The 2025 MLB Draft has come and gone, and this week at Sox On 35th, we are making updates to our Top 30 Prospect list! Today, we start with those players who just missed the list – and this list of Honorable Mentions is one of the longest ones to date, representing a much deeper farm system than in years past.
Make sure to come back later this week as we get into the top 30!
Pitchers
Juan Carela
Acquired from the Yankees at the 2023 trade deadline, Carela was proving to be one of the more consistent arms in the White Sox minor league system in 2024. Across High-A and Double-A, he posted a 3.71 ERA with solid strikeout numbers and improved walk rates. Unfortunately, his stock has taken a hit after missing the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery. When healthy, he has shown the potential to develop into a back-end of the rotation pitcher.
Lucas Gordon
A 6th-round raft pick in 2023, Lucas Gordon has seen a bit of a breakout season in 2025. Through 20 starts at the High-A level, Gordon posted a 3.96 ERA with 92 strikeouts through 86.1 innings. The White Sox were impressed enough with his performance that they promoted the 23-year-old lefty to Double-A Birmingham to finish out the season. While he doesn’t show much velocity with his fastball, it has more life than one would expect and plays up. He also utilizes both a slider and a changeup.
Jairo Iriarte
Jairo Iriarte might have seen the most significant drop-off this season of anyone in the White Sox system. While he can still generate swings and misses, his command has regressed to the point that the Sox sent him to Arizona, and in the process, moved him to a bullpen role. Upon returning to the Knights, he continued to struggle in that role and has brought legitimate concerns about whether he can be a factor at the MLB level.
Yobal Rodriguez
Signed for $230,000 this past international signing period, Yobal Rodriguez has been one of the best performers of the class for the White Sox this season. He didn’t allow an earned run until his 8th appearance of the season, and has been able to generate his fair share of strikeouts in his minor league debut season. He sits at around 92-93 mph with his fastball, and has at least two secondary pitches that are average or better.
Tyler Schweitzer
After a couple of scoreless starts in Double-A that earned him a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, Schweitzer appeared on track to make his MLB debut in 2025. Unfortunately, the promotion was met with multiple poor outings that led to him being moved into more of a hybrid role and being sent back down. A former fifth-round pick, he combines a low-mid 90s fastball with several solid secondary pitches and typically gets the most out of them with high spin rates and solid command. He has yet to allow a run at the Double-A level this season, and can still bounce back to carve out a role with the MLB club sometime next season.
Grant Umberger
After going undrafted in the 2024 MLB draft, the White Sox signed Umberger as a UDFA in February of 2025. In his first pro season, he has far exceeded expectations while spending the entire season with the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. He has posted an ERA in the mid-2s with underlying metrics to back that performance up. He has also posted above-average strikeout numbers while limiting his walks. He is already 23, however, so he will need to carry this performance into the upper minor league levels before he can gain more prospect hype. However, he is certainly off to a good start in his professional career.
Fabian Ysalla
In his third season in the White Sox organization, Ysalla has made some clear strides and earned his way into a promotion to Low-A Kannapolis after the ACL season ended. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and is expected to continue gaining velocity as he matures and adds strength. He has also developed his curveball nicely, as it has proven to be a solid second pitch. He has not generated great strikeout numbers yet, but he should be able to generate more whiffs as his stuff continues to improve. His command has been solid this season, and he should continue to see work in full-season baseball next season.
Catchers
Ryan Galvan
Ranked 176th on MLB Pipeline’s top draft prospects, Galvan could end up being a steal as a 13th-round draft pick. He was one of the most improved players in college baseball, showing clear signs of growth both at and behind the plate as Texas’s starting catcher. He has plus raw power, but also has a very questionable hit tool that could limit how often he taps into it. Defensively, he looked like an average receiver with a plus arm. Ultimately, his ability to hit will determine how far he makes it in pro ball.
