This is a pamphlet complete with predictions, rosters, depth charts, scouting reports, and much more!
The White Sox Rebuild
It is Decmeber 6, 2016. You are in the Red Sox’s management/ conference room, and you receive a phone call from the Chicago White Sox. They propose a trade, Chris Sale for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, plus two others. Dave Dombrowski says one word, yes, and the whole room starts cheering. Chris Sale is a member of the Red Sox, and now the White Sox’s rebuild has officially started.
It hasn’t been pretty. In 2017 the White Sox finished 67-95, with Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia being keys to success. Pitching was a disaster, as no pitcher got above 7 wins. Leading the pack were Miguel Gonzalez (7-10) and Derek Holland (7-14). This was predicted by most though, and it was set to be along rebuild. They needed their prospects to come up faster, especially pitchers. Again in 2018, pitching was a disaster, as no starting pitcher finished with a winning record. Lucas Giolito led the team in wins at 10-13, but he had a 6.13 ERA, and he led the league in walks and earned runs. Reynaldo Lopez finished 7-10 with a 3.91 ERA. As for hitting, Jose Abreu had a pretty average year with a slashline of .325/.473/.798. Yoan Moncada really stunk as he struck out 217 times. Avisail Garcia dropped off, hitting .236. Fans were losing hope as they had finished 62-100 in 2018, and some started hating Rick Hahn and company. But an offseason that could’ve changed that, didn’t. Manny Machado and Bryce Harper were the big free agents, and both had expressed interest in coming to Chicago. Machado was the real target though, and all signs pointed to him landing in Chi-town, but he didn’t. This was bad news for Rick Hahn, as the hate just got stronger. The White Sox would need a strong rebound for 2019, and that’s what they got. The roster remained mostly unchanged, but a few players would really step it up. They were Tim Anderson who won the AL Batting Crown, another was Yoan Moncada who hit .315 with only 154 K’s, down 63 K’s from 2018. Another was Eloy Jimenez, who hit 31 bombs while hitting .267. But it was Lucas Giolito who was most surprising. He finished 14-9, a far cry from 2018. He had a 3.14 ERA, and to top it off he had 47 walks, down from 90 in 2018. Like I said, huge improvement. But what now? Do they wait? Or do they try to sign a free agent to help them? Keep reading to find out.
Chicago White Sox
Stadium: Gaurenteed Rate
Established: 1900 Field
World Series Titles: 1906, 1917, 2005
Central Division Titles: 2000, 2005, 2008
Retired Numbers: 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 35,
56, 72
American League Titles: 1900, 1901, 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005
Owner: Jerry Reinsdorf
General Manager: Rick Hahn
President of Baseball Operations: Kenny Williams
Manager: Rick Renteria
Depth Chart:
P-
1. Lucas Giolito
2. Reynaldo Lopez
3. Ivan Nova
4. Michael Kopech
5. Dylan Cease
RP-
C Alex Colome
RP Jace Fry
RP Aaron Bummer
RP Evan Marshall
SU Kelvin Herrera
C-
James McCann
Zack Collins
1B-
Jose Abreu
2B-
Yolmer Snachez
3B-
Yoan Moncada
SS-
Tim Anderson
LF-
Eloy Jimenez
CF-
Adam Engel
RF-
Leury Garcia
Player By Player Previews:
Jose Abreu
Position: 1B
Height/Weight: 6-3, 255
Date of Birth: January 29, 1987
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Cuba
Resúme:
Jose Abreu is one of the most established players in the whole White Sox organization. He is a 3x All Star, a 2x Silver Slugger, and he won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2014. In that 2014 year, he hit .317 with 36 home runs, and he led the league in slugging with .581. In 2015 he landed on Earth hitting .290 with 30 home runs plus 101 RBIs. In 2016 he hit .293 with 100 RBIs and 25 HR, as he kept declining. 2017 was the year that the White Sox unloaded and cleaned house, but Abrey stayed, as he hit .304 with 33 long bombs and 102 RBIs with a slashline of .354/.552/.906. Abreu was a star, and he was grabbing most of the league’s attention. But in 2018, everything changed. He hit .265 with only 78 RBIs and 22 home runs, a horrible year by his standards. But the White Sox had an amazingly horrible year, so he was a star on that team. He was still the locker room leader, and in 2019, he picked up his game. He hit .284 with an American League leading 123 RBIs with 33 home runs. He was better in the RBI department than the likes of Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and other stars in the AL.
What’s Next?
Abreu is a reliable star for a team that is turning the corner, and he has stuck with the Sox for the whole time. In 2020, he should keep his spot at first base, and he should also keep his spot as the team leader, mentoring the likes of Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson. Although not a great fielder, he is an amazing batter, and he should make the all star team, as the Sox conti nue the journey to the playoffs.
