Just Missed: Chicago White Sox prospects just outside the pre-season 2023 top 30
The Chicago White Sox have some growth in their farm system over the past year but the overall state of the system still ranks in the bottom third of the sport with publications listing this group in the bottom five regularly. Baseball America ranked the system at No. 28 overall while Keith Law of The Athletic and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel went 28th and 25th respectively. Eric Longenhagen at Fangraphs didn’t rank the systems but he noted that while the system is thin, the top of it has rebounded quickly which is a “sizable step in the right direction”.
The organization has three players who have figured prominently on recent top 100 lists from publications and there are five position players in the organization who are on the brink of the big leagues. Colson Montgomery ranked 25th overall for Law and topped out at No. 15 for McDaniel while the latter also included Cuban infielder Bryan Ramos in his top 50. Oscar Colás was present on the lists at Baseball America and MLB.com, along with Montgomery.
Pitching has been infused into this system and the development of these arms will determine just how much growth the White Sox can make overall. There are 15 pitchers on our pre-season top 30 list and some more that could make the list in the future. With the 15th overall pick in every round of July’s draft, the organization will likely add more impact pitching before the mid-season list publishes as well.
That brings us to this list: 20 players who didn’t make our top 30 list during this cycle, but who our writers discussed and considered in some fashion. Check out our last version of the just missed from mid-season 2022. These are prospects on the edge of the radar and history suggests that some will contribute value in the future.
Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order
Eric Adler, right handed pitcher
The White Sox selected Adler in the sixth round of the 2022 draft back in July out of Wake Forest. The 22-year-old right hander has the potential for three plus pitches but has struggled to throw strikes consistently. He threw 4.2 innings in the White Sox’s system to close out his draft year and the club has been positive about his instructional league performance this past fall.
Prior to his junior year, the 6-2, 190 pounder was excellent in the Cape Cod League where he posted a 1.15 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. There are concerns regarding Adler’s ability to consistently throw strikes. The righty owns a plus fastball that touches 98 mph with carry and his hard breaking ball features depth with slider velocity. Adler projects as a high leverage relief option if he can harness his stuff.
AJ Alexy, right handed pitcher
The White Sox recently claimed A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. The 24-year-old was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2016 and was sent to the Texas Rangers in the original Yu Darvish trade. The 6-4, 195 pounder made his big league debut with the Rangers. He should serve as starting pitching depth in Chicago and will be participating in big league spring training.
Alexy has had lots of success pitching in the low minors but struggled in 96 innings in Triple-A last year. He has accumulated 30 major league innings as well and it hasn’t gone well statistically. Alexy possesses premium arm strength with a fastball that touches 98 mph. He uses a shorter arm action in the form of Lucas Giolito’s mechanical resurgence and he throws a 12-6 curveball as well. He profiles as a back end starting pitcher or long reliever.
Nick Avila, right handed pitcher
The White Sox used a Rule Five selection on Nick Avila this off-season; plucking him from the San Francisco Giants organization after they selected him in the 26th round of the 2019 draft out of Long Beach State. The 6-4 195 pound righty really took off after moving to the bullpen in 2022. He posted a 1.14 ERA last year and led all minor league relievers in that category.
The 25-year-old displays five pitches with a riding mid 90’s fastball and upper 80’s cutter that both consistently profile as plus offerings. He throws a four seam fastball, slider and changeup as well. Avila shows swing and miss stuff and induces lots of weak contact. He’ll be given every opportunity to make the big league camp during spring training.
Godwin Bennett, outfielder
The 6-2, 170 pounder repeated the DSL in 2022 and the now 20-year-old posted impressive numbers overall. He slashed .306/.430/.653 over the course of 41 games while smacking 11 homers. He strikes out too much and the batting average has suffered at times but the walk rates are high as well.
