbone during the season. He posted an ERA over 5 but White Sox scouts saw him throw in the Cape Cod League during the lead up to the draft and they were impressed by his “returning velocity”. They think he’s a “premium guy who moves very well” with real upside according to Mike Shirley.

Davis signed for $590K and he ranked as the #147 overall player in the class for MLB Pipeline. The righty’s fastball usually sits in the 94-97 mph range but touches triple digits with armside run. He also throws a tight, upper 80’s slider that’s been up to 92 mph with a mid 80’s changeup as well. It’s often a challenge for pitchers this large to keep their limbs and delivery in sync but he can add more strength and power to his frame. Davis has starter traits and the stuff for a high-leverage relief role.

29. Juan Carela, RHP, (Previous: 24, -5)

• Acquired from New York Yankees in 2023

The White Sox added Carela to their 40-man roster this past off-season and he was slated to return to Double-A to pitch in the Birmingham Barons rotation. Originally acquired in exchange for righty Keynan Middleton from the New York Yankees at the 2023 deadline, the 6-3, 185 pounder’s fastball ticked back up. The Dominican posted a 3.71 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 106.2 innings in High-A and Double-A last year. The pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery during spring training and the White Sox have re-signed him to a minor league contract.

Carela throws a two-seam and four-seam fastball but he features the sinker more prominently. It sits in the 90-93 mph range and touches 96 occasionally. The 23-year-old also throws an above-average slider that sits in the 78-86 mph range. In the White Sox’s development system, the righty improved the sweeping action on the pitch and threw it nearly 55% of the time. There’s an 88-90 mph cutter and he shows above-average command overall.

30. Christian Gonzalez, OF, (New)

• Signed out of Venezuela in 2024

Gonzalez was a rare case this year as a player who started the season in the Dominican Summer League and earned a promotion stateside to fiish in the Arizona Complex League. The 5-11, 185 pounder posted a .698 OPS in his debut last season but walked a lot, played stellar center field defense and displayed plus-plus run times. In 21 games in the DSL this year, the 18-year-old hit .431/.554/.615 with a 198 wRC+ and a 17% walk rate.

After a promotion to the Arizona Complex League, the left-handed hitter slashed .381/.435/.500 in a 12 game sample with a 142 wRC+. Gonzalez hasn’t shown much power but he’s hit his way onto the radar. Originally signed out of Venezuela for $550,000 in February 2024, the outfielder will now participate in the White Sox’s instructional league with a likely arrival in Kannapolis for full season ball at some point in 2026.