2026 Chicago White Sox Affiliate Preview: Winston-Salem Dash (High-A)
Winston-Salem could be one of the more fun and watchable White Sox affiliates to open 2026, both because of the talent already in place and because of how much movement could come over the course of the season.
The Dash finished 56-74 last year, but that record only tells part of the story. 17 players moved from Winston-Salem to Birmingham during the season, and several others either forced their way onto the prospect radar or positioned themselves to do so in 2026. It was another reminder that High-A is often the point where the White Sox begin sorting prospects from organizational depth.
That dynamic is back again this year, but the roster is stronger on paper than the group that opened 2025. Caleb Bonemer headlines the club after one of the best seasons any White Sox minor leaguer had last year, while Kyle Lodise, George Wolkow, and several recent draft picks give Winston-Salem a roster with more upside than usual. The club could also benefit from more lineup depth, with multiple familiar faces who have experience at the level.
Christian Oppor is gone to Birmingham, but Winston-Salem still has a rotation that includes some holdovers and breakout candidates, with arms the organization will want to challenge.
Grant Umberger looks like one of the biggest names to watch after his debut season, and he will get an opportunity to prove he belongs in the upper half of the system. 2025 5th-round pick Gabe Davis also joins the rotation, making his pro-ball debut. Aldrin Batista remains a notable name, though he opens the year on the 60-day IL as he continues working back from an elbow injury.
Guillermo Quiroz is back in Winston-Salem after leading Birmingham to a Southern League title in 2025, coming back to a level he previously managed in 23′ and 24′. He’ll be joined by pitching coach Jacob Dorris, who moves up from Kannapolis after his first year in the organization, and bench coach Tyler Coolbaugh, who transitions from the ACL with a background in hitting instruction. Logan Jones is listed as the performance coach.
Adam Sinkoe joins as hitting coach after his time at Bloomsburg. He recently sat down with Elijah Evans on the FutureSox podcast to discuss his path and approach, offering some insight into his background and how he views player development.
There is also no shortage of personality around this club. Winston-Salem will again lean into one of the spicier identities in Minor League Baseball, the Carolina Reapers rebrand, and if the White Sox are serious about keeping players comfortable from top to bottom, apparently that now includes bidets in the clubhouse, too.
As always at this level, the roster probably will not look the same by June. Bonemer could push to Birmingham before long, more help should arrive from Kannapolis, and rehab situations like Casey Saucke could alter the look later in the spring. Still, this is a better opening group than Winston-Salem had a year ago, and there is enough here for the Dash to matter both in the standings and in the bigger picture of the farm system.
That matters for this affiliate because Winston-Salem can sometimes feel like a holding zone between the lower minors and Birmingham. This roster has enough prospect value that the coaching side will be part of the story, too.
Winston-Salem opens the season on April 3 against the Rays’ affiliate, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, with an early test against a roster headlined by 2024 first-round pick Theo Gillen, the top prospect in Tampa Bay’s system according to MLB Pipeline.
Starting Pitchers
- Grant Umberger (24, LHP)
- Gabe Davis (22, RHP)
- Frankeli Arias (22, LHP)
- Dylan Cummings (26, RHP)
- Justin Sinibaldi (24, LHP)
The Dash pitching staff has a chance to be one of the more interesting groups in the lower minors, largely because it blends older depth arms with a few pitchers who still carry developmental value. Unlike Kannapolis, where the focus is often on first exposure to full-season ball, Winston-Salem is more about separating who can handle an upper-level assignment and who is beginning to profile as a legitimate option for Birmingham.
Fresh off a strong first full season, Grant Umberger gets to carry that momentum into High-A. The 24-year-old left-hander logged 105.2 innings in Kannapolis with a 2.56 ERA, consistently filling the zone and limiting damage. He works with a low-to-mid-90s fastball that has ticked up since college, pairing it with a slider that generates plenty of swing-and-miss and a usable third pitch to keep hitters off balance.
