The White Sox find themselves in another rebuilding phase, reshaping their system by trading key pieces. The eventual return for Dylan Cease could bring further changes. Colson Montgomery, a near-major league ready hitter, is poised to contribute, potentially breaking camp or debuting early in 2024, if he has to “work on his defense” to help the team gain an extra year of team control over him. Noah Shultz, a high-upside pitching prospect also is a top prospect for the White Sox, but he carries the same pitfalls that plague other pitching prospects before him, especially given how far away he is. The White Sox's recent draft history has not been great, and Jacob Gonzalez's early struggles do not help the perception about the way they have been drafting. However, an influx of talent at the deadline, including Edgar Quero, Nick Nastrini, Jake Eder, and Ky Bush, offers a promising boost to what would be among the worst farm systems in baseball. Under the leadership of Chris Getz, we shall see if he can right the multiple wrongs of the Rick Hahn era. In a division that is begging for someone to take it, the White Sox seem a step, or several, away from competing but their farm system is at the moment in a healthy spot.
About Our Top 30 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team has meticulously worked on every detail in this list and all future teams, sparing no effort as we combine industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible list.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked painstakingly to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
This year, we decided to accompany the scouting reports with dynasty commentary on each, as well as quick reference to the player's Top 500 fantasy prospect rank (top 1000 dynasty rank coming soon), PLIVE+ metrics and Jordan Rosenblum's peak projections. The PLIVE+ rank noted is the rank among hitters, starters or relievers.
Below you'll find the top 10 players in the system with full reports of the top 5. The full rankings and reports on all top 30 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5 level) as we publish them. If you're into fantasy baseball, this tier also gets you the dynasty show, the FYPD list, and the MiLB Daily Sheet during the regular season.
Top 10 Team Rank and First 5 Reports for Free Below
1. Colson Montgomery, SS - 60 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 1 OFP: 55
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 35
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 50 | High |
Report Colson Montgomery, despite facing health challenges in the 2023 season, showcased his strong performance as he climbed through the minors. Limited to 64 games across three levels due to back and oblique issues, he possesses impressive power, a standout skill. While not a high-average hitter, his elevated walk rates suggest an above average on-base ability. It's rare to find a player with his power, walk production, and a low 20s strikeout percentage. Regardless of his position, though a move from shortstop is likely, his bat is a plus and versatile. Barring health concerns, Montgomery is poised to be a middle-of-the-order asset for the White Sox by 2024. His high risk, attributed to health and positional uncertainties, underscores the polarizing nature of his potential outcomes. - Jeff Ellis
Fantasy Outlook Montgomery finished 35th overall in our Top 500 October rankings and is shaping up to be an OBP monster as he rocked a .456 mark in that department last year. He’s got a very well-rounded skill set and shouldn’t be deficient anywhere. There’s a chance at a 30/5 player with an excellent slash line, the type who goes between 75-125 overall in a redraft league. The White Sox were teasing the chance of an early 2024 debut, which we still think is unlikely, but a summer debut seems all but certain now for the 23-year-old. - Eddy Almaguer
2. Noah Schultz, LHP - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: A
2023 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 44
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 50 | 40 | 40 | High |
Report It’s not hard to see the vision with Schultz here, combining rare size and athleticism with a very projectable three-pitch mix. Randy Johnson is the easy comp to make on a body level here just given the length and dexterity, but any further comparisons to a Hall of Famer are moot for now. Schultz can repeat his delivery and stay in sync down the slope despite the longer nature of his levers, a testament to his present athleticism and aptitude for the game. He creates a tough angle at foot strike and comes through with a sidearm slot, utilizing his unique release height to increase arsenal effectiveness. There was a substantial velocity spike as soon as he got to instructs earlier this year and it carried over into his first stint with an affiliate at Kannapolis, all the while maintaining a feel for the strike zone. The four-seam has