White Sox quietly bolster outfield depth by signing former Brewers top prospect

With the 2026 trade deadline now in the past, there aren’t as many opportunities for major league baseball teams to bolster their rosters as the end of the season approaches. Still, clubs looking for upgrades scour the free agent market and waiver wire. The White Sox, who reshuffled their outfield mix at the trade deadline and cut ties with Everson Pereira and Austin Hays, made a pickup on the free agent front to improve their depth this weekend. The team announced the signing of outfielder Joey Wiemer to a minor league deal over the weekend, and he’s been assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. 

Wiemer, 27, was drafted in the fourth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. He demonstrated loud tools immediately for Milwaukee, slugging 27 home runs and stealing 30 bases between Low-A and High-A in 2021. Wiemer followed it up with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, and his strong numbers allowed him to finish the season ranked second on Milwaukee’s Top 30 list that year. The primary question surrounding Wiemer was whether he’d make enough contact to stick, and those concerns showed up during his rookie year in 2023. Wiemer hit just .204 with 13 home runs and a .645 OPS in his first year with Milwaukee. 

Joey Wiemer has struggled to catch on in the big leagues despite loud tools

Since his rookie year, Wiemer has made the rounds with several different teams. He was traded to Cincinnati in the deal that sent Frankie Montas to Milwaukee in 2024. He played just two games for the Reds and was traded to Kansas City in the Brady Singer deal following the season. After hitting .182 in 72 games with Triple-A Omaha, Wiemer was designated for assignment by the Royals and claimed by the Miami Marlins, where he posted a .715 OPS with three home runs in 27 big league games to finish the season. Wiemer was designated for assignment by Miami this offseason and dealt to the Giants, where he remained on the roster for just a month before being claimed on waivers by the Nationals. He made the Nationals Opening Day roster and had actually gotten off to a strong start, hitting .286 with a .912 OPS, primarily against left-handed pitching. 

Wiemer was the unfortunate victim of a roster crunch and was optioned to Triple-A, from which he was granted his release on August 5th and signed with the White Sox a couple days later. Though he’ll report to Charlotte to start, Wiemer will serve as important outfield depth for the White Sox. The team has Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle on the roster as right-handed outfield options who primarily play against lefties, but an injury to either player would’ve likely resulted in Junior Perez needing to come up. Perez hit three home runs, but hit just .171 in 22 games earlier this season. Now the White Sox have another option with a recent track record of strong play. 

Wiemer is 13-for-37 (.351) with a 1.199 OPS against left-handers this season and will provide the White Sox with important depth. He’s still just 27 years-old and has demonstrated plus tools in at least the power and speed areas, so the White Sox may believe there’s more upside to be unlocked in his bat. Whether he’s just depth or the team believes he can be something more, it’s a low-risk flyer on a player that used to be a highly regarded prospect. With players like Miguel Vargas serving as examples of the White Sox’ recent success with those types of players, Wiemer will be a name to keep an eye on for White Sox fans.

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