The Top 30 White Sox Prospects, Preseason 2016

[LDF]

His not walking is less of a concern in the pure sense - if he hits enough, not walking isn't a big killer. The problem is what it indicates about him as a hitter, and that is backed up by our in-person looks. He's too free-swinging, wants to go after too many pitches, expands the zone. He's susceptible to good offspeed stuff. He needs to learn patience not primarily to walk more (though that's a pleasant side effect), but in order to force pitchers to come to him.

 

I think AAA is going to be a key test for him. People seem to assume he'll just make a quick touch and go in Charlotte then be in Chicago, but that's a mistake. AAA pitchers are not much more talented than AA ones, but they are going to be a lot more refined, mature, experienced and able to exploit glaring weaknesses. Anderson is able to cover his weakness in this area because he has such quick hands and strong bat to ball skills, but that only goes so far and will probably be exposed (hopefully for only a brief period) in AAA.

 

sounds great.... again continue development is coming....

 

excellent

[Y2Jimmy0]

LOL, I had him #13.

 

I was high on Clark, Guerrero (highest), Carlos Perez, Antonio Rodriguez and Jordan Stephens (highest).

 

I was low on Hawkins (per usual), Adolfo, Alvarez and Lowry.

 

 

Guys like Brennan and Lowry could move really fast once they become relievers officially.

[LDF]

Guys like Brennan and Lowry could move really fast once they become relievers officially.

 

i really like lowry and wheeler.

[NorthSideSox72]

Guys like Brennan and Lowry could move really fast once they become relievers officially.

 

Lowry doesn't look like a reliever, though that could change. He's got a pretty even repertoire, plenty of endurance, and no dominant single pitch.

 

I struggle evaluating Brennan but I agree that he should see improvement once he moves to the pen. Lowry has got a big year ahead of him. Pretty meager results for a guy repeating Kanny.

 

Brennan is odd. He's a guy to follow, there's serious raw talent there... but he was already raw when drafted (one year college pitching, despite being 21), then missed more time as a pro to TJS, and then to a neck injury. So he's way behind the development curve for his age. But he does have a good sinker and a slider that flashes good characteristics. 2016 will be a telling year. I think he's a reliever, but they may keep him as a starter one more season to make up for lost innings.

 

[OmarComing25]

It's here!

 

Here is our list of the Top 30 White Sox Prospects going into the 2016 season. This is the result of work from nearly the entire FS writing staff, and we're quite proud of it, though of course it is subjective and everyone will have different opinions. There is also in there a list of players who were discussed but just missed.

 

What do you think of the list? What would you have done differently?

 

Also, if you like it, please do share it around social media or with your friends!

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

[NorthSideSox72]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

These questions usually end up becoming "who do I like as a prospect more than other folks", so I'll just throw out there that I was higher than the crowd on: Hawkins (I had him highest at 7th), Lassiter (highest at 24th), and I had Nunez and KSmith on the back of my list where only one other person voted for each.

 

But a better way is, who are the toolsy ones with the most ceiling room left to play with on this list? I'd go with either Amado Nunez or Johan Cruz. Lassiter is close.

 

[southsider2k5]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

 

I'd bet on one of the Latin American kids breaking out. This is the year.

[royoung]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

 

Micker Adolfo. If he stays healthy and begins to tap into his raw power...he will be on everyone's top 100 prospect lists.

[southsider2k5]

Micker Adolfo. If he stays healthy and begins to tap into his raw power...he will be on everyone's top 100 prospect lists.

 

He has the potential to be at the top of the list, or completely bust. He is a fun one to think about.

[Dunt]

Strictly a question meant for discussion:

 

I havent seen Engel play, so I dont know if it's a decent comp, but I look at Kevin Kiermaier and think that they have the same sort of skill set. Is that a bad comp?

[NorthSideSox72]

Strictly a question meant for discussion:

 

I havent seen Engel play, so I dont know if it's a decent comp, but I look at Kevin Kiermaier and think that they have the same sort of skill set. Is that a bad comp?

