Chicago White Sox
AL Central
2024 record: 41-121 (5th)
MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Charlotte Knights
Double-A: Birmingham Barons
High-A: Winston-Salem Dash
Single-A: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Notable prospects graduated in 2024
RHP Jonathan Cannon
Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2024
Tier 1
1. Noah Schultz, LHP, 21, Double-A
Schultz has the stuff to be a top of the rotation arm. His fastball tops out at 96-97 and his nasty slider is his primary out pitch, and he controls both pitches well. The 6’9” southpaw throws from that lower three-quarters arm slot that makes his slider look like it starts behind the back of left-handed hitters. He needs to continue to develop his change-up to keep right-handed hitters off his fastball. He would benefit from more time in the minors to fine tune things a bit, but the Sox might prefer to let him figure it out at the big league level. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 2
2. Hagen Smith, LHP, 21, High-A
Smith’s performance against Oregon State early in the 2024 season was the performance of the year in college baseball. His slider borders on double plus and gets horrendously bad swings to go with a fastball that has hit triple digits. He mixes off those two power pitches with a split-finger changeup in the upper 80s that allows him to be effective against bats on both sides of the plate. His delivery is certainly not ideal as there is plenty of funk into a lower slot and some cross body action, but he can spot his pitches well despite it and it all helps work to increase deception on top of the elite stuff. He has the upside of a future number two starter. (@ShaunKernahan)
3. Kyle Teel, C, 22, Triple-A
The Garrett Crochet bombshell trade landed the White Sox multiple top 100 prospects beginning with Kyle Teel. He’s largely regarded as one of the top catching prospects around the game based on the value he brings behind the plate both hitting and catching. Granted, there were times during the 2024 season where the defense was shaky, but his unrelenting work and baseball IQ made him a prized trade chip that the White Sox were surely happy to acquire. (@aj_greene1015)
4. Braden Montgomery, OF, 21, College
A nasty leg injury is the only reason Montgomery fell as far as he did, allowing the Red Sox to draft him and then flip him in the Garret Crochet deal. A two-way guy at Stanford before transferring to Texas A&M and transitioning to an outfielder only, the former power armed reliever automatically gives him one of the best arms in the White Sox system in the outfield. The part of his game he advanced most while at College Station was his ability to hit from the right side of the box, going from a guy who may have to give up switch hitting, to a guy who is unquestionably a switch hitter. A fringy five tool player, the power bat and power arm are the two loudest tools, but allow some patience as he bounces back from that leg injury. (@ShaunKernahan)
5. Colson Montgomery, SS, 22, Triple-A
A really strong 2023 campaign quickly catapulted Montgomery into top prospects status. Following a 2024 season where the numbers may not have popped as much as they had the year prior, Montgomery still holds a ton of value in the organization. In his first taste of Triple-A, he didn’t seem “outmatched” at the plate but he wasn’t putting up as many quality at bats as he’d been known for. His defense and athleticism are enough for him to stick at shortstop, and a return to Charlotte may be short-lived if he clicks early and finds himself on his way to Chicago. (@aj_greene1015)
6. Drew Thorpe, RHP, 24, MLB
With 44 innings major league innings already under his belt and slated to start the season in the big-league rotation, Thorpe is not long for this list. He had an up and down debut and underwent a procedure to clean up his right elbow. He has the stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter with the occasional high strikeout game. (@JMahyfam)
Tier 3
7. Edgar Quero, C, 21, Triple-A
If you’re a White Sox fan, you’re likely ready for Quero to be your Major League catcher for the start of the 2025 season, over the likes of Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss, right? After a solid Double-A/Triple-A campaign in 2024, Quero is ready. He put up 16 HR, 70 RBI and an .829 OPS across both levels, and I’m projecting a 15 HR, 60-65 RBI bat for the White Sox. As one of the former Angels top prospects who came to Chicago with Ky Bush in a deal for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, is a top 100 overall prospect, Quero is one of those bats the organization is excited for. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
8. Jairo Iriarte, RHP, 23, MLB
For the last few months of the summer, Irritate was absolutely lights out; after the All-Star break, Iriarte posted a 2.05 ERA in Double-A Birmingham. Chicago opted for him to jump straight to the Major Leagues, and he looked great in his six relief appearances. The strikeouts numbers were especially lower than they were in 2023, but that can be attributed to both elevated competition and the less consistent control. Despite Iriarte starting throughout MiLB, he might have a better chance to stick as a reliever. (@aj_greene1015)