Yolmer Sanchez
Position: 2B
Height/Weight: 5-11, 185
Date of Birth: June 29, 1992
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Born: Venezuela
Resúme:
Sanchez made his debut in 2014, and at the end of the year he had a .250 batting average with 5 RBIs and a .569 OPS. In 2015 he had a horrible year hitting a .224 batting average with 31 RBIs. He had a .595 OPS with only 5 HRs. His career was looking like a disaster, and 2016 only made it worse. He hit .208 with a .593 OPS and 4 HRs with 21 RBIs. He only played in 53 games, and he needed a serious rebound for 2017. In the offseason he changed his name to Yolmer from Carlos, and it magically changed. He hit .267 with 59 RBIs and 12 HRs. He had a career best .732 OPS, and he played in 141 games. In 2018, he hit .242, and he led the AL in triples with 10. In 2019 he hit .252 with 43 RBIs and 2 HRs.
What’s Next?
Sanchez has never hit for power, and he has always been a below average player. He is great a great fielder though, and he is the team fuuny person. He has a great personality, and he might have a breakout year, although unlikely. Sanchez can play anywhere in the infield, and he is a valuable presence for the team. He will have the same type of year in 2020 as 2017.
Yoan Moncada
Position: 3B
Height/Weight: 6-2, 205
Date of Birth: May 27, 1995
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Born: Cuba
Resúme:
He was the star player in the Chris Sale trade, and in 2017 he hit .231 with 8 HRs. It wasn’t too good of a year, but it was his first, so there was no concern. In 2018 though, he had the worst year of his career. He hit .235 with 17 HR and a league leading 217 strike outs. It was a horrible year, he was being called a bust, and he was even doubting himself. It was also a horrible year fielding with 21 errors, and a .963 fielding percentage. In 2019, he turned a corner. He switched to the 3B, and everything clicked. He hit .315 with 25 HRs, 79 RBIs, a .915 OPS, and only 154 strike outs. The bust talk stopped, and he regained his confidence.
What’s Next?
Yoan Moncada is a very talented ball player, and one that the Sox need to keep. He is now an average fielder after switching to 3B, but fielding was never his specialty. In 2016, he was the number 1 prospect in baseball, and everyone had him as a future all star. How he changed is up for you to decide. Maybe his mentor, Jose Abreu, showed him a new way to swing. Or maybe he gained some confidence in himself. Part of the reason that he was so highly rated was ability to hit for power and average. In 2017 and 2018, he hit for neither. In 2020 he should pick up where he left off having a better year than 2019.
Tim Anderson
Position: SS
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
Date of Birth: June 23, 1993
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
In 2016, Tim Anderson got that call. He was called up from the minor leagues, and he went on to have a fine year in 2016, hitting .283 with 9 HRs and 30 RBIs. He was projected to have a good year in 2017, but he hit .257 with 17 HRs and 56 RBIs. To add on he had a .679 OPS. In 2018, he played in 153 games, and he had the worst year of his career hitting .240 while hitting 20 HRs and 64 RBIs. To top it off, he wouldn’t walk. He only walked 30 times, but that was up from THIRTEEN in 2017. Fans hated it. He hated it. But worst of all, he wasn’t going to get a chance to play in 2019. That’s because of Manny Machado. He was projected to go to the Sox, and Machado, a 3B, would’ve had to play SS due to Yoan Moncada switching from 2B to 3B. He would’ve replaced Anderson. But he didn’t, and Tim Anderson got a second chance. He took full advantage of that, as he got an MLB leading .335 batting average. To top it off, he got a .865 OPS. Getting walked is still a problem as he only walked 15 times.
What’s Next?
Tim Anderson showed that he could be an all star, and he proved all of his doubters wrong. He is very talented, but he does has one pressing problem. That would be getting walked. He struggles with that, as he has only 71 walks in his 4 year career. That’s 521 games. His getting on base skills aren’t that same without walking, and he needs to step it up. Anderson is a pretty average fielder, and if he improves that, he can take his game to the next level. For 2020, he will take a step back average wise, maybe hitting .310 or something, but he will improve power wise.
James McCann
Position: C
Height/Weight: 6-3, 225
Date of Birth: June 13, 1990
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
James McCann started out his career in 2014 with the Tigers where he played in 9 games. He had 12 plate appearances, and he hit .250. In 2015 he played 114 and he hit a solid .264 with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs. He had a .683 OPS, and he only walked 16 times. In 2016 he hit a horrible .221 with 12 HRs and 48 RBIs. He got a .629 OPS. 2017 was his rebound year, sort of. He hit .253 with a .318/.415/.733 slashline. 2018 would be his last year with the Tigers, and he only hit .220 with 8 HRs and 39 RBIs. In 2019 he signed with the White Sox, and he instantly picked it up. He hit .273 with a .789 OPS. He smashed 18 long balls and he had a career high in RBIs with 60. He was an all star in the best year of his career, 2019.
What’s Next?
He has just found his stride, but it can’t stay. As much as I want him to keep doing well, I think that he will drop off from last year. He is a talented fielder, and that will always stay. His main job will be teaching Zack Collins how to catch better than he already does. He doesn’t hit for average or power, and this will be a problem. He will have a pretty average year for his standards, .247 BA with 16 HRs and 40 RBIs.
