2026 White Sox Mid-Season Just Missed List
The White Sox have a farm system in transition. An entire draft class has entered the mix while top prospects like Sam Antonacci, Braden Montgomery and Noah Schultz have graduated from prospect status. Draftees are playing in Arizona as the complex league season has concluded and the Dominican Summer League is still ongoing.
There are plenty of new names on our mid-season top 30 prospect’s list here at FutureSox and some names featured on the pre-season list just missed the cut this time. The Just Missed list from the pre-season can be read here.
There are some recent draft picks on this list including two exciting bats from the 2026 class. Some holdovers remain on this list while some recent top 30 players inhabit this group as well. Players who have made their way stateside or in full season ball from the Dominican Summer League or Arizona Complex League are present too.
That brings us to this version of the list. 20 players who didn’t make our list during this cycle but who our writers all discussed and considered in some fashion. There are prospects om the cusp of the radar and history suggests that some will contribute value.
Note: players are listed in alphabetical order.
Alexander Albertus, Infielder
Albertus has finally had some decent run in 2026 after being on the shelf with complications from a fractured tibia over course of two seasons. The White Sox acquired the 21-year-old infielder with Miguel Vargas and Jeral Perez in 2024 and the organization was attracted to his baseball IQ in addition to shwoing off an advanced hit tool with a disciplined approach. The 6-1, 176 pounder hits right-handed with a hit over power profile and he fits best at third base. The infielder has posted a 102 wRC+ in Low-A Kannapolis with three homers and a 16% walk rate.
Max Banks, Right-Handed Pitcher
The 2025 14th-round pick has quickly emerged as one of the better late-round arms in the system. Banks has posted a 2.75 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 88.1 innings between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem after earning a promotion to High-A in June. He was named White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month after going 4-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 27 strikeouts against two walks in May. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has added roughly two mph since the draft and now averages close to 94 with his four-seam fastball. His unusually high release creates a steep angle on a vertical slider, while a cutter he can consistently land in the zone has helped him limit walks. The organization is also developing a sweeper to give him another option against right-handed hitters. Banks has already outperformed his draft position and continues to build a case as a legitimate starting pitching prospect.
Aldrin Batista, Right-Handed Pitcher
A second procedure on the same elbow has kept him off the mound this season. The 23-year-old entered the year ranked No. 20 after returning from an elbow stress fracture late in 2025, but he needed a screw inserted to stabilize the injured bone. Batista resumed throwing in July and is working through another lengthy buildup. When healthy, his mid-90s fastball plays above its velocity because of a deceptive lower slot. The changeup has been his most reliable secondary pitch and helped him miss bats as a starter before the injuries. Two interrupted seasons have stalled his development, though the underlying stuff still makes him one of the more interesting arms outside the top 30.
Clay Burdette, Outfielder
The White Sox selected Burdette in the 7th round of the 2026 draft out of Xavier. The 22-year-old ranked in the top 250 prospects for the class at MLB Pipeline and the outfielder was known for his physicality and athleticism. The 6-2, 215 pounder hits right-handed and clubbed 30 homers in two seasons for the Musketeers. With premium exit velocity on display, strength and bat speed, it’s an intriguing blend of offensive tools. Burdette has raw power to all fields and while the Sox like his ability, there’s an aggressive approach with hit tool concerns. He’s a plus runner with a chance to stick in center field. He’s currently making his professional debut in Low-A.
Ronald Cardozo, Catcher
The White Sox signed Ronald Cardozo for $400K out of Venezuela in January 2026 as member of their most recent international class. The 17-year-old has six homers in the Dominican Summer League and possesses above-average power. The right-handed hitter has slashed .341/.436/.593 with a 137 wRC+ in 41 games. The 6-5, 198 pounder has also walked at a 14% clip. When he was signed, reporting indicated that he possessed advanced receiving skills and a plus arm behind the plate. Cardozo shows high end bat speed with all fields power as well but he’s put on some size and could ultimately profile at first base.