solid spin traits (2,600 rpm) with demonstrated effectiveness at the top of the zone that holds plane all the way through. There’s been a two-seam introduced with plenty of arm-side run and solid life to the bottom half of the zone, lending a hand to his 50% ground ball rate last year. His slider is a nasty sweeper, routinely hovering around 2,900+ rpm and proving to be a putaway offering that also neutralizes left-handed bats. He rounds the mix off with a change that projects to be just a tick below average, but usable regardless. Using it just once in his debut, he found himself going to it routinely against left-handed bats just six starts later as it features good arm side fade at its best. There have been some hiccups with his health, missing some time with both a flexor strain and shoulder impingement that will need to be monitored, but the org figures to have Schultz on a strict innings limit. There are some mechanical tweaks to clean up as well, as he can fly open on occasion and the release point will get inconsistent. You’re looking at a middle-of-the-rotation upside arm with two future potential above-average to plus offerings in his fastball and slider, as well as some legitimate velocity projection to consider given the age and frame. - Michael Albee
Fantasy Outlook The White Sox watching Noah Schultz develop is probably akin to Mystery Inc watching Scooby Doo develop as a Great Dane puppy; the young, jumbo-sized left-hander is destined for great and unusual things. Schultz ranked 44th on our end-of-season Top 500 Prospects by virtue of his rare size, athleticism, strike-throwing, and projectable pitch mix. The four-seamer is plus, the slider is a sweepy plus-rotation offering, and the changeup is still developing, but the entire arsenal plays up with Schultz’s sidearm slot and ridiculous release height, giving batters a difficult look in the box — and there could still be more velocity to come. Schultz will be monitored closely and will surely have his innings limited in 2024 after a few health snafus last season, and a few things need to be tweaked through the pipeline, but frankly, the sky’s the limit for the 6’9” lefty — no pun intended. - Drew Wheeler
3. Edgar Quero, C - 50 OFP
Age: 20 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-Season Rank: 3 (LAA) OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 82
| Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 50 | 50 | 55 | 30 | High |
Report The switch-hitting catcher had a big breakout in 2022, hitting .312/.435/.530 in Single-A, and the Angels had him skip High-A entirely and start the 2023 season in Double-A. He performed well despite the aggressive opening assignment, especially considering he was exposed to the pre-tacked baseballs in the Southern League while with the Angels. The 20-year-old catcher hit .255/.380/.351 with nearly as many walks as strikeouts, and he had a better walk rate with the experimental baseballs. He was sent to the White Sox as part of the Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez trade. The strength of his offensive game is his knowledge and feel for the strike zone and his ability to put the bat on the baseball. More power should come naturally as he fills out. He’s a legit switch-hitter with slightly more power from his left side. He’s a really great athlete, and his compact frame points to above average offensive production here with a solid average, great on-base skills, and the ability to hit 18-20 homers. There’s still room to add good weight to the frame here. Defensively he’s a work in progress, especially with his throwing and game calling, but he should be at least average defensively at his peak. He has an above average arm but it plays down due to his receiving skills and pitchers that didn’t hold runners very well. There’s a strong likelihood that Quero will be the White Sox catcher of the future beginning late in the 2024 season. - Matt Thompson
Fantasy Outlook Quero rose consistently in both real-life and fantasy lists throughout the year due to his strong plate discipline and above average hit tool. The backstop is still developing in many ways — physically, defensively, and in the power department — and as they all come together, Quero could comfortably be a top-10 fantasy catcher yearly and an offensive boon in two-catcher leagues. Quero earned a Top-100 ranking on our year-end Top 500 Ranking and should debut in his new home of Chicago at some point in 2024. At standard development, we can see something like a Mike Lieberthal-esque career to be enjoyed here, but at the 90th percentile outcome, he could be more like Victor Martinez. - Drew Wheeler
4. Nick Nastrini, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 24 Highest Level: AAA
2023 Pre-Season Rank: 5 (LAD) OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 171
| Fastball | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 50 | 60 | 40 | High |
