There is light at the end of the tunnel, as the Chicago White Sox’s arrow is pointing up amid a 19-win improvement from 2024 to 2025. At the heart of this positive momentum is the young core that was called up throughout last season, which centers around former top prospects Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Edgar Quero.
With these players and more graduating from prospect status, the White Sox’s farm system doesn’t look quite as strong as it did a year ago. It does, however, still feature several consensus top 100 prospects and other prospects whose stock is on the rise. The Sox farm system is still arguably within the top 10 in the MLB, with room to grow from some internal development and upcoming draft picks (hello Roch Cholowsky).
30. Shane Murphy, RHP
One of the most improved pitchers in the White Sox farm system, Murphy put together a true breakout season in 2025. Spending most of the season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, the 24-year-old lefty has held a stellar ERA below 2 while allowing very few free passes. He finished the season making a couple of starts in Triple-A Charlotte, where he continued to hold his own.
His stuff won’t blow people away, as his fastball sits mostly around 90 mph, but his plus command allows his entire arsenal to play up. He looks to be a back-end of the rotation starter who can eat innings, and may not have to wait too much longer to get his number called by the Sox.
Shane Murphy with a Shane Murphy inning. 10p ending with a painted change on the inside corner. White Sox win 7-5. pic.twitter.com/aOtdEsCFoV
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) February 28, 2026
29. Samuel Zavala, OF
Zavala was a highly sought-after international prospect in the 2021 class, inking a $1.2 million signing bonus to join the Padres organization. Throughout his minor league career, Zavala has displayed both power potential and elite on-base ability, despite having some holes in his swing that he’s still working out. The White Sox saw plenty of potential with him when acquiring him as part of the Dylan Cease trade.
While his first season in the organization was underwhelming, he did improve his batting average by nearly 70 points in 2025, slashing .252/.360/.372 with a 122 wRC+. He still draws plenty of walks and kept his strikeout rate respectable this past year. He has also displayed plus defense in center field, and at just 21 years old, there is still plenty of untapped potential for Zavala to continue to develop.
28. Luis Reyes, RHP
Ranked 41st in MLB Pipeline’s top international prospects in 2023, Reyes was inked to a $700,000 signing bonus, tied for the largest in the Sox’s international class that season. While his first couple of minor league seasons were met with inconsistency, Reyes made big strides in a breakout 2025 season.
In his first full season of minor league baseball with the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Reyes showed improved command while keeping his K/9 rate above nine. He features a mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a solid slider, both of which he throws with an effortless, repeatable delivery. If he continues to improve his command, he has a chance to be a mid-rotation starter at the MLB level.
27. Ky Bush, LHP
At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, 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 had a strong showing at Double-A Birmingham in 2024 that led to a promotion to Triple-A, and eventually a handful of starts at the MLB level.
The southpaw features a fastball that consistently sits in the 92-94 mph range, but his best offering 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. While he was in line to compete for a spot in the White Sox rotation last season, he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John Surgery back in February. He will likely miss the start of the 2026 season as well.
26. Sebastian Romero, OF
Signed for $1.5 million in the 2025 international signing period, Romero is a toolsy prospect who showcases solid power, plus athleticism, and has impressed scouts as a defender in center field. He has a 6-foot-2 frame that should be able to add more muscle, leading to some projection to his future power potential. That projection doesn’t seem to worry scouts too much about slowing down, as he is viewed as a long-term center field prospect.
While he was not featured in MLB Pipeline’s top international prospect rankings, he commanded one of the highest 30 signing bonuses of any prospect in this year’s class. He is expected to report to the Dominican Summer League for his professional debut.
25. Yobal Rodríguez, RHP
Signed for $230,000 in the 2025 international signing period, Rodriguez was one of the better pitchers in the Dominican Summer League last season. He didn’t allow an earned run until his 8th appearance of the season, and was 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, and should be able to generate more velocity as he matures and builds up strength.
24. Alexander Alberto, RHP
Despite never pitching above the High-A level and barely hitting over 100 total innings in the minors, the White Sox used their second-round pick in the Rule 5 Draft to acquire Alberto. At 6-foot-8, the right-hander is an imposing presence on the mound but possesses a history of command struggles, specifically with his secondary pitches.
Last season, in 48.2 relief innings, Alberto posted a 2.59 ERA, struck out 30.6% of hitters, and walked 10% of them. He has run his fastball up to 100 mph and surprisingly has been able to keep it in the zone despite command issues with the rest of his arsenal. He has shown an ability to both miss bats and keep the ball on the ground, and is a clear upside play for an organization that is willing to take a chance on players.