Eloy Jimenez
Position: LF
Height/Weight: 6-4, 205
Date of Birth: November 27, 1996
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Eloy Jimenez made his pro debut in 2014 with the Cubs, when he was only 17. He played 42 games, and hit 3 long bombs, 27 RBIs and he got a .227 average. The next year he made the jump to lower a ball and there he picked it up. He hit .284 with 7 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .746 OPS. In 2016, he moved up to high a where he played the whole season. He hit .329 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs. This was the turning point in Jimenez’s career. In 2017, he was playing for the Cubs’s AA team when he got called into the clubhouse. There his manager told him that he had been traded to the Chicago White Sox. He finished that year with a .312 average, 19 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a .947 OPS. The next year he started out in AA, but he moved up to AAA in the middle of the season. He tore it up, routinely terrorizing opposing pitchers. He had a .337 average, 22 home runs, and a whopping .961 OPS. He knew that he was going to be called up in 2019, and he did not have too bad of a year. He hit .267 with 31 home runs and 79 RBIs. Not too shabby for a rookie.
What’s Next?
Jimenez has all of the talent in the world, he just needs to use it. He mostly hit for average in the minors, but in the majors he blasted 31 home runs. This could be a trend, everybody thinks he has one tool, and he uses another. It can only go up from 2019, and he will definitely improve on his on his 2019 marks. Look for a batting average in the .280’s, home runs in the 35+ range, and an .850 OPS.
Adam Engel
Position: CF
Height/Weight: 6-2, 210
Date of Birth: Decmeber 9, 1991
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
Adam Engel was called up to the big league when he was 25, in 2017. He played 97 games there where he was horrible, batting .166 with 6 homers and 21 RBIs. He had a .517 OPS that year, and the Sox were considering sending him back down to triple a. They didn’t, and in 2018 he became the full time starter. His fielding was as good as ever, but batting was a problem, as he hit .235 with a .614 OPS plus only 6 home runs. His fielding percentage was .981, and he was really developing as a fielder. In 2019, there was a problem. Eloy Jimenez was coming up from the minors, and he was set to play left field, moving Leury Garcia to CF, and Charlie Tilson was back from injury. The outfield would’ve looked somewhat like this: RF: Charlie Tilson, LF: Eloy Jimenez, and CF: Leury Garcia. But then Charlie Tilson got hurt again, leaving Engel to play 89 games, and he had the best year of his career. He hit .242 with a .687 OPS and 6 home runs. His fielding percentage was .982, and that category will always be strong for Engel.
What’s Next?
Although he might not be a future hall of famer, he will continue to improve. He makes routine circus catches in CF, and that will not change. The problem is Luis Robert. He is a star in the making, and one would be silly to think that Engel will win the job against Robert. Engel might step into a few fielding situations, and this is where he will have a time to shine. His stats might look like: 30 games, .250 average and 3 home runs.
Luis Robert
Position: CF
Height/Weight: 6-3, 185
Date of Birth: August 3, 1997
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Cuba
Resúme:
Robert has never seen major league action. He was signed by the White Sox in 2017, and in 2017 his stat line was .310 average, 1.027 OPS, and 3 home runs. In 2018 he played for 3 teams, rookie ball, low a, and high a. The combined stats were as follows: .269 BA, .694 OPS, 0 home runs, and 17 RBIs. Horrible year, but in 2019 he picked things up. In 2019 he played for 3 teams, high a, AA, and AAA. 2019 was his best year as a player. He had a combined average of .328, 32 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a 1.001 OPS.
What’s Next?
Robert is very talented and he will always hit for average. He has been recently developed power, and he has shown that he can hit for power. While fielding isn’t his specialty, he’s still decent at it. 2020 will be his rookie year, and look for big numbers. He showed in the minors that he has a bad habit of terrorizing opposing pitchers, and he will do just that in the majors. He will have a .280 average with 25 home runs.
Leury Garcia
Position: UT (OF, 2B, SS)
Height/Weight: 5-8, 180
Date of Birth: March 18, 1991
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Leury Garcia has been around the league for awhile, and before 2019, he never played for 90 games in a season. 2017 was his first year with 50+ games, so we’ll start there. He hit .270 with a .739 OPS and 9 home runs. He was part of an all Garcia outfield for the White Sox in one games, Avisail Garcia, Leury Garcia, and Willy Garcia. Wacky, right? In 2018, Garcia played in 82 games, and he hit .271 with 4 home runs, and 32 RBIs. It wasn’t too good of a year, but it wasn’t too bad of a year. In 2019, he was set to be the leadoff hitter, and he took full advantage. He hit .279 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs, the best year of his career.
What’s Next?
