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 kick our refreshed rankings off, we look at the prospects who didn’t make the cut but deserve recognition as prospects to keep an eye on going forward.
Look back at our pre-season rankings:
- Pre-Season Honorable Mention Pitchers
- Pre-Season Honorable Mention Position Players
- Pre-Season No. 30-21
- Pre-Season No. 20-11
- Pre-Season No. 10-1
Pitchers
Acquired in a package that sent Gregory Santos to the Seattle Mariners, Prelander Berroa came into this season with expectations of bolstering the White Sox bullpen at some point this season. Unfortunately, the 2024 season has not quite gone according to plan, as Berroa has struggled with his command at the Triple-A level. He did make his MLB debut and logged seven innings, with some moderate success, however, he has lacked the consistency throughout the season to give the Sox reason to count on him for a longer stint. He still possesses plus stuff and generates plenty of whiffs, so an MLB future could still be in the cards for the right-hander.
The White Sox drafted Aaron Combs in the 8th round after a successful couple of seasons out of the bullpen for Tennessee. While he sits in the lower 90s with his fastball, he pairs it with an upper 70s sweeper that produces high spin rates. The 6’3 right-hander has gotten off to a successful start to his pro career and could move up the system quickly if he continues to produce.
While the early returns on the White Sox 2024 international signing period class have been underwhelming, the most positive development so far has been the breakout of right-hander Yhoiker Fajardo. Signed for $400,000 out of Venezuela, outlets viewed him as an under-the-radar prospect to keep an eye on heading into this season, and he has done his part to prove them right. Working as a starter in the Dominican Summer League, Fajardo has dominated opposing hitting with an arsenal led by his mid-90s fastball. He has been able to generate plenty of strikeouts while also keeping his walk rate minimal. He barely missed the cut for this Top 30 list but could skyrocket up the rankings very quickly.
Drafted in the 7th round, Phil Fox was primarily a reliever in college and is expected to stay in that role to begin his pro career. The 5’9 right-hander had plenty of success pitching out of Pittsburg’s bullpen, holding a 1.47 ERA with 45 strikeouts in just 36.2 innings while barely walking opposing hitters. While he relies heavily on his low-90s fastball, he also has a slider in his arsenal that he has some feel for. His shorter stature combined with a lower arm slot make for a delivery that is difficult for opposing hitters to read.
AHT was acquired in a trade that sent outfielder Robbie Grossman to the Texas Rangers in May of this season, and the Sox couldn’t be happier with the promise he has shown. He held a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings pitching for the DOuble-A Birmingham Barons before earning a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. His arsenal contains a mid-upper 90s fastball, a solid mid-80s slider, and a changeup that is at least usable. He has done a good job cutting down on his walk rate this season, allowing him to see more success. He is on track to make his MLB debut sometime in 2025.
Luis Reyes was the prize of the White Sox 2023 international signing class. Ranked 41st in MLB Pipeline’s top international prospects, Reyes was inked to a $700,000 signing bonus, tied for the largest in the Sox 2023 class. The 6’3 right-handed pitcher got off to a rough start last season in the DSL but looked much more like what the White Sox envisioned him to be from July through the rest of the season. This season, he has pitched for the ACL White Sox, and hasn’t been able to overcome his issues with consistency. Despite this, he has been able to miss plenty of bats with his plus fastball and promising secondary pitches, and while he has struggled with walks, he has a smooth delivery that he should be able to repeat well and hone in his command.
Position Players
Sam Antonacci, INF
In the 5th round, the White Sox selected one of the best pure-contact hitters in the entire draft class. Sam Aotonacci, an outfielder out of Coastal Carolina, earned 2023 Division II JUCO Player of the Year honors, and he was able to carry that success into Division I ball through the 2024 season. While he doesn’t offer much in power potential, he combines plus bat-to-ball skills with a patient approach that leads to high batting averages and even higher on-base percentages. He has spent time at both second and third base, though his fringy arm makes him a better fit at second.