The results were strong, but this next step will be more telling, as he looks to carry that same strike-throwing ability against more advanced hitters and show he can remain effective without relying on experience alone. Umberger was featured on the recent FutureSox Just Missed List.
A 5th-round pick in the recent draft, Gabe Davis offers one of the more physically-projectable arms in this group as he gets set for his pro debut. The 21-year-old right-hander stands 6-foot-9 and signed over slot out of Oklahoma State, reflecting the organization’s belief in the long-term upside despite an uneven college track record.
His fastball reaches the upper 90s and has touched 100, working off a hard slider that can miss bats when he’s in sync. There’s also some feel for a changeup, though the focus early will be on repeating his delivery and finding more consistent strike-throwing.
The White Sox view him as a starter, and this will be the first look at how his stuff plays in a regular role. Davis was also featured on the recent FutureSox Top 30, checking in at No. 24. The big righty was also highlighted by Josh Norris of Baseball America as one of the 50 players impressing scouts in free agency.
Frankeli Arias handled a full High-A assignment a year ago. Part of the 2022 international signing class out of the Dominican Republic, the 22-year-old left-hander logged 88.2 innings with a 3.76 ERA across 17 starts, limiting hits while working through some command inconsistency.
Arias also picked up two appearances with the major league club during spring camp, another sign of how the organization views his progress. A steady start could put him in line for a move to Birmingham as the season unfolds.
Dylan Cumming looks set to remain part of the Winston-Salem rotation after logging time in both starting and multi-inning roles last season. The 26-year-old right-hander made 14 starts for the Dash in 2025, finishing with a 5.34 ERA across 55.2 innings at the level while showing the ability to handle different roles on the staff. His role early in 2026 will have innings, with an opportunity to provide stability as the rotation takes shape.
Justin Sinibaldi put together one of the more steady seasons in Kannapolis last year and now carries that into a jump to High-A. The 23-year-old left-hander worked 91 innings across 22 starts with a 3.76 ERA, leaning on control and contact management rather than pure swing-and-miss.
A 14th-round pick out of Rutgers in 2024, Sinibaldi limits damage by keeping hitters off balance and avoiding free passes. He also drew the start in the FutureSox Showdown and impressed, and this next step will test how that approach holds up against more advanced bats.
One name not on the active roster but still worth mentioning is Mathias LaCombe. He is expected to start in Arizona, but he will be one of the additions once the White Sox decide he is ready for the rotation. Aldrin Batista and Luis Reyes belongs in that same conversation, though the immediate focus is simply getting him healthy again.
Relief Pitchers
- Morris Austin (26, RHP)
- Luke Bell (25, RHP)
- Jonathan Clark (25, RHP)
- Jake Curtis (24, RHP)
- Seth Keener (24, RHP)
- Aric McAtee (25, RHP)
- Drew McDaniel (25, RHP)
- Liam Paddack (22, LHP)
- Jack Young (24, RHP)
Jack Young brings one of the more unique looks in the system back to Winston-Salem after reaching High-A late last year. The 24-year-old right-hander split time between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, posting a dominant 0.35 ERA in Low-A before finishing with a 3.95 FIP across both levels.
A 9th-round pick out of Iowa in 2024, Young relies on deception and arm angle variation to disrupt hitters, pairing it with a full three-pitch arsenal. He also closed out the FutureSox Showdown with a clean 1-2-3 inning, and the focus now shifts to getting his feet under him, beginning the year at the level while tightening command.
Seth Keener lands back in Winston-Salem looking to reset after a challenging 2025 season. The 24-year-old right-hander logged 77 innings across multiple roles with an 8.06 ERA, including time at both Kannapolis and Winston-Salem as the organization worked to find the best fit.
A 3rd-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2023, Keener’s slider and changeup remain his best weapons, giving him two secondaries that can miss bats when he’s ahead in counts. The issue has been fastball effectiveness, which has put him in tough spots and limited his ability to work consistently in the zone.
He has also dealt with movement between levels and roles, and a full season in Winston-Salem could help him find a more consistent rhythm as he settles into a bullpen role.
