As we inch closer to the end of the 2024 season, Sox on 35th is officially refreshing our prospect rankings to account for all of the season’s developments. While the Chicago White Sox have been an all-time disappointment this season, the farm system has steadily improved and is now one of the more respectable minor league systems in baseball.
To round out our rankings, we unveil the top half of our mid-season top 30 White Sox prospects list. This portion of the list features several prospects who are on track to take over prominent roles with the Chicago White Sox and is headlined by a new number 1 ranked prospect.
In case you missed it:
- Mid-Season Top 30 White Sox Prospects: Honorable Mentions
- Mid-Season Top 30 White Sox Prospects: 30-16
15. Nick Nastrini, RHP
The headliner in the trade that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers, Nick Nastrini was thought to have put himself firmly in the conversation to be part of the White Sox rotation during the 2024 season. After being acquired, Nastrini seemed to find a new gear with the Double-A Birmingham Barons as his K/9 rate jumped above 13, while his BB/9 stayed just below 3. Because of this impressive showing, he earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte where he continued to hold his own despite his walk rate jumping a bit. Unfortunately, while he did make his pro debut this season, he has battled control and inconsistency issues, leading him to bounce back and forth between Triple-A Charlotte and the MLB club.
While Nastrini gets rave reviews for his fastball and slider, he also sports a very promising curveball and a changeup. His curveball is slowly becoming a secondary pitch for Nastrini; he just needs to throw it for strikes more.
14. Jacob Gonzalez, SS
The 15th overall pick for the White Sox in 2023, Jacob Gonzalez got off to a bit of a slow start in his professional debut in 2023. He made adjustments over the offseason and came back strong to begin 2024 with the High-A Winston Salem Dash, sporting a solid .762 OPS and a 122 wRC+ Before earning a promotion to Double-A. He has struggled a bit more against the more advanced competition, however, and has yet to tap into the raw power potential he possesses in his bat.
Defensively, the White Sox seem committed to letting him prove that he is a shortstop long-term. However, he split time between there and second base when he and Brooks Baldwin were on the roster together and logged 18 games at the position in total. It is unlikely that he will ever be more than passable at shortstop due to limitations in his range, and a move to second or third base seems more likely.
13. Jake Eder, LHP
One of the biggest surprises of the trade deadline was the White Sox’s decision to trade Jake Burger to the Miami Marlins. While his surface numbers made it seem that he was struggling at the Double-A level this season, his FIP of 3.75 and xFIP of 3.47 told a different story, and his 86 strikeouts in 74.1 innings showcased his knack for getting opposing hitters to swing and miss. The Sox seemed to be able to look past the surface 5.09 ERA, deeming him worthy of a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. His command seems to have regressed since the promotion, however, and he has faced some struggles against more advanced competition.
The 6’4″ lefty has dealt with some injuries over the past couple of years, including Tommy John surgery in 2021. When healthy, though, he displays a plus fastball/slider combo that gives him number-two starter potential. He also has a changeup that has shown some promising development.
12. Ky Bush, LHP
At 6’6 240 lbs, Ky Bush is an imposing presence on the mound. Acquired alongside Edgar Quero in the Lucas Giolito trade, Bush is a polished left-handed pitcher who bounced back strong at Double-A Birmingham this season after an underwhelming showing last season. His performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A, and eventually a handful of starts at the MLB level.
While he isn’t expected to be a front-line starter, he can be a very effective backend pitcher who eats innings and keeps games winnable. Bush has a full arsenal of usable pitches, with his fastball consistently sitting in the 92-94 range. His best pitch is his slider, which at its best can be a true out pitch. He also uses a curveball and a changeup effectively and isn’t afraid to attack the strike zone.
11. Jeral Perez, 2B/SS
While Miguel Vargas was the headliner of the trade that sent Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, and Tommy Pham to the Dodgers, Jeral Perez might have been the most intriguing part of the return for the Sox. A 19-year-old middle infielder, Perez has produced at every level he has faced so far, showcasing above-average raw power to go along with his exceptional patience and discipline at the plate. He has the potential to be a 20+ home run hitter who will also get on base frequently,
Defensively, the Dodgers had Perez primarily playing second base, although the Sox have allowed him to split time between second and shortstop since they acquired him. He has solid actions in the field and just enough range. However, his fringy arm may force him to stay at second base, where he could be above average defensively.
10. Bryan Ramos, 3B
Bryan Ramos is an interesting evaluation. On one hand, many outlets had him just on the cusp of being a top 100 prospect prior to the start of the 2024 season, if not breaking into their lists. On the other, he has only been able to showcase his ceiling as an impact hitter in spurts. Part of this may be due to dealing with some injuries last season, however, it would still be beneficial if he could sustain his higher-end production for longer throughout the season.