Bennett is a Nicaraguan corner outfielder who was signed during the 2021 international signing period by the White Sox. During his debut in the Dominican Summer League, the right handed hitter slashed .235/.377/.471 with four homers and a 135 wRC+ in his debut. After his big offensive season in the Dominican Republic, he should make his stateside debut in 2023.
Dario Borrero, outfielder/first base
The now 19-year-old only played five games in 2021 with the DSL White Sox after suffering an injury. When he was initially scouted, the outfielder was around 6-1. He’s now sprouted up to 6-5 and 190 pounds. He has a huge frame and looks ultimately destined for a first base future at this juncture.
Borrero hits and throws left-handed and he possesses plus raw power with huge potential attached to his bat. Borrero made his stateside debut this past season with the rookie level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League. The Venezuelan has shown a solid bat-to-ball track record but he’ll need to hit for power going forward after posting a 101 wRC+ in Arizona.
Jacob Burke, outfielder
The White Sox selected Burke out of the University of Miami in the 11th round of the 2022 draft and they paid him $225,000 which is top 8 round money. The 6-1, 210 pounder hit 13 homers for the Hurricanes with a triple slash of .347/.425/.599. The 21-year-old has been lauded for his makeup and Mike Shirley called him an “intriguing blend of tools, performance and makeup” and the club loved the profile as a physical athlete who should remain in center field.
Burke torched the Arizona Complex League upon arrival for five games prior to finishing his first season in Low-A with Kannapolis. In 22 games with the Cannon Ballers, the outfielder slashed .269/.380/.410 while posting a 126 wRC+ and playing like his hair was on fire. The White Sox could push him to Winston-Salem for the start of 2023.
Moises Castillo, shortstop
Castillo is a former international signing of the St. Louis Cardinals who was a minor league Rule Five selection of the White Sox in 2021. The 6-1, 170 pound infielder plays solid defense at shortstop and has shown a decent collection of overall tools. The 23-year-old has struggled offensively but did post a 106 wRC+ in High-A with Winston-Salem. The offensive struggles returned in a 63 game sample in Double-A to close out the 2022 season.
Castillo has produced really solid walk rates and earned some Arizona Fall League experience to close out 2022. He should return to Double-A and play somewhat regularly with the Barons in Birmingham. He could profile as a utility infielder down the road but he needs to figure out a way to impact the baseball on a more consistent basis.
Declan Cronin, right handed pitcher
Cronin was drafted in the 36th round of the 2019 draft out of The College of The Holy Cross. The 6-4, 225 pounder has put up solid numbers as a professional and he’s a pitch data favorite. The right hander throws a 93-94 mph fastball that plays up due to its tail and uphill plane. He shows a huge spin slider as well as his primary breaking pitch.
Cronin threw 28 innings in Double-A with the Barons in 2022 and posted a 3.86 ERA while averaging just over seven K/9. After earning a mid-season promotion to the Queen City, the 25-year-old posted a 3.52 ERA in 23 innings with the Knights. He only struck out 12 hitters and walked just five while posting a very respectable 4.25 FIP in that league. Cronin will be in the Charlotte bullpen and isn’t on the 40-man roster but he’s on the periphery of the big leagues.
Duke Ellis, outfielder
The White Sox signed Duke Ellis for $20K out of the University of Texas after the abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft. The 25-year-old plays with an infectious energy that has thrilled the natives of North Carolina over the past two minor league seasons. Ellis is a super athletic, high energy player who is a no-doubt center fielder long-term. In 2022, the outfielder hit .318/.423/.500 in a nine game sample with the Barons in Double-A after posting a 109 wRC+ in High-A over the course of 100 games. He has 12 professional homers and should return to Double-A for 2023.
Caleb Freeman, right handed pitcher
After struggling with command throughout his collegiate career, Caleb Freeman showed a composed approach on the mound last season to put himself on track to reach a major-league bullpen. The 24-year-old right-hander also made noticeable improvements with his curveball, which can be a plus secondary offering. The 6-1, 195 pounder really struggled in 14.1 innings over the course of 15 games with the Birmingham Barons last year.
