Oscar Colas is someone for the Chicago White Sox to consider one day soon.
After three fantastic seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, Colás played in Japan’s minor Western League for three more years. He was also declared an international free agent in 2020. Like Cespedes, Colás waited but he waited two years to sign with the team. That shows even more enthusiasm to want to play for the White Sox.
Colás had a history of being a two-way player in Japan and even earned himself the nickname the ‘Cuban Ohtani”. He has since given up pitching to elevate his offensive game but he will use that cannon of an arm in right.
Colás began his journey at Single-A Winston-Salem. In his first 59 games in the White Sox organization, he put up a slash of .312/.369/.475 with a .845 OPS. In 268 plate appearances, he recorded 76 hits, 13 doubles, seven home runs, and three triples with 42 RBIs. Colás quickly earned himself a mid-season call-up to Double-A Birmingham, much like Cespedes last season.
The scouting reports have Colás further along offensively than Céspedes, which he has been proving in his first 16 games as a Baron. In 71 plate appearances, Colás has six home runs, 21 hits, 16 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of .661.
The two share a similar weakness in poor plate discipline. With the Dash, his K rate was 20.1% and is at 19.7% so far in Birmingham.
That, however, might not be too big of a concern if the depth gets any worse for the White Sox this season. Considering the lack of production from the left-handed side, Colás might earn himself a promotion to the south side before Cespedes.
The ability to provide strength against right-handed pitches is what this 23-year-old does best. Colás is adjusting to American pitching which shows in his lack of plate discipline. If he figures it out, he will hit the ball hard and far.
At the start of the season, it would have been daunting to hear that by the end of July there was a possibility Céspedes or Colás would make their debuts in 2022.
After thinking of hearing that, you might think that they were putting up insane numbers that forced Rick Hahn’s hand. Alas, the lack of depth shows, and the Sox need help. Who will be first?