Overlooked Prospects in White Sox Farm System
With several big names in the White Sox farm system, it is easy to overlook some lesser-known names. But just because they are lesser-known, fans will regret overlooking them.
General manager Rick Hahn and company have been working to turn the tides on the struggling organization that was the White Sox. After a few moves, moving assets around for younger talent and drafting well, the White Sox have the potential to be a super team in the coming years.
But amongst the big names that have made their way in the White Sox farm system like Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada, and Michael Kopech stand some prospects that are also making a name for themselves, but are unfortunately looked over. Names that fans would regret looking over because in the coming years they are names that could very work themselves onto the 25 man roster.
Alec Hansen – RHP (White Sox: #4 ; MLB Top 100: #54)
Forty-ninth pick in the second round of the 2016 draft, former Oklahoma Sooners pitcher Alec Hansen had a rough going in the 2016 season. So rough, he pitched his way out of the rotation. Hansen, once seen as a early first-rounder, fell to the Sox late in the second round. Though I don’t know him, I’m sure he is no longer upset he dropped that much as he is fourth in one of the MLB’s top farm systems.
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On the standard 20-80 rating system, Hansen’s top two pitches are his fastball, 70, and his curveball at 60. He also has been working on developing his slider and changeup, 55 and 50. The thing he needs to work on more would be his control. Control problems led to his Sooners demise. So it’s clear he would need to work on this as his development progresses.
Though he led the minors in strikeouts last year with 191 in 141 innings, he allowed 51 walks. He also threw 10 wild pitches.
He has the command in his above average fastball and curveball, as it shows in the 191 strikeouts. But his 3.2 walks per nine innings statistic shows he has not completely taken grasp of his control
As his numbers began to turn some heads, they looked away as names like Giolito, Kopech, and Reynaldo Lopez arrived. Despite this, Hansen has always been a White Sox top 30 prospect since his draft in 2016. He jumped from no.14 to no. 4 since then. Hansen has a place on the White Sox 25 man roster. We could be seeing his name called in the near future.
Ian Clarkin – LHP (White Sox: #17)
Shipped here in the Todd Frazier, David Robertson, and Tommy Kahnle to New York trade, Ian Clarkin was drafted 33rd in the 2013 draft at 18 years old. Now 23, he finds himself overlooked in the shadows of the abundance of pitching prospects in the Sox farm.
He has had his share of bad seasons, once posting an ERA of 5.84, but he only pitched 24 innings. In seasons when he’s pitched 75-plus innings, his highest ERA posted was 4.04 in 2016 in 98 innings of work. But he quickly turned around his 4.04 ERA in 2017 as he compiled a 2.91 ERA in 86 innings with both Single-A Advanced Tampa before the trade and Winston-Salem after.
With his fastball and control graded at 50 and his curveball, slider and changeup at 55, Clarkin does have some ways to go, which explains his 2019 MLB ETA. But if he continues to throw the ball like he did last season, he could take off a year or two and make his way to the White Sox quicker.
Ryan Cordell – OF (White Sox: #18)
So close to making the 25-man roster after this spring was Ryan Cordell. With the Brewers Triple-A affiliate, Colorado Springs, Cordell hit a slash of 284/.349/.506 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. And he showed his speed in going 9-for-13 in stolen bases.
Despite hitting .317 in 41 at-bats this spring, Cordell was optioned to Triple A-Charlotte as Adam Engel made the 25-man roster.
Cordell has the fielding ability and speed to play all three outfield positions, but with an above-average arm, he fits nicely at right. But it’ll be a bit tough for him to beat out Avisail Garcia for the job in right field, so his best bet was left or center. But Engel has “gold glove caliber defense,” according to MLB.com, which gave him the edge over Cordell.
Cordell shows fantastic defensive ability which will bring him to the majors someday, maybe soon. His bat will have to heat up first. And with his .118 in 17 at-bat start with the Knights that may be rough, but he can always turn things around and bring up that 45 hitting and 50 power placement if he takes what he did last year and in the spring into this season.
Seby Zavala – C (White Sox: #22)
Drafted in the 12th round in the 2013 draft Seby Zavala isn’t exactly a household name. And with the skills fellow catcher Zack Collins and White Sox ninth-ranked prospect, most don’t expect him to be. But don’t sleep on Zavala.
Hitting a slash of .282/.353/.499 with Single-A Kannapolis and Winston-Salem last season, Zavala earned a promotion as he started the 2018 season with Double A-Birmingham.
With 21 home runs and 75 RBIs in 2017, he proved his 45 hit and 50 power rankings wrong. Also, he is starting this season hitting .333, four hits in 12 at-bats, one being a home run. He has three RBIs and five walks and four strikeouts. If he can continue to keep this hot streak of his going, he will make his way up the farm system.
Despite Collins having a higher ceiling than Zavala, there is a possibility he can see his 2019 MLB projected ETA. He may also have the opportunity to be more valuable than Collins. Both display above average defensive skill and arm strength, and Collins has had his share of offensive struggles. This may leave the door open for Zavala to swoop in and take the job behind the plate. The job originally thought to belong to Collins.
Tito Polo – OF (Not in White Sox Top 30 Prospects)
Also sent over here in the midseason blockbuster trade with the Yankees last year, Tito Polo has been overlooked. In a trade involving six players, Polo’s name was the least known. But his 2017 season, especially his time with Double A-Birmingham, has made efforts in changing that.
With three teams last season, Single-A Advanced Tampa, Double A-Trenton and Double A-Birmingham, Polo had a fantastic season. He hit a slash of .301/.363/.442. He was 34 for 44 in stolen bases with nine triples, displaying his above average speed. His 27 walks also shows his patience at the plate.
It appears Polo just missed out making the White Sox top 30. It may be awhile before Polo can make his way to the south side, but before then he will definitely find himself inside the top 30. And if he translates his numbers from last year to this year, he may even find himself inside the MLB top 100.
Craig Dedelow – OF (Not in the White Sox Top 30 Prospects)
Drafted 267th in the 2017 draft, Craig Dedelow made a name for himself at Indiana University. In his four years at the school, the 23-year-old hit .289 with 31 home runs, 19 coming in his senior year. Although he hit .258 that year, 19 home runs is the most he hit, getting seven and five in his sophomore and junior year. His contact numbers took a hit while his power numbers skyrocketed, no puns intended.
With Rookie-level Great Falls and Single-A Kannapolis last year, Dedelow managed to hit .306 with 13 home runs. Dedelow also has a combined right-center-left field minors career fielding percentage at .983, only two errors committed in two years at three positions.
Next: Michael Kopech Records 8 Strikeouts in First Start of 2018
In 2017, Dedelow “just missed” the top 30 prospects list for the Sox, but Nicky Delmonico was on that list as well. This just proves to tell you, with this game, you never know for sure.