In 2024, it has been more of the same with Ramos. He has put together spurts of showing that impact bat potential, but then he will go into cold stretches where he can’t buy a hit. His hot stretches this season were enough to get him a promotion to the MLB level on two occasions, and that is where he is likely to stay for the remainder of the season.
9. Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B
The White Sox selected Caleb Bonemer with the 43rd overall pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft and coughed up an over-slot bonus of roughly $3 million to get him out of his commitment to the University of Virginia. While he won’t be making his minor-league debut until 2025, it is clear that the White Sox are very high on Michigan’s two-time Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
Showcasing elite bat speed, Bonemer routinely showcases his plus raw power at the plate. He has some work to do with his approach and to fix some holes in his swing, but possesses high-end offensive upside when things are right. Defensively, he was primarily a shortstop in high school, with solid range and soft hands. He may profile better as a third baseman, however, where he has plenty of arm strength and can be a plus defensive asset.
8. Mason Adams, RHP
Mason Adams gained a lot of fans in scouting circles during the 2023 season with a strong showing across three levels, ending his season with a brief stint with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. A 13th-round draft pick in 2022, Adams has exceeded expectations with his performance so far with a 3.14 ERA and a 4.31 K/BB rate through the 2023 season. He has followed that up with an exceptional 2024 season, where dominated the Double-A level and earned a promotion to Triple-A in September.
Through 103.1 innings, Adams held a 2.44 ERA and 101 strikeouts, while holding a minuscule walk rate. While he doesn’t have elite velocity with his fastball, he can use different variations of it to keep hitters off balance. His curveball is his best pitch, generating a ton of break and locating it well. He may not have front-line starter potential but has a chance to be a legitimate mid-rotation starter for the White Sox very soon.
7. Jairo Iriarte, RHP
An under-the-radar international signing out of Venezuela in 2018, Jairo Iriarte has developed into a legitimate starting pitching prospect over the last several years. In 2023, he put up elite strikeout numbers, although he also battled some command issues which led to an inflated walk rate. Between High-A and Double-A, he held a 3.49 ERA through 90.1 innings at just 21 years old. That production led him to be a core part of the trade package that sent Dylan Cease to the Padres prior to the 2024 season.
Iriarte was up-and-down through 126 innings at the Double-A level this season, but still flashed his high-end potential. The front office is excited enough about his future that he skipped Triple-A and has joined the White Sox bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Iriarte has a dangerous arsenal at his disposal, headlined by a fastball that hits the upper 90s and has plenty of life. Both his slider and changeup are above-average offerings as well, with the slider specifically generating plenty of movement. As previously mentioned, command of his pitches is what could hold Iriarte back in the long run. Throughout his minor league career, he has allowed way too many free-base runners, and if he is unable to improve in that area he may be destined for a bullpen role. If he can improve his command, however, he has front-line upside as a starter.
6. Grant Taylor, RHP
Before sustaining an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Grant Taylor was generating first-round buzz heading into the 2023 collegiate season for LSU. Instead, the White Sox snagged him in the second round, where they believe they drafted a premium arm.
Making his minor league debut this season, Taylor quickly showcased why there was so much buzz around him before the elbow injury. Through 16 innings at Low-A Kannapolis, Taylor held a 1.13 ERA and struck out 25 batters while just walking 1 in that time. Unfortunately, he suffered a lat injury back in June and was shut down for the remainder of the season. He is expected to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League.
Although he spent the bulk of his collegiate career as a reliever, Taylor pitched extremely well as a starting pitcher at the Cape Cod league, firmly putting himself on the map in the eyes of scouts. When healthy, he throws a mid-upper 90’s fastball with life, and a curveball that generates elite spin rates. He also mixes in a slider and changeup that are at least average, and he throws from a high three-quarter arm slot.
5. George Wolkow, OF
A 6’7 outfielder, George Wolkow was selected in the seventh round in the 2023 draft at just 17 years old and signed for a $1 million signing bonus (equivalent to second-round value). Wolkow has experience playing both right and center field, but projects to the corner spot long-term. Due to his size and raw power, he has drawn comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton, although those are rather lofty expectations to put on him at this point. Wolkow is a left-handed hitter who, due to his size, raises some concerns about having a longer swing. He would’ve most likely been a first-round pick in the 2024 draft but decided to reclassify to get a head start on the competition.