23. Fernando Graterol, C
Headlining the White Sox’s 2026 International Signing Period class, MLB Pipeline ranks Graterol as the top catcher and 31st-ranked overall prospect in this year’s international class. The 17-year-old comes from the same city in Venezuela as MLB catchers Salvador Perez, Wilson Ramos, and Francisco Cervelli.
His biggest strength as a player is his plus raw power, which he can tap into with solid control of the bat and a good eye at the plate. Defensively, he moves well and has a strong arm that can gun down base stealers. He is most likely to make his professional debut this season in the Dominica Summer League.
22. Christian Gonzalez, OF
Gonzalez was a notable international signing in 2024, inking a $550,000 signing bonus. As a prospect, he is lauded for his plus speed, bat-to-ball skills, and his defensive potential in center field.
He didn’t exactly impress in his first year in the Dominican Summer League, leading the Sox to have him repeat at that level to begin 2025. He ended up being one of the best hitters there, however, and eventually did earn a promotion to the Arizona Complex League. Gonzalez was just as good there to end the season, and finished 2025 with a batting average above .400 while walking and striking out at equal rates through 132 plate appearances.
Full-season baseball should give us more insight into his long-term outlook, but this past season was a major step in the right direction.
21. Landon Hodge, C
Hodge was the 164th-ranked prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft according to MLB Pipeline, and commanded an over-slot signing bonus of $1,097,500 to get him out of his commitment to LSU. He fits a valuable profile as a left-handed hitter who should be able to stick behind the plate, as his athleticism should allow him to continue to develop as a sound defender.
Hodge’s arm already plays, and he should continue to add strength to his offensive profile as he matures. He is a disciplined hitter and should be viewed as the best catching prospect in the White Sox system with the graduations of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero.
#WhiteSox select C Landon Hodge with the 106th pick! (4th Rd) #MLBDraftpic.twitter.com/0i0H4EIIA8
— Adrian White (@AdrianWhiteSox) July 14, 2025
20. Blake Larson, RHP
Drafted with a 2024 supplemental second-round pick the White Sox received in the Gregory Santos trade, the team inked Blake Larson to an above-slot bonus of $1,397,500. While he originally planned to make his debut in the minor league system during the 2025 season, he instead underwent Tommy John surgery and was forced to miss the entire year.
When healthy, the southpaw sits in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball, although at just 185 pounds, it is expected that he will gain a considerable amount of velocity as he matures. He pairs the fastball with an above-average slider that he can get good spin rates on and a developing changeup. Larson also throws from a low three-quarter arm slot and will need to clean up his delivery if he wants to stick as a starter.
There is a lot of projection and a considerable amount of risk with the Larson pick, but his ceiling could be a front-line starter when it is all said and done.
19. Jedixon Paez, RHP
A year after selecting Shane Smith with the first pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, the White Sox went into this past year’s Rule 5 Draft willing to take a bigger gamble. They selected Paez, who has only reached the High-A level and logged just 19.1 innings in 2025 due to injuries. He did, however, post a 2.79 ERA and 27.7 K% in that brief stint and would have likely ended the season at least in Double-A if he had been healthy. He is a former international free agent signing for Boston, signing for $450,000 in 2021 out of Venezuela.
Paez is known for his command-first profile that features a strong changeup and slider, which allows him to generate outs. In 96.1 innings for the Red Sox organization in 2024, he posted a 3.17 ERA – the majority of these coming at the High-A level. Paez only threw in the mid-80s with his fastball when he was originally signed, but has improved as he has matured and now sits in the low 90s, topping out at 94.
He is undersized and delivers from a low three-quarters arm slot, leading some to believe his role will ultimately be out of the bullpen despite pitching almost exclusively as a starter so far in his minor league career. A short-inning role could lead to another velocity jump, which he could then pair with his plus secondary pitches and elite command to provide intriguing upside out of the bullpen.
18. Mathias LaCombe, RHP
While he fell to the 12th round in the 2023 MLB draft, the White Sox signed LaCombe to a $450,000 signing bonus, which was equal to a fifth-round bonus slot. Only the second French-native baseball player to ever be drafted, the righty didn’t make his minor league debut until this season, but he has gotten off to a fantastic start.
LaCombe dominated in the Arizona Complex League to start, earning a promotion to the Low-A Kannapolis rotation, where he continued to impress to close out the season. He has drawn rave reviews for his stuff, and could move quickly through the system next year with a less restrictive workload management plan. If he continues to develop at the rate he’s capable of, he could make history as the first French-native baseball player to reach the MLB.