While Garcia isn’t the long term solution, he should work for the time being. He is very fast, and he has a knack for getting singles. When the 3rd baseman always has to push in, that creates blooper singles, and a lot of his hits are created that way. His defensive play is on point, and he is skilled defensively. In 2020 he will have a good season, maybe a .285 average with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Ryan Cordell
Position: RF
Height/Weight: 6-4, 195
Date of Birth: March 31, 1992
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
Ryan Cordell came to Chicago in 2018, and he had a brief stint in Chicago where he played 19 games, and he hit .108 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs. He had a .341 OPS andhe had 3 runs scored. In 2019 he played in the bigs for 97 games, and in the minors for 14. In the minors he hit .275 and he had 1 home run with 6 RBIs. In the majors he hit .221 with 7 home runs and 24 RBIs. He had a .645 OPS, and it was an all around better year than 2018. In the fielding department his fielding percentage was .981 with 3 errors, but fielding isn’t his strength.
What’s Next?
Cordell isn’t a special talent, and he isn’t a long term solution either. He maybe can fill in as a pinch hitter every once and awhile, but in the long run he might end up bouncing between the majors and the minors. In 2020 he might have 50 or so games, with some pretty mediocre stats, but you never know. He could prove all of us doubters wrong.
Lucas Giolito
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-6, 245
Date of Birth: July 14, 1994
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
Lucas Giolito was the big piece of the Adam Eaton trade, and in his first year he appeared in 7 games, and he got a 3-3 record with a 2.38 ERA. He had 34 strikeouts, and 14 walks. In 2018 though, the trouble really started. Although he had the best record on the team at 10-13, he had the worst ERA and the most walks on the team, at 6.13 and 90. In fact he led the MLB in two categories, walks and earned runs. He had 90 walks and 118 earned runs. It was looking like bust for him, and then in 2019 he was just unbeatable in the first half of the season. At the break he was 11-3 and tied for the AL lead in wins. He cooled off a bit in the second half of the season, but his stats were still 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA. His walks were down to 57, and his earned runs to 67. He made the All Star team in 2019, and his turnaround was just amazing.
What’s Next?
Lucas Giolito isn’t known for his velocity after having Tommy John surgery when he was in high school. His problem in 2018 was walks, and in the offseason he really worked on control. In 2019 control was one of his strengths, so it shows that practice makes improvements. He could paint the corners, and he could get really good spin on the ball. In 2020 look for the first half of the year for him, throughout the year.
Reynaldo Lopez
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-1, 200
Date of Birth: January 4, 1994
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Reynaldo Lopez was acquired in the Adam Eaton trade, and in his first year in 2017 with the White Sox he was 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA. He appeared in 8 games that year, and he had 47.2 IP. In 2018 he didn’t have too good of a year as he had a 3.91 ERA with a 7-10 record. He whiffed 151 people, and he walked 75. In 2019 expectations were high, but he struck out. He led the league in earned runs, and he had a 5.38 ERA. Although he got a 10-15 record, he didn’t deserve even a 7-15 record.
What’s Next?
2019 was a disappointing year, and he is being called a bust. While I am not going to hop onto that wagon, at least not yet, I still have my doubts. He clearly shows flashes of talent, and greatness, but unless he puts it all together, he will end up being just another MLB player. He could just be a late bloomer, but odds are he’s a bust. In 2020 he will have an average year, putting himself as the number 4 starter. He will just have to pull out a Lucas Giolito, and hope the fans don’t get too wild with him, but remember he could still be great.
Iván Nova
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-5, 250
Date of Birth: January 12, 1987
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Ivan Nova came to the league in 2010, when he played with the Yankees. That year he went 1-2 in 10 appearances with a 4.50 ERA. In the very next year with the Yankees he went an amazing 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.331 WHIP. In 2012, while he was good he finished with a 12-8 record. He got a 5.02 ERA with 56 walks and 153 strike outs. In 2013 he appeared in 23 games finishing 9-6, but it was his best season ERA wise, as he finished with a 3.10 ERA. While not shown in his record as he was 9-6, he was dominant. He had lofty expectations going into 2014, but he disappointed most because he only played in 4 games, and he still wound up 2-2. His ERA was off the charts, but not in a good way. His ERA was 8.27, and in 2015 he needed a strong rebound. That he did not get as he finished 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA. His WHIP was 1.404, not far off from his 1.331 mark in 2011, when he finished 16-4. In the middle of 2016 he was traded to the Pirates, and his total record for 2016 was 12-8 and he had a combined ERA of 4.17. In 2017 he was a veteran, so he was mentoring a few people, but he couldn’t get his own record above .500 as he wound up 11-14. His ERA was his 3rd best ERA at 4.14, and that right there shows what kind of pitcher he is. In 2018 he was exactly .500 at 9-9, but ERA was still a problem at 4.19. He was set to be a free agent in 2019, and in the offseason he signed with the White Sox. He finished the season with a record of 11-12 with a 4.72 ERA. His WHIP sat at 1.455, which is not very good.
What’s Next?
Ivan Nova likes to control the pace of the game, so he takes a long time to pitch. That doesn’t exactly make him a fan favorite, but it is effective. He has a problem with ERA as his career ERA is 4.32, and he doesn’t pitch to strike out. He is not exactly very talented, but enough with cons. Let’s look at the pros. He will always be around .500 record wise, which is good but bad. He can go a long time, and he can pitch many pitches. He also brings experience to a young team that needs it. In 2020 he will have a 4.50 ERA with a 13-11 record and a 1.350 WHIP.