Aric McAtee carries some early pro momentum into a return to Winston-Salem after a mixed introduction to High-A. The 25-year-old right-hander impressed in Kannapolis with a 3.57 ERA across 17.2 innings before earning a promotion, where results were less consistent in a smaller sample. An undrafted signee from Stetson out of the MLB Draft League in 2025.
McAtee showed a full mix that stood out early, including a mid-90s fastball, a sharp breaking ball, and a changeup that generated swings and misses. He ran into more resistance at the next level and missed most of the summer with an injury. But there is still a foundation to build on, and another year in Winston-Salem should get him to settle in and translate that early success more consistently.
Jonathan Clark turned in one of the more impressive seasons in the system a year ago and is back in Winston-Salem looking to build on it. Signed to a minor league deal in 2025, the 25-year-old right-hander quickly translated that opportunity into results, posting a 1.93 ERA over 56 innings across 41 appearances between Kannapolis and High-A. His time in Winston-Salem stood out, allowing just one earned run over 14 outings for a 0.61 ERA while working in high-leverage spots.
Clark’s rise followed a delivery overhaul before joining the organization, and the improved command showed throughout the year. He fits into the late-inning deal for the Dash bullpen, where another strong stretch could put him on the radar for a move up to Birmingham, given he will be 26 later this year.
Morris Austin, Luke Bell, and Drew McDaniel return to Winston-Salem to anchor a group of middle relief options with different paths to this point.
Austin, a 10th-round pick by Milwaukee in 2023, posted a 3.97 ERA over 56.2 innings across 43 outings, between Kannapolis and High-A. Bell is back in Winston-Salem and moved between levels in 2025, including a brief stint in Charlotte, logging 58.1 innings in 38 appearances. McDaniel showed promise early, a 1.82 ERA in Kannapolis, but has dealt with injuries at multiple stops that have limited his ability to build consistency.
Each brings a slightly different look out of the bullpen, but all three fit into the middle relief roles.
Jake Curtis and Liam Paddack make the jump to Winston-Salem after finishing last season in the Kannapolis bullpen. Curtis, an Illinois native from Chatham, signed in 2025 out of Memphis and logged 59.1 innings with a 3.49 ERA across 31 appearances, showing an ability to handle multiple innings while working in and out of different roles.
Paddack, an 18th-round pick in 2024 out of Gonzaga, threw 44 innings over 33 outings in his first full season, featuring a deceptive left-handed arm angle that can disrupt timing and create uncomfortable looks for hitters.
Jake Peppers and Tommy Vail round out the bullpen group, though both open the year inactive. Peppers, a 9th-round pick in 2023 out of Jacksonville State, logged 62.2 innings across 41 appearances last season before being placed on the temporary inactive list, retroactive to April 2.
Vail, a left-hander, split most of his time between Winston-Salem and Birmingham while also cameoing in Charlotte, posting a 4.15 ERA over 84.2 innings with nine starts. He opens the season on the 7-day injured list, but both bring multi-inning versatility when available.
Infielders
- Caleb Bonemer (20)
- Ryan Burrowes (21)
- Anthony DePino (23)
- Kyle Lodise (22)
- Alec Makarewicz (25)
- Colby Shelton (23)
Caleb Bonemer sets the tone for this group after a breakout first full season that saw him win a Carolina League MVP and pushed him near the top of the system.
The 2024 2nd-round pick slashed .281/.400/.458 across 96 games in Kannapolis, combining advanced on-base ability with consistent extra-base impact and value on the bases. He carried that into a brief High-A look late in the year, reaching base at a .409 clip with seven extra-base hits in 11 games.
Now ranked No. 2 on the FutureSox Top 30 and No. 47 by Just Baseball, Bonemer has emerged as a consensus Top 100 prospect with confident swing decisions and a natural ability to generate lift and impact to the pull side. He looked more comfortable at shortstop than many evaluators anticipated, but the long-term fit likely sees him migrate toward a corner spot, whether on the dirt or in the outfield.
A strong start here could move him to Birmingham quickly.
