With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we take a look at how the White Sox prospects performed in the month of July. MLB talent evaluators will surely be scouting the prospects of the White Sox as they look to bolster their roster, so those who have been trending upward over the past month could be the ones who the White Sox can most easily flip for some MLB talent.
Stock Up
Oscar Colas, OF
July Stats (High-A/Double A): .354/.432/.631, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, 15 K
Oscar Colas was promoted to Double-A Birmingham on July 12, and he made his presence immediately known with five home runs in his first eight games. He currently owns a .395 batting average and a 1.305 OPS in Double-A, leading his stock to skyrocket. He had a scary incident after being hit on the back of the neck by a pitch, but initial tests revealed no head or neck injuries, and he appears to be okay after returning to game action on Sunday.
This hot stretch in a notoriously pitcher-friendly league could lead him to sneak into some top 100 prospects lists.
Yoelqui Cespedes, OF
July Stats (Double-A): .272/.392/.457, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 10 SB, 28 K
Cespedes’ recent performances are much more in line with what the White Sox envisioned when signing him for a $2 million signing bonus in 2020. In July, he holds an .849 OPS and is showing exceptional patience at the plate with an 11.8% walk rate. The strikeouts need to be limited a bit more, but Cespedes’s abilities both at the plate and in CF are much more resemblant of a future everyday big leaguer.
Jose Rodriguez, 2B/SS
July Stats (Double-A): .309/.387/.468, 1 HR, 6 2B, 3 3B, 16 SB
Jose Rodriguez hadn’t even turned 21 yet when the season started, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise that he needed some time to adjust to more advanced Double-A pitching. His talent has been much more obvious lately, as he holds a .309 batting average and an .855 OPS, along with 16 stolen bases just this past month. The extra-base-hit power is beginning to show as well with six doubles, three triples, and a home run over that time as well, and he is looking much more like the hitter we saw in 2021.
Norge Vera, SP
July Stats (Low-A): 0-1, 14 IP, 1.29 ERA, 41.7 K%, 15.0 BB%
Norge Vera had a late start to his season due to a lat injury, and while he is still on a pitch/innings limit as he works up his strength, when he is in games, he has been dominant. In four starts in July, Vera gave up just two earned runs and struck out a hilarious 42% of batters he faced. The 22-year-old has a ton of potential to rise up prospect rankings as more evaluators are able to see his potential when healthy.
Ryan Burrowes, 2B/SS
July Stats (DSL): .262/.377/.431, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 SB, 14 K
The Sox signed Ryan Burrowes for $70,000 out of Panama, and so far, the scouting department must be thrilled with his professional debut. So far, the 17-year-old middle infielder has a .284/.414/.440 slash line with three home runs and seven stolen bases in the Dominican Summer League this season. He is a 6’2 shortstop with intriguing tools, and as he matures should add more power to his game.
Wilfred Veras, 1B
July Stats (Low-A): .280/.306/.484, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 27.6 K%, 2.0 BB%
Veras’ power ability is continuing to show, as he has 12 homers in the past two months combined. This month, however, he was able to support his power with a .280 batting average. The biggest knock on Veras continues to be his walk and strikeout rates, but his development is continuing as he shows some plus hit and power tools.
Arnold Prado, OF
July Stats (DSL): .327/.431/.449, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB, 16 K
Another recent international signing, Arnold Prado was signed out of Venezuela and is off to a hot start to his professional career. A 17-year-old corner outfielder, Prado is currently holding a .327/.431/.449 slash line, and at 6’3 and 200 pounds, he has raw power that he will learn to tap into more as he gains experience. The early returns on the White Sox’ most recent international signing period class overall have been nothing short of promising.
Stock Down
Wes Kath, 3B
July Stats (Low-A): .224/.330/.279, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 28 K
It has been a rollercoaster season for Wes Kath. He appeared to be figuring things out at the plate after a rocky start but struggled in July with a .224 batting average and a 32.6% strikeout rate. His 14% walk rate is still encouraging, but overall the numbers have been underwhelming for the recent 2nd rounder.
Lenyn Sosa, INF
July Stats (Triple-A): .224/.259/.303, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 24.7 K%, 3.7 BB%
It was a tough month for Sosa, who fought some injuries and movement to the majors and back while looking to find some consistency. While he hit just .224 in the month of July, this has tended to happen to Sosa: he will struggle to hit when initially promoted and adjust as his time at each level continues. Hopefully, this same trend continues for the up-and-coming 22-year-old.
Victor Quezada, 3B
July Stats (DSL): .161/.254/.161, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 34 K
Victor Quezada still has the tools teams love to bet on, but he has looked lost at the plate this season. He currently holds an unsightly 51% strikeout rate on the season and didn’t hit a single home run in July after hitting four in June. It is still far too early to write off such a promising prospect, but he needs to figure out how to adjust at the plate.
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Featured Image: @Kcannonballers / Twitter
Michael…quick question….are there any stats that support an argument that a player’s stats are negatively, or even positively, impacted by getting called up to the majors for a week or so and then sent down because the veteran has rehabbed and/or is back in the line up?? In the case of Sosa, he was up for a couple of weeks making the huge jump between Double A and the majors. He is having trouble re-gaining traction in the good year he was having before the call up.
Thanks!!