Jacob Burke, OF
After a promising breakout 2023 season, Jacob Burke’s numbers have taken a nosedive throughout the 2024 season. While the former 11th-round pick has still been able to draw his fair share of walks and has been effective on the basepaths, he looked overmatched against Double-A pitching and was eventually demoted back to High-A Winston Salem. He could very well bounce back in 2025, but there is added pressure now for the 23-year-old outfielder to produce.
Ryan Burrowes, SS
It has been a bit of a disappointing season for Ryan Burrowes, who is getting his first taste of full-season pro ball in Low-A Kannapolis. While he has shown flashes of the potential that has the White Sox excited about his future, he has lacked consistency at the plate throughout the season. There is still an intriguing combination of athleticism and raw power there, and he has maintained a solid approach at the plate. However, there is still work to do at the plate for the promising 20-year-old middle infielder.
Tim Elko, 1B
Tim Elko quickly became a fan favorite in 2023, mashing 27 home runs across three minor league levels including Double-A. 2024 has been more of the same, where he slashed .289/.338/.420 with 9 more home runs before earning a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. The production has been roughly the same at that level, and the 25-year-old first baseman is now knocking on the door to make his MLB debut. He does still need to work on his approach at the plate, where he is swinging too often leading to elevated strikeout numbers and low walk rates. Regardless, his power and contact abilities have little left to prove at the minor league level.
Making his professional debut in the Dominican Sumer League, Stiven Flores spent the majority of the season with a batting average north of .400. While it eventually dipped and landed at “only” .391 on the season, Flores showed a ton of promise at the plate. In 2024, Flores hasn’t quite been able to build off his success in the Dominican Summer League. While he has been able to maintain a respectable batting average, his walk rate has dipped and he has shown little to no power at the plate. While the batt-to-ball skills are still promising, he will need to continue to develop his other skills in order to have an MLB future. At just 18 years old, however, that is still very possible.
Eduardo Herrera, 3B
Eduardo Herrera headlined the White Sox 2024 international signing period class, as the power-hitting third baseman was signed out of Venezuela for $1.8 million. He was MLB Pipeline’s 11th-ranked international prospect overall and was the only one to receive a 60 grade on his power, even drawing comparisons to a young Albert Pujols based on his frame and his power potential.
Unfortunately, he has not been able to consistently translate that into in-game power during his debut season in the Dominican Summer League. His performance at the plate so far has been underwhelming, with a batting average right around .200 and virtually no power production. While still just 17 years old and still possessing plenty of talent, Herrera has a long way to go before working himself into the White Sox’s future plans.
Rikuu Nishida, 2B/OF
Drafted in the 11th round by the White Sox in 2023, Rikuu Nishida was always viewed as an advanced hitter who was expected to succeed in the lower levels. This year, however, he has done enough to put himself in legitimate prospect conversations, hitting over .300 in 400+ at-bats between Low-A and High-A, earning a promotion to Double-A. While he offers virtually nothing in terms of power, he will be a pest to pitchers at the plate with his contact skills and his on-base production. He also offers even more value on the basepaths, where he stole 45 bases in 99 games before his Double-A promotion.
Abraham Nunez, OF
Abraham Nunez tied with Luis Reyes for the largest signing bonus commanded in the White Sox most 2023 international class. While Reyes was ranked higher by most outlets, Nunez was the one who broke out in the 2023 season in the Dominican Summer League. So far through his 2024 stint with the Arizona Complex League White Sox, he has been able to hold a respectable batting average and has shown solid plate discipline. He has also been dangerous on the basepaths. Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite been able to turn his extra-base hit power into over-the-fence power, capping the impact he has been able to show at the plate. There are still plenty of tools to work with for the 18-year-old center fielder, and his combination of raw tools and his advanced approach at the plate makes him a prospect to continue to monitor.
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Featured Image: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights
