An Arizona/Chicago Fan’s Unique Prospect Watch This Summer

I’ve been playing fantasy baseball for over 30 years, and during that time, I have enjoyed the journey that a baseball player goes along, as hard as it seems. This summer I will follow eight players from the White Sox and the Diamondbacks. The prospects all have different skill levels and are assigned to different levels of the Minor Leagues. Why these two teams? Simple. I was born in Chicago and grew up a White Sox fan, and now reside in Arizona and follow the Dbacks locally.

Slade Caldwell, OF, 18, Diamondbacks (#5 on our Dbacks Top 50 prospects)
Caldwell fits the Diamondbacks’ mold of an outfielder do-it-all player who can cause havoc all over the diamond. Slade is getting started at Single-A Visalia. Look for Slade to move quickly, possibly reaching Hillsboro this season.

This time last year, Slade Caldwell was starring for Valley View HS in Jonesboro, Ark.

Now, the @Dbacks prospect is slugging homers for the @VisaliaRawhide! pic.twitter.com/pYCWOKGCPx

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 11, 2025

Daniel Eagen, RHP, 22, Diamondbacks (#30 Dbacks Top 50)
Eagen was drafted out of Presbyterian College where he was the Southwest Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Year. He was given an aggressive assignment with High-A Hillsboro. Look for Eagen to spend most of 2025 at Hillsboro, with a promotion to Amarillo in early 2026.

JD Dix, SS, 19, Diamondbacks (#14 Dbacks Top 50)
Dix is a switch-hitting middle infielder drafted out of high school. Due to some shoulder issues, Arizona is keeping him extended Spring Training. Once Dix shows his shoulder is healthy, I see him reaching Double-A Amarillo by September.

Extended Spring Training games start today. Dbacks vs A’s. Let me tell you about JD Dix. As you’ll see, big body, explosive bat speed and some wheels! He turns in two triples from both sides of the plate! 🚀 #ProspectOne pic.twitter.com/QY7gSugL3g

— The Welsh (@IsItTheWelsh) April 7, 2025

Trent Youngblood, OF, 23, Diamondbacks (N/R Dbacks Top 50)
Youngblood was the first player ever drafted out of Transylvania University. He’s another outfielder who can do it all on the diamond. He should be assigned to the Rookie Complex League to get started later this summer. Youngblood will probably spend most of his first season at Visalia and I can see him starting 2026 with Hillsboro.

Nick McLain, OF, 22, White Sox (#39 White Sox Top 50)
Yes, there are three McLain brothers. Nick was drafted by the White Sox in the third round and has started the 2025 season at Single-A Kannapolis. After facing injuries in college, McLain now has to prove he is healthy. A late-season promotion to High-A Winston-Salem is a definite possibility.

Caleb Bonemer, SS, 19, White Sox (#21 White Sox Top 50)
Bonemer was a second round pick for the White Sox in 2024. His journey has also begun at Single-A Kannapolis. I would like to see Bonemer slide over to third base where his path to Chicago could be a lot quicker. For now, I see him spending this season in Kannapolis with an early 2026 promotion to Winston Salem.

Casey Saucke, OF, 21, White Sox (#40 White Sox Top 50)
Following the 2024 MLB Draft, Saucke got his feet wet last summer at High-A Winston Salem with just under 100 at bats. Chicago decided to assign Saucke to Single-A Kannapolis to start this season. He will have to battle for at bats in a very talented Cannon Ballers outfield (Braden Montgomery, George Wolkow and McLain). If he can get enough playing time, he should reach Winston-Salem mid-season 2026.

Jack Young, RHP, 23, White Sox (N/R White Sox Top 50)
Young was a ninth round pick out of the University of Iowa. He’s also started his pro career at Single-A Kannapolis. It’s very interesting to see Young being used exclusively as a reliever so far. He uses two arm slots in his approach which could lead to a faster movement through the minors. I can see Young getting all the way to Double-A Birmingham this year.