With three potential plus pitches and a fastball that sits 94-97 mph consistently, Freeman could quickly get back on the big league radar with better health to close out of the gate in 2023. The right hander profiles as a high leverage relief option at his ceiling and he should return to Double-A after not being protected or selected in the Rule Five Draft this winter.
DJ Gladney, third base/first base
Gladney has clubbed 34 career homers in 240 games in the low minors to start his professional career. An over-slot signing out of Iliana Christian High School back in 2019, the local product posted a 109 wRC+ last year with the Cannon Ballers in Low-A before finishing as a participant in Project Birmingham.
The 21-year-old has frequently put up solid walk rates in the 10% range but the strikeouts have continued to keep him in this just missed section. The 6-3, 195 pounder has improved his strikeout rate but it still falls in the 32% range. He’s added some outfield work to his resume in addition to playing at third and first base regularly. DJ drove in 65 runs while smacking 18 homers last season on his way to a successful campaign. He should reach High-A for the first time in 2023.
Adam Hackenberg, catcher
In 86 plate appearances in 2021, Hackenberg slashed .346/.384/.457 with an 18.6% K rate in Kannapolis. Couple that with a 130 wRC+ and an .841 OPS and you get a tantalizing performance that landed him on our top 30 list that year. Hackenberg struggled some in Winston-Salem this past year with a wRC+ of 89. He also finished the season with Birmingham.
Taken in the 18th round of the 2021 draft out of Clemson, the long-scouted Hackenberg was selected for his plus defense. Despite his durable 6’2” 225 frame, he suffered numerous injuries at Clemson and only showed flashes at the plate. The backstop struggled offensively in 2022 but he receives a big league invite to spring training and should be considered catching depth for the White Sox.
Drew McDaniel, right handed pitcher
The 22-year-old threw 5.1 innings in the White Sox’s system last year after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi. The 6-2 185 pound right hander possesses a four pitch mix headlined by a 94 mph fastball with carry. He also shows a curveball that displays plenty of spin. Internal evaluators are excited about his progress from instructional league.
It’s not clear whether the White Sox envision McDaniel as a starting pitcher or reliever. He did both for the Rebels. The righty struggled in relief over the course of three games in 2020. In 2021, McDaniel started 13 games and threw 63.2 innings with an ERA over six while striking out 72 hitters. Struggles continued in a dual role in 2022. The right hander averaged 12 K/9 in 32.2 innings but the ERA was similar.
Yohemy Nolasco, right handed pitcher
The 19-year-old Dominican right hander has drawn physical comparisons to Cleveland right hander Triston McKenzie for his tall and slender frame. After posting a 3.81 FIP in the Dominican Summer League, Nolasco wasn’t as sharp in the complex league. In 34.2 innings in Arizona, the righty displayed a 92-96 mph fastball with life while showing feel for a slurvy breaking ball. The 6-3, 160 pounder should see some velocity gains as more strength comes. A favorite of Baseball America from 2021, he’ll be looking to bounce back in 2023 and likely does so while pitching in Kannapolis.
Nicholas Padilla, right handed pitcher
Padilla is another live arm who will join the group of recently acquired relief castoffs participating in White Sox’s big league spring training camp. Originally drafted in the 13th round out of high school back in 2015 by Tampa Bay, the Cubs acquired the right hander in the minor league phase of the Rule Five draft.
Padilla made it through the Cubs system using a 92-95 mph fastball and two above average breaking balls. The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers by the White Sox late last season after making his major league debut with the Cubs. The 6-2, 220 pounder posted a 1.23 ERA while averaging 10.4 K with the Iowa Cubs in Triple-A. He threw six innings with Triple-A Charlotte to finish the year and should return there to start 2023.