Dylan Cease
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-2, 190
Date of Birth: December 28, 1995
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
Dylan Cease made his pro debut with the Cubs in 2015, when he was 19 years old. In his first year in rookie ball he played in 11 games, and he went 1-2 with a 2.62 ERA. In 2016 he moved up to low A ball and he finished 2-0 while playing in 12 games. That year he had a 2.22 ERA with a 1.164 WHIP. In 2017 mid season he was traded to the White Sox. That year he was a horrible 1-10, but that’s not the whole story. He finished with a 3.28 ERA, and to put that into perspective in Jon Lester’s 2018 year he was 18-6. He had a 3.32 ERA that year. In 2017 his WHIP was 1.264. In 2018 Cease played with AA and he finished 12-2 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.065 WHIP. It was like the world apologized for the record it gave Cease in 2017. In 2019 he was called up to the MLB and he finished 4-7 with a 5.79, but it was his rookie year.
What’s Next?
Dylan Cease is clearly talented, and if you don’t believe me just look at his stats. He has the potential for a low ERA, and he has a great chance for success. He could at some point switch to reliever, but that is up to Rick Renteria and Cease himself. 2019 was a disappointing year, but it was his rookie year. In 2020 he will recover from that 2019 year, and he will have a 3.50 ERA with a 10-5 record. He will have a strong career.
Dylan Covey
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-1, 220
Date of Birth: August 14, 1991
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: America
Resúme:
Dylan Covey was called up to the MLB in 2017, when he went 0-7 with a 7.71 ERA. Would it surprise you if I said that it could get worse? Well you’re probably thinking ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ but just trust me. In 2018 he had the best year of his career at, wait for it, 5-14! Generally you will cut if you put up those numbers, but he stayed strong on the team. By that time the former Rule 5 draft pick had given up all hope, and for a good reason. In 2019 he had the worst year of his career at 1-8 with a 7.98 ERA. His WHIP was 1.756, which basically means that you aren’t a star, far from it. In 2019 the league average WHIP was 1.334, and 1.756 and 1.334 are very far off in WHIP.
What’s Next?
They say that everyone has a purpose in life, and that all people are created the same. While these are both good values, they don’t cover major league baseball pitching at all. Covey was not created as talented as let’s say Clayton Kershaw, and while Kershaw has a purpose to carve up MLB batters, Covey’s purpose is the exact opposite, let MLB batters carve up him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is cut, dropped, or sent down to the minors in 2020. He is not part of the team going forward.
Alex Colomé
Position: CP
Height/Weight: 6-1,220
Date of Birth: December 31, 1988
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Alex Colome was brought up to the major leagues in 2013 with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he pitched in 3 games that year, all of which he started. He had 16 IP with a 2.25 ERA and 12 SOs. In 2014 he played in 5, starting 3 of those 5. His innings pitched went up to 23.2, and he wound up with a 2.66 ERA. In 2015 he was set to have a big year, and he went 8-5 in 43 games, 13 of those he started. He finished with a 3.94 ERA and he had 88 SOs. In 2016 he switched to closer, and he made an instant impact with a 1.91 ERA. He did go 2-4 that year, but he had 37 saves. 2017 was his best year yet. He finished 2-3, but with an AL leading 47 saves. He pitched in 65 games that year, none of which he started. In 2018 midseason he was traded to the Seattle Mariners, and he finished the year in total with a 7-5 record. He had a 3.04 ERA with 70 games pitched, none of which he started. He was traded in the offseason to the Sox for catcher Omar Narvaez, and in 2019 he stepped right into the closer role. He went 4-5 with 30 saves and 62 games pitched. He finished 54 games, and he had a 2.80 ERA.
What’s Next?
Alex Colome is so talented, and he has showed it in his brief stint with White Sox. He is a team leader, and he is a great role model for the younger players. He has shown dominance in the MLB, and if the Sox are going to keep him, he will expand upon his 2019 stats. But wait, I said IF they keep him. If they trade him they could get some hot prospects. Now would a deal like that be worth it? That’s for you to decide, but if he stays for the 2020 season, his stats will look like: 2.50 ERA and 35 saves.
Aaron Bummer
Position: RP
Height/Weight: 6-3, 200
Date of Birth: September 21, 1993
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Born: America
Resúme:
Aaron Bummer went up to the MLB in 2017, when he went 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA, nothing really to write home about. I guess you could say it was a bummer of a year, no pun intended, but still. His WHIP was 1.273, and he pitched 30 games giving up 11 runs total. In 2018 he finished 0-1 with 37 games played with a 4.26 ERA. His WHIP was 1.579, which isn’t too good, but he still got the job done. Usually after getting lucky in a year, you won’t do too well in the next, but Aaron Bummer doesn’t think so. In 2019 he went 0-0 in 67.2 IP with a 2.13 ERA and a 0.990 WHIP, which IS something to write home about.