Ronny Hernandez
Strong showings in both of the White Sox complex leagues allowed Ronny Hernandez to receive some credibility as a legitimate catching prospect for the White Sox, earning a promotion to Low-A Kannapolis in 2024. He posted a solid season and repeated the level in 2025, where he was still solid but took a bit of a step back. His strikeout rate jumped up this season, and he still doesn’t show much in terms of raw power. He does have solid bat-to-ball skills and makes good swing decisions, while his defense is improving, but is still a work in progress.
Infielders
Alejandro Cruz
The White Sox signed infield prospect Alejandro Cruz for approximately $2 million when the 2025 international signing period began. Despite being eligible to sign in the 2024 signing period, it was reported that Cruz waited due to limitations with the team’s previous international budget. Ranked 33rd on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 list for international prospects, there were legitimate expectations for Cruz coming into this season. While there is clearly some room for improvement, he still showed an advanced approach at the plate while showcasing his skillset with four home runs and 18 stolen bases.
Eduardo Herrera
Eduardo Herrera headlined the White Sox’s 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. While he didn’t live up to expectations in his debut season in 2024, he made improvements in 2025 and did a better job tapping into his raw power with four home runs.
Rikuu Nishida
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. In 2024, however, he did enough to put himself in legitimate prospect conversations by hitting over .300 and producing a higher BB% than his K%. In 2025, his batting average has dipped a bit, repeating at the Double-A level, but he is still an above-average contact hitter who walks a ton and is difficult to strike out. His absence of any power production will always limit his ceiling, however.
Colby Shelton
Originally a starter at Alabama before transferring to Florida, the White Sox selected Shelton in the sixth round of the 2025 MLB draft. He was lauded as more of a power hitter his freshman year, but shifted to a more contact-oriented approach this past season and sacrificed his power for more consistent production. The White Sox are hoping they can find a happy medium with him, where he can continue to make good swing decisions while also showing an ability to hit the ball over the fence.
Outfielders
Marcelo Alcala
An under-the-radar international signing back in 2023, Marcelo Alcala has continued to develop into an intriguing prospect in the White Sox system. He finished 2025 tied for fifth in the Arizona Complex League in home runs and has shown a ton of promise defensively in center field. His hit tool remains a massive concern, as he struck out at a 37.5% rate this season and only hit to a .233 batting average. He has an intriguing blend of power and athleticism, but won’t be able to tap into his upside until he cleans things up at the plate.
Nick McLain
The McLain family saw another family member make it into professional baseball in 2024, as the White Sox drafted Nick, the younger brother of Matt, in the third round. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just 13 games at the Low-A level in 2025. When healthy, he has showcased an above-average hit tool when hitting from both sides of the plate.
Frank Mieses
Signed for $175,000 this past international signing period, Frank Mieses is looking like a bargain of a signing for the White Sox. Named as an All-Star for the Dominican Summer League, Mieses posted a .825 OPS in his first professional season with three home runs and eight stolen bases. The 17-year-old outfielder has primarily played center field and has showcased plenty of athleticism and at least average raw power.
Abraham Nunez
Abraham Nunez tied with Luis Reyes for the largest signing bonus commanded in the White Sox’s 2023 international class. While Reyes was ranked higher by most outlets, it was Nunez who broke out in the 2023 season in the Dominican Summer League. His stateside debut season wasn’t quite as strong in 2024, and his numbers have dipped even further at the Low-A level in 2025. He remains a solid defender in center field and makes solid swing decisions at the plate. However, he has yet to tap into his raw talent on a consistent basis.
Wilfred Veras
While Veras has been a quietly consistent hitter as one of the youngest players at every level he’s played in, he has unfortunately taken a step back in 2025. He has shown a bit more patience at the plate; however, his strikeout rate has jumped up to nearly 30% while his power numbers overall are down. When he’s right, he has shown plus raw power and has been a threat on the basepaths, while also continuously improving defensively in the outfield since he moved there in 2023. His aggressive approach has always hindered his production, but this season has been a disappointment beyond those previous concerns.
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