Juan Carela, Right-Handed Pitcher
After missing the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Carela entered the year looking to pick up where he left off as a reliable upper-minors arm. Before the injury, he handled a full workload across High-A and Double-A and showed the ability to miss bats while keeping runs in check. His arsenal is built around a fastball that plays in the low to mid-90s and a slider that serves as his most effective weapon, with additional offerings that give him a workable mix. The overall profile leans more toward pitchability than overpowering stuff, and his long-term role will depend on how well he can locate and sequence coming off the layoff. Carela has made nine starts and struck out 30 in 28.1 innings in his return and is currently back in Double-A.
Jose Colmenares, Infielder
Colmenares recently started playing with the Birmingham Barons in Double-A for the White Sox. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Philadephia Phillies in June as part of the return for outfielder Derek Hill. The 5-11, 193 pounder plays multiple infield spots and he hit .278/.403/.413 with a 122 wRC+ in High-A last year. The Venezuelan clubbed eight homers in 2025 but he’s hit over power with some feel for the zone and contact ability.
Stiven Flores, Catcher
The White Sox signed Flores for $250K out of Venezuela back in 2023 and he’s finally made his way to Low-A. The 5-11, 180 pund backstop is hitting .291/.368/.358 with three homers for the Cannon Ballers. The 20-year-old right-handed hitter doesn’t make much impact offensively and he chases often but doesn’t swing and miss a lot. He also doesn’t possess much power but the receiving and blocking skills have improved overall. There’s some time at first base as well but the offensive profile only really fits at catcher.
Wikelman Gonzalez, Right-Handed Pitcher
An encouraging start was interrupted by a two-month injured-list stint, and González has struggled to regain that form since returning. The 24-year-old opened the season with a 2.57 ERA and 20 strikeouts against five walks over 14 innings for Charlotte. His overall line has since risen to a 6.21 ERA, though he has still recorded 41 strikeouts in 29 innings. González reached Chicago last season and posted a 2.66 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 20.1 innings. The White Sox have committed to him as a reliever, where his mid-90s fastball and power curveball give him the weapons to work multiple innings. The organization restored more two-plane depth to the breaking ball after it had flattened into a sweeper. Command remains the deciding factor, and his uneven return from the injured list kept him outside the top 30 despite a spot on the 40-man roster and a realistic chance to help the major league bullpen again.
Braden Holcomb, Outfielder
The White Sox selected Holcomb in the 12th round of the 2026 draft and they gave him an over-slot bonus. The 6-4, 245 pounder hit .352/.434/.621 with 14 homers for the Commodores this spring. The Vanderbilt outfielder has played all three spots and has some first base utility as well. The 21-year-old is playing with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in Low-A. Holcomb possesses well above-average raw power to all fields. The organization likes his right-handed power but he’s too aggressive and chases too often.
Jairo Iriarte, Right-Handed Pitcher
A difficult 2025 cost Iriarte his 40-man spot, but a full-time move to relief has put him back on the radar. The 24-year-old has posted a 2.20 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 23 walks over 49 innings between Birmingham and Charlotte. He earned White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors in June after recording a 1.26 ERA and holding opponents to a .130 average across eight appearances. Starting the season back in Double-A served as a “wake-up call” and pushed him to make needed changes. Iriarte now leans heavily on a two-seam fastball that helps him regain his delivery when he loses his feel. He pairs it with a shorter slider that has gained more than three mph and is classified as a cutter by Statcast. The walks remain the primary concern, but the revamped arsenal has restored his standing as a possible major league reliever.
Nick McLain, Outfielder
It’s been a winding road for McLain as he’s battled numerous injuries to start his professional career. The 5-10, 190 pounder plays all three outfield positions and he was a third round selection of the White Sox in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Arizona State product hits left-handed and displays high walk rates with low strikeout rates. The 23-year-old hasn’t gotten to his above-average raw power that often in games to date. The outfielder with solid bloodlines is now in Winston-Salem with the Dash after playing in 31 games in Low-A to start the season.
Shane Murphy, Left-Handed Pitcher
Murphy returned to Charlotte in 2026 after a brief Triple-A stint to close last season, but he has struggled to match the results that pushed him to No. 21 on the preseason list. The 25-year-old has posted a 5.45 ERA with 78 strikeouts over 104 innings between Birmingham and Charlotte after finishing 2025 with a 1.66 ERA. He was reassigned to Birmingham on August 1 and worked six innings in his return to Double-A. Murphy relies on locating a deep mix because his fastball works around 90 mph. His margin for error narrows when the command slips, which has happened more often against upper-level hitters this season. He could still reach Chicago as a long reliever or depth left-hander.
