Chicago White Sox: Where Do The Prospects Land In MLB’s Top 100?
The Chicago White Sox are entering one of the best eras in franchise history. Fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2008, the White Sox are making moves and bulking up for a title run. They added Lance Lynn, Adam Eaton, and Liam Hendriks to their stockpile of weapons. Their impressive arsenal includes former MVP Jose Abreu, 2019 AL batting champion Tim Anderson, ace Lucas Giolito and young studs such as Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert. Rick Hahn sprinkled in some crafty veterans like Yasmani Grandal and Dallas Keuchel to go with them.
If MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects for 2021 are any indication, the Chicago White Sox have a bright future ahead of them.
This just the tip of the iceberg however as the rest of the depth chart is quite the collection of talent. If that isn’t enough to get you excited, the White Sox have four players in MLB.com’s Top 100 prospect list. Some of these players dipped their toes in Major League action last season while others are projected to arrive in 2021.
Three of the four players cracked the top 50 on the list and the fourth is not far behind. The White Sox are tied for the second-most players on the list in the AL Central. The rebuilding Tigers have the most with five. Spencer Torkelson highlights that group, ranking third. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins also have four players on the list while the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals each have three. While the Royals don’t have the quantity of some of these other teams they have quality will all three finishing inside the top 30 and the pride of the system, Bobby Witt Jr, ranking 7th.
MLB.com argues the White Sox have the most top-heavy farm system in baseball. All four players who cracked the Top 100 have a legitimate chance to take home American League Rookie of the Year honors. More importantly, they contribute immediately.
56. Garrett Crochet
Crochet made a great first impression late in the season after an injury to Evan Marshall forced the White Sox to break the emergency glass and promote him to the big leagues. The southpaw from Tennessee had yet to throw a professional pitch before being thrust into the big leagues in the midst of a playoff push. That is no easy task but Crochet was up to the challenge. In six regular-season appearances, he fired six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, no walks and only allowed three hits.
He was called upon in the White Sox do or die postseason game and struck out the only two hitters he faced before exiting with an apparent forearm strain. It was revealed during Rick Hahn’s end of the season press conference that he would be ready for the upcoming season. The only question that remains for Crochet is where does he fit on the roster.
Crochet was drafted 11th overall with the hopes that he would become a starting pitcher in the future. However, Crochet performed amicably during his time out of the pen in 2020. This was mostly due to the fact he has all the tools to be an effective late-innings reliever. His fastball ranges anywhere from 96-102 mph with a high spin rate. According to MLB.com, a Baseball America poll of MLB scouting selected Crochet’s fastball as the best coming out of college. To complement his fastball he also throws an above-average changeup and a solid slider. These are all the qualities of a high powered relief pitcher that can rack up lots of strikeouts.
It is likely that he will be used in the bullpen. However, White Sox Player Development Director Chris Getz left the door open for Crochet to start some games. He said in an interview with MLB Network Radio “We view him as a long term starter. Now, What’s the plan to get there for 2021 and 2022? Probably a little bit of bullpen, perhaps a couple of starts.”
40. Nick Madrigal
Nick Madrigal made headlines by saying his goal is to be apart of the 3000th-hit club. While on NBC Sports Chicago’s “White Sox Talk Podcast” Madrigal discussed his aspirations of joining the exclusive club, “I feel like that’s reachable, I know that’s throwing a big statement out there, but I believe in myself and I know what it takes to play this game and I feel confident I can do that.”
In his brief debut, he showed flashes of why the White Sox think so highly of him. He batted .340 with a .376 OPB and had 35 hits. He has a reputation of being a great two-strike hitter and lived up to it only striking out seven times in 109 trips to the plate. He is able to make tons of contact and rarely strikes out.
He had a minor setback early in his still young White Sox career when he departed his shoulder in a game against Milwaukee. It was only his fifth major league game but an awkward slide into third-base forced him to miss time. He had surgery to repair his shoulder during the offseason but is expected to be ready for spring training. The second baseman also has a slick glove and should be a lethal double-play combination with Tim Anderson up the middle.
39. Michael Kopech
White Sox fans are waiting eagerly for the return of Michael Kopech. After falling victim to Tommy John’s surgery then opting out of the 2020 season, Kopech will return to the mound for the first time in over two years.
He has the ability to light up the radar gun, throwing 100 mph with ease. He also has an easy assortment of breaking pitches. His pure stuff is game-changing. Look for the White Sox to ease him into the rotation. Kopech has yet to throw over 150 innings in a professional season. The most he has ever thrown as a pro is 140 2/3 innings. He also had some control issues in the minor leagues but was able to accumulate 170 strikeouts during his time in AAA in 2018.
He has a good chance to get the fifth spot in the rotation behind Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel, and Dylan Cease. He should benefit from new pitching coach Ethan Katz and the other veteran starters in the rotation. His high upside as a player makes him a must-watch for the 2021 season. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi even went as far as to say he will be the White Sox “x-factor” this season. A solid season from him could push the White Sox over the top.
14. Andrew Vaughn
Like many minor leaguers, Andrew Vaughn was unable to play last season due to COVID-19. That is what makes him finishing 14th in the rankings so impressive. MLB.com says Vaughn has the loftier ceiling among the prospects in the White Sox farm system.
The White Sox selected Vaughn with the third pick in the 2019 MLB draft. Coming into the draft he was considered one of the best pure hitters in the nation. He launched 50 home runs during his three-year stint at Cal. He took home the Golden Spikes Award his final season as college baseball’s best player.
Vaughn has a great approach at the plate. His initial numbers as a professional don’t jump off the page but he only struck out 15.5% of the while walking 12.2% of the time. That is an encouraging sign for the White Sox. He impressed during Summer Camp with the White Sox as well.
Hot. Lance Lynn is perfect for the Chicago White Sox. light
The White Sox see him as the long-term solution at first base so he will have enormous shoes to fill once Jose Abreu is no longer on the roster. As for the 2021 season, he will likely be the White Sox answer at the DH position and occasionally occupy first when Abreu needs a day off of his feet.