Through the 2024 season, Wolkow has done nothing but impress. After dominating the competition in the Arizona Complex League, he was promoted to Low-A Kannapolis, where at just 18 he was one of the youngest players at the level. He continued to showcase his massive raw power at that level, although his strikeout rate remained around the 40% mark all season. Still, he has combined his massive raw power with a solid approach at the plate, showing the ability to work counts and draw his fair share of walks. The strikeouts stem mostly from some holes in his swing, which if he can clean up will allow him to remain a dominant force at the plate.
4. Edgar Quero, C
While the Sox brought in a plethora of new prospects at the deadline, Edgar Quero was the top prize that they were able to acquire. Coming in through the trade that sent Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels, Quero was one of the youngest players overall at the Double-A level in 2023. While that was due to an overly aggressive promotion stemming from his time with the Angels, he still was able to hold his own at the plate while improving defensively behind the plate.
In 2024, however, he seemed to recapture what made him successful back in 2022, as he has reestablished himself as a consensus Top 100 prospect in all of baseball. He was a force at the plate for the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and received rave reports for his ability to work with the pitching staff. He earned a promotion to Triple-A in early July, where he has found even more success with an OPS hovering right around .900. With the success he is having at the plate, combined with the strides he’s made defensively, it is clear that he will be the primary catcher for the Chicago White Sox very early in the 2025 season.
3. Hagen Smith, LHP
While many assumed the White Sox would be targeting a bat with the 5th pick in the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, it was the southpaw Hagen Smith that they ultimately landed on, and it is easy to see why they ultimately chose him. Earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors this past season, Smith put up video game-like numbers during his final collegiate season. He struck out 17.3 batters per nine innings while allowing just a .144 batting average against as the ace of the Arkansas pitching staff.
Sitting in the upper 90s while occasionally hitting 100, Smith’s fastball is a plus offering when combining his plus velocity with a low three-quarter arm slot that makes it difficult to read. His slider might be even more effective, however, sitting in the mid-80s with elite spin rates. It is a pitch that is difficult to hit for right-handers and nearly impossible to catch up to for left-handers.
While he uses an unorthodox delivery, a common theme for White Sox pitching prospects, Smith repeats his delivery well and has improved his command throughout his college career. he has a durable frame, standing at 6’3 225 lbs, and has all the tools to develop into a frontline starter.
2. Colson Montgomery, SS
The 2024 season has not gone according to plan for Colson Montgomery, as he relinquishes the top spot in the White Sox prospect rankings for the first time in years. Spending the entire 2024 season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights at just 22 years old, he was one of the younger players at the level.
He still showcases an elite knack for getting on base and has been able to tap into his raw power a bit more this season. However, his strikeout rate jumped to nearly 30%, and he hasn’t been able to keep his batting average up much higher than .200 for most of the season. He has caught fire as of late, though, and still has all the tools and capabilities to become a cornerstone of the future of this franchise. If he can carry that production into the 2025 season, there is little doubt he will be in a White Sox uniform very soon.
1. Noah Schultz, LHP
After an incredibly impressive showing throughout the 2024 season, Noah Schultz is the White Sox’s new top-ranked prospect and is arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball. While very few scouts questioned Schultz’s abilities on the mound, it was his lack of innings that caused caution with his expectations this season. He has put all those concerns to rest, however, as he looks. To approach 100 innings on the season. While pitching on an innings limit and a college-like schedule that saw him only start on Saturdays, Schultz has been able to build up his arm and take the mound every week for the duration of the 2024 season, and did nothing but impress doing so.
The 6’9 southpaw has showcased his elite stuff all season, striking out 42 batters in 27.1 innings prior to his promotion to the Double-A Birmingham Barons, and has kept those strong punchout numbers through his stint there. What has been more impressive, however, is his ability to repeat his delivery despite his length and low release point, leading to much better command of his arsenal.
Schultz has gained some velocity since being drafted in the first round back in 2022, sitting in the mid-90s. He has also started to pair his 4-seamer with a 2-seamer, adding another way to throw batters off. His best pitch is easily his slider, however, sitting in the low-80s and posting elite spin rates, which generate a ton of horizontal movement. Combined with his nearly side arm delivery with his long arms, the slider is extremely hard for batters to get a read on, especially left-handed hitters.
Schultz’s arsenal, delivery, and command all combine to give him some of the highest upside of any minor-league pitcher in baseball. He has risen the ranks quicker than initially expected, and has been able to handle the more advanced competition admirably. At this rate, a debut in 2025 is not out of the question, and there is little question that he is capable of developing into the ace of the White Sox pitching staff.
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Featured Image: Birmingham Barons/X