Kyle Lodise, Colby Shelton, and Anthony DePino give Winston-Salem a trio of recent draft bats still settling into pro ball, each at a different point in that transition. Lodise (No. 16 on the FutureSox Top 30) was pushed straight to High-A after going in the 3rd round in 2025 and showed flashes of his contact ability and feel for the barrel, even as the consistency came and went in a small sample.
Colby Shelton (No. 30) followed in the 6th round and enters 2026 as one of the more important offensive evaluations in this group after a quiet pro debut.
The left-handed bat has a proven track record against SEC pitching and showed a more controlled, contact-driven approach in his draft year, tightening swing decisions while still leaving room for his power to play. That hasn’t translated consistently yet, but the foundation is still there. If the timing and impact come together against better pitching, he has a chance to take a real step forward.
DePino, a 7th-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Rhode Island, comes in with a polished offensive track record after putting up big numbers in college, including consistent on-base production and plus pull-side power.
The right-handed bat is built around strong swing decisions and the ability to drive the ball when he gets into advantageous counts, which is what drew the organization to him. He should handle most of his time at first base, with the flexibility to move to third when needed.
There should be a lot of movement with this group across the infield. Lodise can handle short when needed, while Shelton rotates between second and third. It’s an early look at how this 2025 draft class holds up at the level, with the bat needing to carry the group as they adjust.
Ryan Burrowes gives Winston-Salem one of the more dynamic athletes in the system, coming off a 2025 season where he split time between Kannapolis and High-A and held his own while playing well below the typical age for the level. He hit .255 with a .342 OBP across 111 games and was a constant factor on the bases, going 47-for-53 in stolen base attempts.
Originally signed out of Panama in 2022, Burrowes has taken a longer development path since his DSL breakout, working through injuries and inconsistency early in his stateside career before beginning to find more stability last season. The speed is the carrying tool, but there’s also feel for the zone and enough bat-to-ball ability to keep the profile interesting if the contact continues to trend in the right direction.
Defensively, he’s no longer locked into one spot. He saw time on the dirt, and that should continue, but there’s a real chance he moves around more this year, including looks in the outfield. At 21 and still adjusting to upper levels, this is a key stretch for Burrowes to tighten up the swing-and-miss and let the athleticism play more consistently.
Alec Makarewicz returns to Winston-Salem after finishing last year in Birmingham, giving the Dash a 25-year-old bat with experience across multiple levels. The former undrafted free agent out of NC State hit 11 home runs with 62 RBI across High-A and Double-A in 2025, showing some power and on-base ability even as the overall contact was inconsistent.
He’s played both corner infield spots and has moved around defensively since entering the system, so he should factor in as a versatile option who can bounce between third and first, with the ability to fill in where needed.
Outfielders
- Ely Brown (21)
- Jacob Burke (25)
- T.J. McCants (24)
- Cole McConnell (25)
- Alex Ungar (24)
- George Wolkow (20)
George Wolkow remains one of the most fascinating evaluations in the system and easily one of its highest-upside bets.
Ranked No. 15 on the FutureSox Top 30, the 2023 7th-round pick continues to stand out physically at 6-foot-7 with rare raw power that few prospects can match, but 2025 was more about underlying progress than the surface line. He finished with 13 home runs and improved swing decisions, trimming the swing-and-miss while showing better control of the zone and more competitive at-bats, particularly against spin.
There were clear signs the adjustments were taking hold, both in-game and into the spring, where he’s looked more comfortable letting pitches travel and making more intentional swing decisions rather than selling out for power . The impact ability is still elite, with top-end exit velocities and bat speed that give him middle-of-the-order upside if it all clicks.
At the same time, this next step to Winston-Salem will be a real test. The improvements need to translate into more consistent contact and damage against better sequencing and secondary stuff. The range of outcomes remains wide, but few players in the system can match, making him one of the most important developments to follow this season.