Report Born in San Jose and spending his collegiate days at UCLA, Nastrini had to be pumped up when the Dodgers selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. Well, as it so often goes, baseball had other plans for him as he was sent to the White Sox in the Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly trade. Nastrini is a big right-hander with a solid frame. It’s a standard high ¾ arm slot and it's a delivery he repeats well. The four-seamer headlines the four-pitch mix, and he also throws a changeup, slider, and curveball. He gets as many in-zone whiffs as anyone in the last few years as his power fastball has been 93-97 and touched 99 with up to 20 inches of vertical movement. The fastball did tick down in 2023 though, as he’s averaging 93 but still getting 18 inches of vertical break. His changeup and slider both earn plus grades, and they both play very well off of the fastball. The changeup tunnels off of the fastball at the bottom of the zone and the slider looks like a fastball until it takes a hard left. He throws the slider for strikes but also will use it as a chase pitch. He runs the changeup away from left-handers. The curveball is his worst pitch, but he uses it to steal strikes as hitters have to respect the arsenal. He does give up some hard contact as he attempts to be in the zone too much. His command is below average and really the only thing that could hold him back. There’s front-of-the-rotation potential here if the White Sox can find something with his command that the Dodgers couldn’t. - Matt Thompson
Fantasy Outlook Nastrini sits outside our top 150, but he’s the type of pitcher that we recommend you find a spot for on at least one dynasty team because of the upside. He has a full suite of pitches that he can deploy to get punchouts and to wit, he has a career 32 K% in 245.1 IP. But it comes with an 11 BB% in the same span, which is the obvious danger in the profile. But in dynasty, someone with these many tools in his belt is someone you want to be patient with, especially with a 2024 debut on the horizon. Going from Dodgers pitching dev to White Sox is worth calling out. But we can envision a future where Nastrini is a pitcher whose matchups you’ll need to manage but can twirl some absolute gems occasionally. - Eddy Almaguer
5. Jonathan Cannon, RHP - 50 OFP
Age: 23 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 8 OFP: 45
Dynasty Prospect Rank: NR
| Fastball | Cutter | Curveball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 50 | 55 | Mod |
Report Cannon has an XL frame and solid athleticism for his size. He’s an imposing presence on the mound, with very long limbs and an efficient, repeatable delivery. There is a bit of a stabbing motion at the back of his arm circle and he occasionally loses his ¾ release point, but the mechanics are not a concern and he’s typically in control of his body throughout the delivery. Cannon’s fastball sits 93-96 with good command. He can attack the top of the zone with the four-seamer and work down and away from lefties with a heavy sinker. His changeup plays well off his fastball, with good arm speed and heavy arm-side fade. He also throws a cutter, slider, and curveball, all of which have distinct movement profiles. The cutter works in on the hands of lefties, while the slider has more north-south movement. His curve, meanwhile, has lots of depth and is mainly used as a get-me-over pitch. Cannon has good control of the zone and allows plenty of weak contact on the ground, with a ton of poise and the willingness to attack hitters in any count. None of his offerings look like dominant weapons as of now, but a legitimate five-pitch mix is intriguing, nonetheless. - Harris Yudin
Fantasy Outlook A big, imposing figure in the mound, Cannon works with an above average four-seamer, using his cutter and slider depending on the handedness of his opponent as the main highlights of his five-pitch mix. There is above average control and a good understanding of how each pitch works within the big picture. Nothing is jaw-dropping, but everything is average (at worst), and that’ll play. There is a fantasy-relevant starter here, and Cannon seems perennially undervalued in the game — take a shot on him as you would any prospect in the 450-600 range of our list. - Drew Wheeler
6. Bryan Ramos, 3B - 45 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-Season Rank: 5 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 135
7. Cristian Mena, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: AAA
2023 Pre-season Rank: 3 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 262
8. Grant Taylor, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 21 Highest Level: NCAA
2023 MLB Draft Rank: 79
Dynasty Prospect Rank: NR
9. Peyton Pallette, RHP - 45 OFP
Age: 22 Highest Level: A
2023 Pre-season Rank: 6 OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: NR
10. Jake Eder, LHP - 45 OFP
Age: 25 Highest Level: AA
2023 Pre-Season Rank: 4 (MIA) OFP: 50
Dynasty Prospect Rank: 240