What’s Next?
I can’t say that Bummer is talented, but I can’t say that he’s not. He is a solid pitcher, and it sure was a bummer that he got all no decisions in 2019. In 58 games, no decisions? I don’t know if that’s weird (it is) but he will definitely get a decision in 2020. He will also get a lot of other things, like a 3.00 ERA and a 1.250 WHIP. All I can say is that it sure would be a bummer if my predictions are wrong.
Jace Fry
Position: RP
Height/Weight: 6-1, 190
Date of Birth: July 9, 1993
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Born: America
Resúme:
In 2017 Jace Fry received that talk with AAA manager Mark Grudzielanek that he had been called up to the major leagues. Fry was understandably happy, but after the year he wasn’t happy. This is because he had finished the year at 0-0, with a 10.80 ERA. This man pitched in 6.2 innings, but he still managed to cram 8 earned runs into that year. Nice job. 2018 was better though, and he finished at 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA. What’s funny is that he pitched 51.1 innings, and that’s about 7.5 times the number of innings that he pitched in 2017, and he multiplied his stats like crazy. For example, in 2017 he had 3 strikeouts, and in 2018 he had 70. That’s 23 x the number he had in 2017. In 2019 he took a step backwards with a 3-4 record, but with a 4.75 ERA. He pitched in 68 games and he had 55 IP. His WHIP was 1.582, up from 1.110 he had the year before.
What’s Next?
Jace Fry is just part of the temporary plan for the Sox, and he won’t amount to much. I don’t see him on the 2021 team that I think will go far, and he won’t have a major role on the 2020 team, maybe just eat up some innings. While he has little trade value, I think that the Sox might explore trading him to another team. If he stays, he’ll have a 4.50 ERA at 4-4.
Kelvin Herrera
Position: SU
Height/Weight: 5-10, 200
Date of Birth: December 31, 1989
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Born: Dominican Republic
Resúme:
Kelvin Herrera was called up to the MLB in 2011, and he went 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 2 innings. In 2012 he was set to have a bigger year than 2011, and he pitched in 76 games. He pitched in 84.1 innings total, and he got a 4-3 record with a 2.35 ERA. In 2013 he was a rising reliever, and he finished the year 5-7 with a 3.86 ERA. He pitched in 59 games that year and he had 58.1 IP, a step back from 2012. 2014 was the best year of his career. He went 4-3 with a whopping 1.41 ERA. He pitched in 70 games and he had 70 IP. In 2015 he was still with the Royals and he finished 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA. He pitched in 72 games and he pitched 69.2 innings. In 2016 the Royals were coming off of a World Series win, and expectations were high. Herrera finished the year at 2-6 with a 2.75 ERA and he pitched in 72 games. Also that year he had 72 IP with a 0.958 WHIP, which would be the best of his career. In 2017 the Royals had a mediocre year, and so did Herrera. He went 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 64 games, which isn’t a great year for a reliever. In the middle of 2018 he was traded to the Nationals, and he finished the year in total at 2-3. That year he had an ERA of 2.44 with a 1.195 WHIP. In the offseason the Sox acquired Herrera in an attempt to boost their bullpen, and boy oh boy it could not have gone more wrong. He had a 6.14 ERA in 57 games, and he went 3-3.
What’s Next?
Kelvin Herrera was supposed to be a big addition to the 2019 team, but he somehow finished at a 6.13 ERA. What happened? If you look at his stats, he was pretty dominant in the years before. My guess is that MLB batters adapted to his pitches, but I really can’t say confidently what happened. Based on what happened in 2019, he will have a bad year in 2020, but I don’t think so. I think that he will go back to a 3.50 ERA and 60 games pitched.
Evan Marshall
Position: RP
Height/Weight: 6-2, 225
Date of Birth: April 18, 1990Bats: Right Throws: Right he went
Born: America
Resúme:
Evan Marshall was brought up to the MLB by the D-Backs in 2014, and he had 57 games pitched that year with 49.1 IP. He had a 2.74 ERA with a 1.358 WHIP and 54 SOs. He would not have another win until 2019. In 2015 he went 0-2 in 13 games. He had a 6.08 ERA, and 2016 wasn’t much better. He had a 8.80 ERA in 2016 and he went 0-1. In 2017 he was with the Mariners, and he went 0-0 with a 9.39 ERA in 7.2 innings. In 2018 he went to the Indians, and he had a 7.71 ERA with a 0-0 record. Those 2015-2018 were a disaster, but he returned to his 2014 glory in 2019. He went 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA in 50.2 IP. He had a 1.303 WHIP, and 41 SOs.
What’s Next?
Evan Marshall can be good, but he can also be hurt. He isn’t too talented, and the best he will ever get is to an average reliever. In 2019 he had an above average year for a reliever, and he could have that same kind of year in 2020. I don’t think that he’ll have a great year in 2020, but there really isn’t too much to say about Marshall.