I don't know Kiermaier's tools quite well enough to say for sure, but I'd say Engel will probably draw more walks, but also strike out more, and steal more bases. Engel is a true plus-plus runner, which is very rare. Defensively, Kiermaier is about the best there is, so I think that's a stretch for Engel but he does have the right raw tools for it.

 

[oldsox]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

For me, Matt Cooper.

[NorthSideSox72]

For me, Matt Cooper.

He's interesting, but still a real long shot. His parlor trick with the offspeed pitches can work if his fastball can truly be low 90's and have some kind of plane on it, as well as the ability to deliver it with a consistent arm speed to the breakers. If all that comes together, he could be an effective major league reliever.

 

[danman31]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

I'll go with Corey Zangari. I think he continues to hit in Kanny next year, which would be very impressive for his first full season of pro ball out of high school. To go way more off the radar, a lot of people that voted like Carlos Perez. Dominican catcher that hit well over there last year as a teenager.

 

Micker Adolfo. If he stays healthy and begins to tap into his raw power...he will be on everyone's top 100 prospect lists.

Might have to wait another year on Adolfo. He had the fluke injury that resulted in a broken leg running the bases and I think that will slow him out of the gates.

[LDF]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

 

damn.... a great question.

 

Adams or Zangari or for me as well Engel all 3 will show something very important for different reasons.

 

the unknown who make a surprise entry.

 

~ Blake Hickman, - i really would love to see what he brings to the table, was hurt last yr

~ Jordon Stephens - tjs just the yr before his draft, nice profile.... i trust the sox pitching coaches to take care of him. mean no rushing.

~ Lassiter - i like him b/c of his name and b/c he has a cocky attitude, reminds me of Eaton .....

 

the biggest "is he a prospect or not" will have to be Hawkins.

 

remember all this is subjective.

Edited January 22, 2016 by LDF

[Quin]

Thanks for the great work as usual. If you had to only pick one, which Sox prospect do you think increases his stock the most in 2016?

 

I feel like as a guy that voted for Taylore Cherry and Black Hickman, I think those two drastically increase their stock.

[NorthSideSox72]

By the way, Hickman says he'll be in AZL in 2016 when he is ready. He said "Arizona all year", FWIW. So while the year will be key for him development-wise, we probably won't see him face full season league hitters until 2017.

 

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

Look forward to this this every year, great read as always.

 

Really hope the Sox give Coats a look in ST this year. He quietly put up a very solid year in Charlotte and I think he could be a decent 4th OF in the majors.

[ranger2004]

damn.... a great question.

 

Adams or Zangari or for me as well Engel all 3 will show something very important for different reasons.

 

the unknown who make a surprise entry.

 

~ Blake Hickman, - i really would love to see what he brings to the table, was hurt last yr

~ Jordon Stephens - tjs just the yr before his draft, nice profile.... i trust the sox pitching coaches to take care of him. mean no rushing.

~ Lassiter - i like him b/c of his name and b/c he has a cocky attitude, reminds me of Eaton .....

 

the biggest "is he a prospect or not" will have to be Hawkins.

 

remember all this is subjective.

 

 

I have to agree with the 3 picks of Adams, Zangari and Engel along with a guy you just can't help rooting for...Eddy Alvarez. Really hoping that Engel can continue to build on his AFL performance and be someone that the Sox can rely on in the near future.

[NorthSideSox72]

Look forward to this this every year, great read as always.

 

Really hope the Sox give Coats a look in ST this year. He quietly put up a very solid year in Charlotte and I think he could be a decent 4th OF in the majors.

 

My personal feel is that Coats is a competent 4th OF right now, but with room for being a starter somewhere. Much like Thompson, though with different strengths and weaknesses. If the Sox don't upgrade the OF this offseason or early in the season, it's not out of the realm of possibility he could be with the Sox this season. Shuck is fine as a 4th OF but isn't anything special either, and I believe Coats could be more at this point. Sands is in the mix too, but he's purely a platoon bat.