Carlos Pérez, catcher
Pérez is a 26-year-old backstop from Venezuela who has spent his entire career in the White Sox’s system. The 5-11, 205 pounder signed for $50K back in 2014. He displays a quick transfer and does a solid job cutting down runners. He’s always shown the ability to make contact at the plate as well.
Pérez profiles as an offensive minded backup catcher in the big leagues. He doesn’t strike out much but he doesn’t walk often either. He has clubbed 34 home runs over the last two seasons and posted a 100 wRC+ in Charlotte in 2022. Pérez played in seven big league contests last year and presently has a spot on the club’s 40-man roster. With Seby Zavala serving as the backup to Yasmani Grandal in Chicago, Pérez should remain one phone call away in Charlotte.
Arnold Prado, outfielder
A recent international signing who impressed league scouts during instructional league action this past year, Prado was signed last year out of El Tigre, Venezuela. The 6-3, 195 pound outfielder throws and hits from the right side and put up solid numbers in a small sample in the Dominican Summer League.
Prado played in the 29 games in the Dominican Republic sporting the White Sox’s logo. He hit .345/.457/.460 while posting a 155 wRC+. The outfielder posted a 15.2% walk rate but did only hit one home run. Players who take part in fall instructs generally make their stateside debuts the following year and Prado should play in the Arizona Complex League in 2023.
Luis Reyes, right handed pitcher
The White Sox signed Reyes on January 15th as the prize of this year’s international class for the organization. The 6-3, 190 pounder inked for $700K out of the Dominican Republic. Unlike typical international amateurs however, Reyes has extensive experience in the United States. He was a member of the Miami Miracles and he’s pitched in a multitude of stateside tournaments and competitions.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com lauded his “loose arm and plus fastball” and noted that other pitches are on the way. Marco Paddy called him a “power arm with three pitches” and also complimented his poise and competitive makeup. He possesses a power fastball, slider and changeup. Paddy noted that he’s personally seen Reyes adjust on the mound while pitching on numerous occasions. He should begin his career in the Dominican Summer League in 2023.
Luke Shilling, right handed pitcher
Luke Shilling’s story is pretty well established by now, but Cliff’s Notes: drafted in 2018, injured, released in 2020, re-signed, Tommy John surgery in 2021, minor league free agent, re-signed. The short stints during which Shilling was healthy and producing, his stuff was incredibly impressive (2.95 ERA with 27 K’s and only 8 walks in 18.0 innings in Winston-Salem in 2021), and the White Sox were hoping to move him up the ladder quickly before elbow troubles cut his rise short.
Shilling threw just over ten innings to close out 2022 in Winston-Salem and Birmingham. The stuff is still there, evidenced by the high K-rate, but the control and command have yet to return following the surgery. There is no reason to think it won’t, but it’s impossible to judge the 25-year-old off of his current production. The 6-4 230 pounder should return to the Barons to start the 2023 season. He still possesses the upside of a high leverage reliever.
Alsander Womack, second base
Womack was a four year standout at Norfolk State who posted an .898 OPS as a senior before signing as an undrafted free agent with the White Sox. The 23-year-old possesses big league bloodlines and his on field acumen and instincts playing the game really lend credence to it.
The son of Tony is a 5-9, 205 pound bowling ball who hits and throws right handed. He has shown plus bat-to-ball skills in his short time in professional baseball. In 76 games with the Winston-Salem Dash, Womack hit .272/.363/.396 with eight homers. He posted a 111 wRC+ with a 15% strikeout rate and solid 12% walk rate. Womack could start the season in Double-A with the Barons.
Dibs on Womack.
205 pounds my ass.
Eh, if he’s 5’9″ he could be around there.
I’d guess 230.
I personally think Duke Ellis is in their top-30 and may be a diamond in the rough. He has legit top-of-the-scale tools on top of plate discipline that’s rather rare in our system. My only concern with him is he seems to be a red-ass, and I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing in his case.