17. Aldrin Batista, RHP
Acquired for international bonus slot money in 2023, Batista has been an intriguing addition to this farm system since joining. After solid results with Low-A Kannapolis, he was promoted to High-A and reached a new gear, allowing only three earned runs in 26 innings while punching out 29 batters in 2024. Despite this, Batista missed most of the 2025 season due to a stress fracture in his elbow, returning to the Winston Salem active roster in mid-August. He logged 14 innings through seven appearances total.
When healthy, Batista effectively utilizes a sinker-slider combo and can also mix in a changeup to keep opposing batters honest. That arsenal, combined with a low release point in his delivery, makes it difficult for hitters to get a read off of him on the mound.
16. Javier Mogollon, SS
Mogollon seemingly came out of nowhere to put up a monster debut season with the DSL White Sox in 2023. Signing for just $35,000, the middle infielder hit over .300 and slugged 10 home runs while also walking almost as often as he struck out that season. He followed it up with a polarizing stateside debut in 2024, where he put up video game numbers in some aspects, but also struck out at an alarming 38.3% rate in the Arizona Complex League.
In 2025, he got off to a strong start but cooled off after battling some injuries and was shut down for the season in late June. While his hit tool is still a question, he did cut his strikeout rate down by over 13% in his time this season in Low-A Kannapolis. He has continued to be an on-base machine this season as well, while posting excellent exit velocity numbers and being a threat on the basepaths.
15. David Sandlin, RHP
Acquired alongside Jordan Hicks for Gage Ziehl in a salary dump trade to the White Sox, Sandlan is a pitcher who could get the call to Chicago sometime in 2026. He’s posted velocities in the mid-90s late into games with his fastball and has been able to run it as high as 101 miles per hour in controlled, bullpen settings; however, it lacks life and can be hitable when he struggles to command it.
Sandlan has a full arsenal of above-average pitches at his disposal, but again, it is his command that gets him into trouble. He pitched very well in Double-A in 2025, but struggled after a promotion to the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate. He may be better suited for a reliever role, but the Sox will continue to develop him as a starter this season
14. Kyle Lodise, SS
With their 3rd round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Sox added a high-floor middle infielder to their system in Kyle Lodise. He hits the ball harder than his 5-foot-11 frame would suggest, and has shown fantastic instincts at the shortstop position. His range and arm are a bit limited, however, which might ultimately force him to shift over to second base. His bat-to-ball skills and his instincts in the field give him a very good chance of carving out a future role on an MLB roster.
The Sox clearly feel confident in Lodise’s college development, as they sent him straight to High-A Winston-Salem. He has solely played shortstop with the Dash, and has already impressed at the plate with his swing decisions and eye at the plate.
13. Jeral Perez, INF
While Miguel Vargas was the headliner of the trade that sent Erick Fedde, Michael Kopech, and Tommy Pham to the Dodgers, Perez was a very intriguing part of the return for the Sox as well. A 21-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 hit a career high 22 home runs this past season and has the potential to hit that mark consistently at the MLB level while also getting 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. After spending the entire 2025 season at the High-A level, a promotion to Double-A Birmingham is a legitimate possibility.
12. George Wolkow, OF
A 6-foot-7 outfielder, 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. He exceeded expectations in 2024, making it to Low-A Kannapolis at just 18 years old and producing well despite striking out in over 40% of his at-bats. In the 2025 season, however, he saw his overall numbers dive as he continued to make swing adjustments.
Despite that, there are some positives to take away from his 2025 performance. He has cut his strikeout rate by more than 10% and was a surprising threat on the basepaths with over 30 stolen bases. He may not have produced the type of power production you would expect with his 70-80 grade raw power, but he still generates eye-popping exit velocities. Overall, he did show some growth in his second full minor league season and will look to put it all together in 2026.
11. Mason Adams, RHP
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, following up his first season with a strong 2024 showing. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Adams held a 2.92 ERA across 120.1 innings in 2024.
Currently, his curveball is his best pitch, generating a ton of break and locating it well. Adams also utilizes both a two-seam and a four-seam fastball, neither of which is viewed as anything more than average offerings. He may not have front-line starter potential, but he has a chance to be a legitimate back-end-rotation starter for the White Sox eventually. He had little left to prove and was likely in line to make his MLB debut at some point in 2025, but he needed Tommy John surgery in early April and was forced to miss the entire season. He is expected to miss the beginning of the 2026 season as well.