Ely Brown is one of the more intriguing early performers from the 2025 class after stepping right into Kannapolis and producing immediately. The 12th round pick out of Mercer, who signed for $175K as a priority add, hit .317 with a .417 OBP in his pro debut while showing a natural feel for controlling at-bats and putting himself in favorable counts.
He found ways to reach base and keep the ball in play. Turning that into pressure on the bases, going a perfect 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts.
Ranked No. 25 on the FutureSox Top 30, Brown is viewed as one of the more under-the-radar names in the system. There have already been signs of added strength since signing, and if that begins to translate into more impact without changing his approach, he’s a name that could move quicker than expected.
That third spot should stay fluid early on. Jacob Burke fits right into that mix after another up-and-down year that saw him move between Birmingham and Winston-Salem. A former 11th-round pick out of Miami, Burke has an approach that once allowed him to move quickly through the system.
The defensive value still shows up in center, and the energy he plays with hasn’t changed, but the bat has yet to settle over a full season fully. Health played a role in slowing that progression, and now back in Winston-Salem, this feels like a reset stretch where consistent contact will determine how much run he earns. He can handle all three outfield spots, which keeps him firmly in play for everyday at-bats, with eyes to a return to Birmingham.
T.J. McCants, a 16th-round pick in 2024 out of Alabama after a four-year SEC career split between Ole Miss and Alabama, brings a different offensive look as a left-handed bat with strength and leverage in the swing.
McCants posted a 119 wRC+ across Kannapolis and Winston-Salem last season, showing flashes of impact even with some swing-and-miss still present. There’s enough feel for the zone to work counts, and when he gets extended, the ball comes off with authority. He’s likely to stay in a corner role, but if the contact rates hold, he could push into a larger share of at-bats.
After being selected in the 10th round in 2024 out of Louisiana Tech, Cole McConnell finished his debut season around league average with a 99 wRC+, which is a solid starting point given the jump into pro ball. The left-handed bat is built around on-base ability and pull-side impact, and while there’s some swing-and-miss to monitor, the overall offensive track record suggests there’s more there if things click. Like others in this group, he’ll be competing for consistent reps while adjusting to more advanced pitching.
Alex Ungar earned this opportunity after producing in the MLB Draft League and at Sacred Heart, where he showed a strong hit tool and on-base ability. Also has some speed that translates into both extra-base hits and stolen bases. His contract was transferred from the Frontier League into the organization this spring, and he now steps into affiliated ball for the first time. There’s some versatility defensively with time in both right and center.
Casey Saucke is another name to keep in mind as the year progresses. The 4th-round pick in 2024 out of Virginia made a strong first impression after signing, jumping straight to Winston-Salem and producing a 110 wRC+.
His season was cut short just five games into 2025 after Tommy John surgery, but the early look showed the strength and impact he can bring at the plate. He was also featured on the FutureSox “Just Missed” list this year, and once healthy, should work his way back and factor into at-bats later in the season.
Eddie Park is also part of this group, even if he wasn’t included in the Opening Night outfield post. The 8th-round pick in 2023 out of Stanford brings a speed-first profile with a contact-oriented approach and the ability to get on base, while covering ground defensively in center. He doesn’t need to do much to impact a game, and that skill set gives him a path to carve out a role as opportunities open up.
Catchers
- Jackson Appel (24)
- Grant Magill (25)
The catching group is not deep, but Jackson Appel gives Winston-Salem a steady presence behind the plate with a chance to move this season.
Appel’s one of the more advanced receivers in the system, showing a strong feel for handling a staff while controlling the zone and consistently finding ways to get on base. The power is limited, but the overall profile is stable, and he should handle the majority of the workload while giving the pitching staff a reliable target.
Grant Magill fits in behind him after joining Kannapolis in May and working his way up later in the year, stepping into another backup role where he can rotate in and help carry innings when needed. His value comes from his availability and dependability behind the plate, giving the staff a second option they can trust throughout the season.
It’s a thinner group overall, which keeps Kannapolis in focus, as there are enough catchers at the lower level worth monitoring if someone forces the issue and pushes their way into the mix as the year develops.