9. Bryan Ramos, 3B, 22, MLB
Ramos had his 32-game cup of coffee last season, after 24 games in Double-A and 64 at Triple-A. Coming off a very strong 2023 Arizona Fall League campaign, Ramos struggled in Birmingham but still got promoted to Charlotte and definitely turned his season around. He’s been primarily playing 3B but can help out at 2B and OF as well. There isn’t much blocking him at the White Sox hot corner and he very well could break camp on the South Side. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
10. Chase Meidroth, 3B/SS, 23, Triple-A
Meidroth was climbing up the ranks in Boston’s system, and is coming off a very good full season at Triple-A Worcester, where he slashed .293/.437/.401/.838 as a 22-year-old. The versatile infielder split time at SS, 2B and 3B in 122 games. Looking like a future utility-type contributor at the Major League level for Boston, now with Chicago he should get his opportunity sooner than later. His 5’10”, 170 lb frame possesses some sneaky power, but he could become a regular 15-20 HR player, following his 20 doubles/seven HR campaign. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 4
11. Jeral Perez, 2B/SS, 20, Single-A
12. Jacob Gonzalez, SS, 22, Double-A
13. Wikelman Gonzalez, RHP, 22, Double-A
14. Nick Nastrini, RHP, 24, MLB
15. Samuel Zavala, OF, 20, High-A
16. Grant Taylor, RHP, 22, Single-A
17. George Wolkow, OF, 18, Single-A
18. Mason Adams, RHP, 24, Triple-A
19. Jake Eder, LHP, 26, MLB
20. Alexander Albertus, 3B, 20, Single-A
21. Caleb Bonemer, SS, 19, High school
Perez has a good eye at the plate and could develop some power as he matures. Nastrini struggled last year in the major leagues with his command but still has potential to be a mid-rotation starter in the major leagues. Zavala’s numbers took a dip from 2023 but could carve out a backup outfielder type role in the majors. Taylor has the potential to be a mid-rotation starter if he continues his development path. Wolkow is a big, powerful 18-year-old outfielder with a ton of potential, who’d love to decrease his strikeouts. Eder was once a mid-level prospect before Tommy John surgery but still has the stuff to be a solid starter in the majors. (@tonybps1)
Tier 5
22. Sean Burke, RHP, 25, MLB
23. Braden Shewmake, SS/2B, 27, MLB
24. Ky Bush, LHP, 25, MLB
25. Wilfred Veras, OF, 22, Double-A
26. William Bergolla, 2B/SS, 20, High-A
27. Brooks Baldwin, SS/2B, 24, Triple-A
28. Peyton Pallette, RHP, 23, Double-A
29. Seth Keener, RHP, 23, High-A
30. Prelander Berroa, RHP, 24, MLB
31. Aldrin Batista, RHP, 21, High-A
32. Javier Mogollon, SS, 19, Rookie (ACL)
33. Blake Larson, LHP, 18, High school
34. Tyler Schweitzer, LHP, 24, Double-A
35. Eduardo Herrera, 3B, 18, Rookie (DSL)
36. Shane Smith, RHP, 24, Triple-A
37. Tanner McDougal, RHP, 21, High-A
38. Sam Antonacci, 2B, 21, Single-A
39. Nick McLain, OF, 22, College
40. Casey Saucke II, OF, 21, High-A
41. Juan Carela, RHP, 23, Double-A
42. Ryan Burrowes, SS, 20, Single-A
43. Angelo Hernandez, C, 19, Rookie (ACL)
44. Riley Gowens, RHP, 25, Double-A
45. Wes Kath, 3B, 22, High-A
46. Ryan Galanie, 1B, 24, High-A
47. Jacob Burke, OF, 23, Double-A
48. Zach DeLoach, OF, 26, MLB
49. Joseph Yabbour, RHP, 21, Single-A
50. Rikuu Nishida, 2B/OF, 23, Double-A
Albertus has a good eye at the plate and could develop some power as he grows. Burke impressed during his 19 innings in the majors and could be in the rotation this season as a back-end starter. Bergolla has a great approach at the plate and has some speed but hasn’t tapped into power yet. He could be a solid leadoff hitter in a few years. Pallette transitioned into a bullpen role where his stuff could lead to a good career as a setup man or closer. Batista put up good numbers in A-ball last season as a starter. Herrera struggled as a 17-year-old in his first exposure to Rookie ball. Gowens could be a back-end rotation type in the majors if he continues his progress. Rikuu Nishida has a Hall of Fame name, which means he could be a nice dynasty pick-up. (@tonybps1)
Adam Greene is a student UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He currently writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League and UMass Athletics. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life and he's spent the last few years covering their farm system. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra
Greg covers the Toronto Blue Jays organization for Prospects1500. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, a long-suffering fan of both the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. For more than 15 years now a participant/commish in many dynasty baseball leagues, all with extremely deep minor league rosters. Follow on X @gregbracken07.
Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.
Leave a Reply