10. William Bergolla, 2B/SS
There might not be a prospect in the White Sox system who has a better pure hit tool than Bergolla. Acquired for Tanner Banks at the 2023 MLB trade deadline, Bergolla was one of the top international free agents in the 2022 class before signing with the Phillies for a signing bonus of just over $2 million. At just 21 years old, he more than held his own at the Double-A level in 2025, hitting to a .286 batting average and drawing more walks than strikeouts. There is virtually no power to his game, however, which will cap his overall offensive upside.
Defensively, Bergolla spent more time at second base while with the Philies. The Sox are committed to developing him as a shortstop, though, and have almost exclusively played him there since he was acquired. He does show solid range and good actions, and he should have just enough arm strength to stick there long-term.
9. Jaden Fauske, OF
Fauske, an 18-year-old outfielder out of Nazareth Academy (IL), was receiving some late first-round buzz heading into the draft, so the Sox got excellent value landing him with the 44th overall pick. He did end up commanding an over-slot $2,997,500, equal to the slot value of the 32nd pick, but the upside he brings with his bat is well worth the investment.
A catcher early in his high school career, he moved to the outfield for his senior year, where his athleticism should give him a chance to stick at any of the three outfield spots, although a corner is most likely. The Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year is extremely disciplined at the plate, can hit to all parts of the field, and has enough raw power to hit 20-25 home runs a season at his peak.
8. Christian Oppor, LHP
One of the biggest breakout performers of the 2025 season, Oppor has skyrocketed through the White Sox rankings over the past calendar year. The White Sox initially had an agreement to draft and sign him as an 11th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, but the Athletics drafted him instead and failed to sign him. After spending the following season at Gulf Coast State Community College, the Sox made it an even bigger priority to add him to their system by drafting him in the fifth round and signing him to a $550,000 signing bonus.
His first full season in the White Sox system showed flashes but was also met with inconsistency. This last season, however, has been strong all the way through, dominating at the Low-A level and earning a promotion to High-A, where he continued to shine. He held. a 3.08 ERA with 116 strikeouts through just 87.2 innings.
The southpaw typically sits in the mid-90s but can occasionally touch triple digits with his fastball when he wants. He pairs that with a slider that sits in the low 80s and generates a ton of horizontal movement. He is athletic and can repeat his low-slot delivery well, leading to deception that allows his arsenal to play up. Oppor just needs to continue honing his command to turn into a mid-rotation starter.
7. Sam Antonacci, UTIL
Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2024 MB Draft, Antonacci has completely shifted talent evaluators’ perception of him. He began the 2025 season at the High-A level, where he proved he was more advanced than the competition while hitting to a 154 wRC+. He earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham and was able to almost exactly match those numbers despite hitting against more advanced pitching.
While he isn’t the most athletic player on the field, his instincts allow him to get great jumps and be an effective base stealer. Defensively, he has spent plenty of time all over the infield dating back to his college days, but profiles best as a second baseman with just average arm strength. At the plate, Antonacci has mostly been billed as a contact-oriented hitter who would struggle to hit double-digit home runs even at his ceiling. He has added strength, however, and has posted some big-time home runs and exit velocities in his showings in the Arizona Fall League and through Spring Training.
The infielder’s plus bat-to-ball skills combined with his plate discipline and high baseball IQ should allow him to be an on-base machine with both a high batting average and walk rate. He will be pushing to make his MLB debut sometime in 2026.
6. Billy Carlson, SS
Carlson was one of the most commonly linked prospects to the White Sox at 10th overall, and it is clear why the organization was so high on him. Commanding a $6,235,900 signing bonus (just shy of full slot), the 19-year-old immediately ranks as one of the best prospects in the system and joins many top 100 lists as well.
Arguably the best defensive shortstop in the draft, there is little doubt he will stick at the position. He shows excellent range and instincts, and his history as a pitcher who could hit the upper 90s with his fastball gives him a strong throwing arm that will allow him to stick on the left side of the infield.
In terms of his bat, Carlson shows solid bat-to-ball skills, possesses plenty of bat speed, and generates solid exit velocities. He may need to clean up his mechanics a bit, as he hits too many balls into the dirt, but overall, the California native had one of the best floor/ceiling combinations of any prep player in this draft. He will get his first taste of pro ball in 2026, as he is expected to begin the season in Low-A Kannapolis.
5. Tanner McDougal, RHP
McDougal always had the stuff to eventually break out, but injuries and command issues have held him back for most of his minor league career. This past season, however, he has made some adjustments and finally looks like the pitcher the Sox were hoping for when they drafted him in the fifth round back in 2021. He has cut his walk rate down significantly, while maintaining high strikeout rates and showing an ability to make it deeper into his starts.