Minor League/Prospect Previews
White Sox Minor League Info
AAA -Charlotte Knights (75-64)
AA -Birmingham Barons (64-72)
A+ -Winston-Salem Dash (72-61)
A- Kannapolis Intimidators (64-74)
Rookie -Great Falls Voyagers (34-40)
Rookie -AZL White Sox (22-34)
Foreign Rookie -DSL White Sox (37-33)
Top 10 Prospects
1. Luis Robert
2. Michael Kopech
3. Nick Madrigal
4. Andrew Vaughn
5. Dane Dunning
6. Luis Alexander Basabe
7. Steele Walker
8. Blake Rutherford
9. Micker Adolfo
10. Matthew Thompson
Player Previews:
Luis Robert
Position: OF
DOB: August 3, 1997
Report: Luis Robert is such a talented ball player. He skipped through 3 levels in 2018, and then 3 levels in 2019. In 2019 he had a bad bad habit of carving up opposing pitchers. In his 3 combined leagues, he hit .328, including a .453 in high A ball. He was a signing from Cuba, and he signed for $26 million. At first people doubted him. They said that he was too high of a risk, and why are the White Sox going after him. Who doesn’t love proving your doubters wrong? He is ineligible for the Rule 5 draft, and he will no doubt be called up to the major leagues. He is bound to have a great year in his rookie year.
Michael Kopech
Position: SP
DOB: April 30, 1996
Report: Michael Kopech more belongs in the major league section, but he still qualifies as a prospect so I’ll put him here. He was traded to the White Sox in 2016, and the only main concern was his off of the field issues. He has had problems with teammates, anger, and insulting people in the minorities. His claim to fame was his amazing speed, and that could possibly go after he underwent Tommy John surgery. Some sources say that he can still throw 100 MPH after the surgery, but it’s kind of doubtful. In his MLB debut year he went 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA, which is not too good. It was his rookie year though, and nobody was that concerned until he was warming up to pitch one day. He told the team doctors that his arm felt funny, and he got an x-ray. The results were positive, and he was out for the year and the next. I think that he still has a chance to succeed, but it’s a much smaller chance than before.
Nick Madrigal
Position: 2B
DOB: March 5, 1997
Report: Nick Madrigal was the 4th pick of the 2018 MLB draft out of Oregon State, and he has not been a bust yet. He is very short at 5-7, but he can still hit for power. He hits mainly for average, and he has a thing for doubles. In 2018 he quickly climbed the ranks from rookie ball to high A, he covered a lot of ground in just a few months. 2019 was no different as he went from high A to AAA. He is still developing as a ball player, and he should still be called a prospect. In 2019 he should be ready to go to the MLB, but he should only go to the MLB after he has had a short stint in the minors. He should be great in the future, but he will always be doubted because of his height.
Andrew Vaughn
Position: 1B
DOB: April 3, 1998
Report: Vaughn is a highly talented first baseman, but there are still many unanswered questions. I’ll get to that later. He was drafted out of California in 2019, and he went through three levels of minor league baseball. He started out in rookie ball, ad then he went to low A, and then to high A. He didn’t particularly impress anyone hitting for average or power, and this might be because he only played in 55 games total. Based on his college stats, it’s safe to say he hits for average and he definitely hits for power. In 2018 at California, he played in 54 games, and he hit 23 home runs. If that trend continued throughout a 162 game MLB season, he would have hit 69 home runs. Of course MLB pitchers areh better than college pitchers, but still, very impressive. The real question for major league success is what will happen to Jose Abreu. (You can find Jose Abreu’s scouting report on page 5) The White Sox are setting up to replace the 33 year old first baseman, but he will stick around for a bit. In 2020 Andrew Vaughn will answer a lot of questions if he plays the full season. While he will not reach the big leagues, he still could go up to AAA.
Dane Dunning
Position: P
DOB: December 20, 1994
Report: Dane Dunning was drafted out of Florida, and he was taken by the Nationals in the 1st round. He was mainly a reliever at Florida, as he only started 20 out of his 66 games. The Nationals wanted to change that, as he started all 16 games he pitched in the minors with them. In the offseason, he was part of a blockbuster trade that brought Adam Eaton to the Nationals, and sent Dunning, Lucas Giolito, and Reynaldo Lopez to the White Sox. Dunning was kept where he left off in low A, and eventually he was brought up to high A. In 2018 he started off in high A, and was brought up to AA midseason. All was well, until he hurt his elbow. He was to return in 6-8 weeks, but it never happened. He avoided Tommy John surgery, and he sat out all of 2019. That brings us to this year. While Dunning will return this year, the question is if he will every be the same. My answer, no, but yes. He will not throw for velocity, but rather spin, and he will recover from this low point in his career.
Luis Alexander Basabe
Position: OF
DOB: August 26, 1996
Report: Acquired during Chris Sale trade…Star in the minor leagues…Very big upside…Hits tons of triples…Solid getting on base skills…Good fielder…Very young..Could have a place in the Sox’s future.
