Chicago White Sox Top Prospects
Major leaguers and minor leaguers are entrenched in their respective seasons, but fans are always looking ahead to MLB team’s top prospects. After all, more often than not, the top prospects of their team will accomplish one of three things, be the next star/regular player for their team, get traded for a star player, or at least reach the MLB and contribute in some fashion. They are the backbone of any successful organization. Look at the Rays, they may have a tiny payroll, but they are consistently a top-performing team with their amazing prospect system. As such, I’m taking a look at Chicago White Sox’s top prospects. The Sox built a star-laden team through their minor leagues and prospects such as Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Andrew Vaughn, Garrett Crochet, Jose Abreu, and many others were prospects in their system.
So, who are the next 5 players set to become potential stars for the White Sox?
1. Colson Montgomery, SS, Single-A
Colson was the team’s first-round pick in the 21′ draft. He’s entering his first full pro season and is only 20. He’s got a good projection as a 6’4 SS with considerable raw power that draws me visions of a healthy Corey Seager. Colson developed a smooth swing that uses the whole field rather than only half of it. He should consistently launch 25+ HRs a year while potentially struggling working walks. The wider issues revolve around his defense and where he ends up. I’m not sure he has the speed or ability to stick at short which will force him to move to third. His arm should be fine for third, but he will have to prove his defense. I wouldn’t expect Montgomery for a while, perhaps until 2025 as he develops his defense and bat and grows into his frame.
2. Oscar Colas, OF, High-A
Colas is another player that is perhaps a ways away from the bigs. The 23-year-old only signed with the team in January after playing in Japan for years. In fact, he waited for over a year to sign with the White Sox just so he could play with other Cubans. Now, he’s in High-A for his first pro season which leads me to believe he isn’t debuting in the majors until late 2023 at best. He’s got strong power and could hit for 30 or more HRs a year, but will need to make contact. He’s a strikeout king in that he struck out almost 4X as much as he would walk. That’s not good. In order to get to the bigs, that will have to be fixed as will his defense where he has the arm for right field but needs a better glove. Either way, Colas will be in the MLB within a couple of years.
3. Wes Kath, 3B, Single-A
Kath joined the Whjite Sox in the 21′ draft when he was taken in the 2nd round after fellow top prospect Montgomery. Kath’s a 19-year-old 6’3 third baseman that should team up with Montgomery in the future to be the White Sox’s left side of the infield. Kath has a strong left-handed swing that will generate some power and at least be a gap-hitter. He will have to focus on his plate discipline and focus on putting the bat to the ball rather than just pulling the ball. His defense is good at third and should enable him to stick there long-term as he has good hands and a great arm. Don’t expect him to steal many bases as he’s slow. Look for Kath to reach the MLB in 2025 or so as he’s only in his first full-season pro year and is at Low-A.
4. Jared Kelly, RHP, Single-A
Kelly has a ton of upside in his arm after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. He’s a young pitcher at only 20 years and is coming off an injury-filled year in 2021 with forearm tightness. Overall, the hype is still there as he still reached the high-90s with a strong changeup. His big weaknesses are his weight and strength. He’s got to build up muscle while losing weight in order to reach his potential. If he can do that and maintain his control after throwing 26 walks in 23.2 innings last year, then he should become a regular in the rotation. However, he must work hard. If he does, then he should debut in 2024/25 for the Sox.
5. Yoelqui Cespedes, Double-AA
If you recognize his last name, it’s because he’s the younger brother of former MLB star OF Yoenis Cespedes. Yoelqui is 24 and packs a lot of power in his short 5’9 frame. He’s got quick hands that lead to an impressive bat speed while helping him reach his massive raw power. He does have swing-and-miss issues that lead to a higher than preferred strikeout rate. His patience is even worse as he only walked in 5% of his plate appearances last year. He should be in a corner outfield spot due to his strong arm but poor range. He could steal some bases, but his speed isn’t what you would expect for a player that is typically 5’9. If he can rein in his free-swinging approach and build up some patience, he could debut in the MLB later this season.