McDougal can touch triple digits with his fastball, but it’s his curveball and slider that make him so dangerous on the mound. He generates elite spin rates with both breaking pitches, getting hitters to whiff on his pitches at high rates. He is also working on developing a changeup, but that is well behind the rest of his arsenal at this point.
The right-hander split time between High-A and Double-A last season, posting a 3.26 ERA with 136 strikeouts and 49 walks through 113.1 innings. The White Sox added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft, and he is expected to begin the season in Triple-A Charlotte. With another strong showing, look for him to be in a White Sox uniform by the end of the season.
4. Hagen Smith, LHP
It is easy to see why the White Sox had their sights set on drafting Smith with the fifth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Earning SEC Pitcher of the Year honors, 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.
Unfortunately, his first full minor league season in 2025 didn’t exactly live up to expectations. He produced excellent strikeout numbers, but his command has been more of a concern than initially anticipated, and his velocity is down a bit from his college days. Smith missed time with some injury concerns and overhauled his mechanics with Brian Bannister, showing signs of improvement to end the year and in his time in the Arizona Fall League.
The left-hander has carried that momentum into Spring Training and was one of the more impressive pitchers on the staff. With a full season under his belt and an offseason to gain comfort with his mechanical adjustments, he will look to get back on track in 2026 to establish himself as a future front-line starter. He is expected to begin the season in Triple-A Charlotte, with his sights set on an MLB promotion in the near future.
3. Braden Montgomery, OF
As the co-headliner in the Garrett Crochet trade, Montgomery might have the most upside of any position player in the organization. He would have been a lock to be drafted in the top 10 of the draft if an ankle injury hadn’t prematurely ended his final collegiate season, and could have been in play for the Sox at fifth overall.
In his first professional season, Montgomery reminded people just how good he was before the injury. He made it across three levels, and ended the season hitting in the middle of the Double-A Birmingham Barons lineup.
Montgomery impressed in the lower levels, posting a 150 wRC+ in Low-A and a 134 wRC+ in High-A. His surface numbers in his stint at the Double-A level were equally impressive, although his BABIP was inflated and his strikeout numbers jumped up a bit. Still, at a level that is always a tough test for hitters due to more advanced competition and pitcher-friendly conditions, Montgomery’s debut season shouldn’t be viewed as anything less than a massive success.
He should continue to develop as a hitter, already showing a patient approach, and will eventually be able to tap into his plus raw power more consistently. While he has played plenty of center field, he still profiles best as the long-term solution in right field for the White Sox. He will begin the season back in Birmingham, and should challenge to earn his MLB debut at some point in 2026.
2. Noah Schultz, LHP
Drafted in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-10 southpaw Schultz has gained some velocity since then, now sitting in the mid-90s. He has also started to pair his four-seamer with a two-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 tough for batters to get a read on, especially left-handed hitters.
While his arrow was pointing straight up after 2024, both his command and his strikeout rate dipped a bit this past season. Brian Bannister was able to provide some more context to his struggles, however, citing some mechanical adjustments to his delivery and challenging him to work in more of his arsenal that he has less command of. Still, he was effective at the Double-A level and earned a promotion to Triple-A, but was sidelined for almost two months with a knee injury, then only lasted a couple of starts before being shut down for the season.
Schultz is now fully healthy and has looked good in his limited appearances in Spring Training. He will begin the season back in Charlotte and look to prove that he can hone in his command while avoiding the injury bug. If he can do both of those things, he will be in a White Sox uniform later this season.
1. Caleb Bonemer, SS
The top-performing White Sox minor league hitter of the 2025 season, Bonemer is our new number top-ranked White Sox prospect. The club selected 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. It is clear after his first professional season why the Sox were so high on Michigan’s two-time Gatorade High School Player of the Year.
Bonemer has some of the best bat speed in the system, and should develop into a 20-30 home run hitter at his peak. While there were some concerns about his approach leading up to the 2024 draft, he has quickly put those to rest last season with a walk rate north of 15% and a respectable strikeout rate hovering around 20%. He held a 147 wRC+ at Low-A Kannapolis before earning a promotion to High-A Winston-Salem, where he looked even better in his brief 11-game stint.
Defensively, he has exceeded expectations in his ability to play shortstop, although he has gotten some looks at third base as well. Overall, he has established himself as one of the premier prospects in all of baseball and should continue to develop into a cornerstone type of player.
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