Steele Walker
Position: OF
DOB: July 30, 1996
Report: Drafted out of Oklahoma…Hits for solid average…2018 was a poor season… He hit .284 last year combined in high A and AA…He has 15 career home runs in the minors…GREAT fielder…Fielding percentage was 1.000.
Blake Rutherford
Position: OF
DOB: May 2, 1997
Report: Drafted by the Yankees…Acquired in 2017…Has moved up one level per year…Has hit for average thus far…Does not hit for power…Average fielder…Does not have much of an upside…Will not be part of future Sox.
Micker Adolfo
Position: RF
DOB: September 11, 1996
Report: He has hit for average…Average totals have been .323 throughout his career…Total home runs throughout career is 40…Great at fielding, fielding percentage in CF is 1.000…Signed with Sox at the beginning of his career.
Matthew Thompson
Position: P
DOB: August 11, 2000
Report: Was drafted by Sox in 2nd round of 2019 draft…Was nit started immediately by the Sox…He pitched in a total of 2 games for the Sox…Was drafted out of Oklahoma…Average fielder…Great upside.
Projected Results
Projected Season Records
2020 Season…91-61
2021 Season…95-57
2022 Season…99-53
Projected Standings:
2020:
1. Cleveland Indians 95-57
2. Chicago White Sox 91-61
3. Minnesota Twins 85-77
4. Kansas City Royals 61-101
5. Detroit Tigers 53-109
Projected Minor League Players Brought up to the MLB:
Luis Robert OF
Michael Kopech P
Carson Fulmer P
Zack Collins C
Luis Alexander Basabe OF
Who has a Place in the Future?
This question is asked a ton in the Chicago front office, and I will try my best to answer it. The easy answer is to try to place a depth chart based on prospects, but that is not effective. That’s because a prospect is not guaranteed to be good, so one would have to predict who will be good. That is an almost an impossible task, next to counting every grain of sand on a beach.
When the White Sox set up the rebuild, their cornerstones of the franchise were set to be Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Michael Kopech, and Luis Robert. There are some other players with potential such as Andrew Vaughn and Nick Madrigal, but they have a lesser chance to succeed.
Of the first players that I listed, one has almost busted, one has had Tommy John surgery, and one hasn’t even came up to the MLB. The other two, Yoan Moncada and Lucas Giolito, have both been good, but only after a few years. Moncada was horrible in 2017 and 2018, leading the league in strikeouts, but he has recovered in 2019 as he hit .315. Giolito was awful in 2018 as he led the league in walks, but at the break in 2019 he was 11-3. Reynaldo Lopez has almost become a bust because he has a 5.38 ERA and a 10-15 record. Michael Kopech had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and he missed all of 2019, and Luis Robert was in the minors for 2019. I made it sound really bad when I said that “He has only played in the minors”, but he has tore up the minor leagues.
To the original question: Who has a place in the future? Of the original players I listed, the only one that won’t be a part of their future will be Lopez. If the Sox’s rotation is Giolito, Kopech, Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, and then a number 5, you will need not count on hitters. They all have unbelievable talent, and they all have the potential to succeed. For the hitters, in my mind there is a big question. Jose Abreu. Will Andrew Vaughn replace him? Eventually yes. But for now no. Andrew Vaughn will not replace Abreu this year, but he is the first baseman of the future. Maybe Abreu will switch to DH, be I don’t see him as a part of the future Sox. If you have Vaughn at first, Nick Madrigal at 2B, Moncada at 3B, Tim Anderson at SS, Zack Collins at C, Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Alexander Basabe in OF, then the White Sox will be successful.
This is based off of the assumption that things will pan out the right way, but what if they don’t? What if their cornerstones all turn to busts. Exactly what happened after 2008. That is why this is so crucial and the White Sox cannot afford to lose.
They need their prospects to hit their potential, and I’d bet that at least half, maybe three quarters do. Will it be enough? You can play it any way that you want with ¾ of the players be good, and the Sox will be successful. This is why the Sox will be successful. This is why that Rick Hahn will succeed. This is why the White Sox will be good again.
What From Here?
As covered earlier, I think that the Sox will succeed. What should the Sox do while they have the offseason? They have some free agents to pursue (Anthony Rendon), but should they make a move. Would they need a 3B? The real question that they should be asking is if they trust their prospects. If they do, then they only need a RF and DH. If not, well, it’s over. Assuming that Rick Hahn wants to keep his job, he will choose option number 1. I think that he shouldn’t pursue any big names in free agency because nowadays, everyone is requiring a TON of money. Just look at Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Harper’s former team won it all, and Machado’s former team made the playoffs. Pretty bad for both. The Sox need to stick with their core, and they will only need to pursue a RF and a DH.
Bonus Content
Projected Team MVP:
Batting: Luis Robert
Pitching: Lucas Giolito
Projected Rookie of the Team:
Batting: Luis Robert
Pitching: Michael Kopech
Projected Defender of the Team
Fielding: Yolmer Sanchez
Pitching: Lucas Giolito