White Sox: Catching up with each year’s top prospect this century
By Phil Watson
White Sox top prospects: Carlos Rodon, LHP, 2015
The Chicago White Sox made North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft and he made a grand total of 11 minor-league appearances before debuting with the Sox in April 2015. He also made a quick run to the top spot in the organization’s rankings in 2015 and was No. 15 on the Top 100.
As a rookie, Rodon made 23 starts in 26 appearances, with a 3.75 ERA and 1.443 WHIP in 139.1 innings, averaging 9.0 strikeouts and 4.6 walks per nine innings. His ERA, however, has climbed each season since, including an 8.22 mark in 7.2 innings last season.
Rodon has accumulated 6.4 WAR in parts of six seasons and re-signed with the White Sox on Monday after he was non-tendered in December.
Other White Sox in top 100 in 2015: SS Tim Anderson (No. 92), RHP Spencer Adams (No. 100)
White Sox top prospects: Jose Abreu, 1B, 2014
Jose Abreu played for 10 seasons in the Cuban National Series, beginning at age 16, before defecting in August 2013, first to Haiti and later to the U.S. He rocketed to the top of the White Sox’ organizational rankings after signing with them in October 2013, ranking No. 29 in the top 100.
Abreu was as good as advertised, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2014 while also earning an All-Star bid, a Silver Slugger and placing fourth in the MVP race. Since then, he has two more All-Star appearances, two more Silver Sluggers and was named AL MVP in 2020.
He has produced 24.0 WAR in seven seasons and has led the AL in RBI each of the last two seasons. He led the American League in slugging in 2014 and 2020, in total bases in 2017 and 2020 and in hits last season.
Abreu re-signed with Chicago as a free agent in November 2019 and has two years and $37.3 million remaining on his deal.
Other White Sox in top 100 in 2014: RHP Erik Johnson (No. 63), 3B Matt Davidson (No. 72), IF Marcus Semien (No. 91)
White Sox top prospects: Courtney Hawkins, OF, 2013
Courtney Hawkins was taken 13th overall by the White Sox from Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the 2012 draft and rose to the top of the Chicago prospect rankings in 2013, checking in at No. 55 on the top 100 list.
But injuries derailed Hawkins, with a season-ending injury in 2015 and an oblique tear in 2016. He was diagnosed with hyperthyroid disease in March 2017, according to the Houston Chronicle.
In April 2018, Hawkins was released by the White Sox organization while he was at Double-A Birmingham, having never made it to the big leagues.
He later was with the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants organizations. He has played the last two seasons with the Sugar Land Skeeters, an independent minor league club, while also playing with Monterrey in Mexico’s Pacific Winter League this winter.
Other White Sox in top 100 in 2013: None
White Sox top prospects: Addison Reed, RHP, 2012
Right-handed reliever Addison Reed was chosen in the third round of the 2010 draft by the White Sox after he had been the closer at San Diego State on a staff that included Stephen Strasburg. Reed shot up through the organization, debuting with Chicago in September 2011 and closing for the club for two seasons, 2012-13.
He was No. 66 on the top 100 in 2012.
Reed picked up 69 saves in 81 opportunities, including going 40-for-48 in 2013. He posted 1.1 WAR in parts of three seasons with the White Sox, with a 4.17 ERA and 1.234 WHIP in 133.2 innings, striking out 9.3 batters and walking 2.8 per nine innings.
He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Matt Davison in December 2013 and later played with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins before he was released by them in May 2019.
Other White Sox in top 100 in 2012: None
White Sox top prospects: Chris Sale, LHP, 2011
Chris Sale was selected 13th overall by the White Sox from Florida Gulf Coast University in the 2010 draft and made his debut just two months later after just 11 appearances in the minors. He was ranked the top prospect in the Chicago organization in 2011, No. 20 overall on the top 100.
He made 21 relief appearances the rest of that season and took a regular setup role in 2011, making 58 appearances and saving eight games.
Sale joined the rotation in 2012 and a star was born. Sale made five consecutive All-Star appearances between 2012-16, finished in the top six of the Cy Young voting each year and led the American League in strikeouts in 2015 and 2017, while topping the circuit in strikeouts per nine innings three times (2014-15, 2017).
Sale amassed 30.1 WAR in seven seasons with the White Sox, with a 3.00 ERA and 1.065 WHIP over 1,629.2 innings. He fanned 10.1 batters per nine innings while walking just 2.1. Entering his final season of arbitration eligibility, Sale was traded to the Boston Red Sox in December 2016 for four prospects, most notably Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech.
Other White Sox in top 100 in 2011: 3B/SS Brent Morel (No. 85).