Rikuu Nishida, Outfielder
Nishida forced his way to Chicago after hitting .323/.449/.384 with a 128 wRC+ between Birmingham and Charlotte. He walked in 15.3% of his plate appearances before the promotion while striking out at the same rate. Nishida went 7-for-29 during a 12-game major league stint and made several sharp defensive plays in the outfield before being optioned on June 9. His size and limited power restrict the offensive ceiling, but the ability to reach base and move between second base and the outfield gives him value as an upper-level depth option.
Jeral Perez, Infielder
The 21-year-old Dominican ranked in the top 20 of our pre-season list but he’s fallen off this iteration. Originally acquired in June 2024 from the Los Angeles Dodgers with Alexander Albertus and Miguel Vargas, the right-handed hitter is a bat first infielder with bat speed and pull side power. Perez posted a 124 wRC+ with 22 homers in Winston-Salem with the Dash in 2025 but 2026 has been a struggle at the plate in High-A and Double-A. The infielder displays an aggressive approach and should profile best at second base if he can restore some of the previous offensive success at higher levels.
Junior Perez, Outfielder
Perez’s first major league look showed more power than his .171 average suggests. He hit three home runs in 36 plate appearances and produced a .516 expected slugging percentage. His 75.1 mph average bat speed also stood out, helping him post a 52.4% hard-hit rate and a 14.3% barrel rate. The contact issues were just as clear, as Perez struck out 14 times and drew only one walk. He was optioned to Charlotte during the recent outfield shuffle when Everson Pereira returned from the injured list, though Pereira was later designated for assignment at the deadline. The swing-and-miss remains the main concern, but Perez’s bat speed and ability to cover multiple positions keep him in the upper-level depth picture.
Luis Reyes, Right-Handed Pitcher
Reyes made 23 starts last year for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in Low-A, and he posted a 3.93 FIP in 87 innings. The 20-year-old struck out 88 while walking 37, but he accumulated 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. 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 righty posted a 4.60 FIP in 10 starts over 42.1 innings in the Arizona Complex League in 2024. Reyes struck out 51 and walked 21. He’s currently rehabbing after undergoing lat surgery.
Yobal Rodriguez, Right-Handed Pitcher
Rodriguez turned 18 this year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The right-handed Cuban opened his career with 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings in the Dominican Summer League, flashing a feel for pitching and the ability to miss bats, though his workload was limited as he only worked into the fourth inning twice. The $230K signing from the 2025 international class operates with a fastball that has reached the low 90’s and should continue to gain velocity as his frame fills out, while his changeup already shows advanced traits for his age and projects as a potential out pitch. A breaking ball is still developing, and overall consistency will need to follow as he builds experience. With a small sample but encouraging underlying traits, Rodriguez is a long-term development arm who should pitch stateside in 2027.
Tyler Schweitzer, Left-Handed Pitcher
The move to relief has brought out the best in Schweitzer and carried him to the majors for the first time. He has posted a 2.78 ERA over 22.2 innings for the White Sox while working almost exclusively in a multi-inning role. That included the club’s first four-inning save in 24 years on June 30. Schweitzer does not overpower hitters, but his deep mix allows him to change speeds and turn over a lineup when the bullpen needs length. The 25-year-old has moved between Charlotte and Chicago throughout the season and appears capable of sticking as a flexible left-handed relief option. His limited ceiling kept him outside the top 30, though he has already shown that he can help a major league staff.
Samuel Zavala, Outfielder
Zavala made a legitimate case to climb the list during his first month in Double-A. He opened the season hitting .265/.410/.469 with a 139 wRC+ while walking as often as he struck out. That production faded as the season progressed, leaving him with a .212/.347/.344 line and 10 home runs for Birmingham. The disciplined approach has continued to support his on-base percentage, but the swing can become passive and has produced inconsistent contact against better velocity. Zavala still has enough athleticism to handle center field and only turned 22 in July. He dropped out of the top 30 due to the talent added in the draft.
