Chicago White Sox

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: Cannon was available in the 2021 draft as an eligible sophomore at Georgia but went undrafted after announcing that he intended to return to school for his junior year. A regular weekend starter for the Bulldogs in 2022, Cannon led the staff with nine wins in 13 starts. The White Sox drafted Cannon in the third round and signed the righthander for $925,000. He made four brief appearances late in the regular season before taking the mound during the fall instructional league.

Scouting Report: Cannon is a polished pitcher with a high floor and projects as a durable backend starter. An effective strike thrower, he pounds the zone with a 93-96 mph fastball that typically sits 94, and his sinking two-seamer is the better of his two fastball variants. He has the ability to work east to west but needs to improve the carry on his four-seamer in order to improve his vertical attack. The 83-mph slider is a slurvy breaking ball with plus spin. It could have more movement with depth in the future to improve its effectiveness vs. lefthanded hitters. Cannon also mixes in a cutter at 89-91 mph against lefthanded batters and his 85-mph changeup has good run and downward action. Cannon has a repeatable delivery and consistent release point from a three-quarters slot, which allows him to pound the zone and attempt to induce weak contact.

The Future: A polished college pitcher with an SEC resume, Cannon could jump right to High-A Winston-Salem to start 2023. He has the look of a durable back-of-the rotation starter, with the stuff and pitchability to move quickly through the system.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Cutter: 50. Control: 60

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The White Sox drafted Thompson in the second round after a notable high school career, despite some struggles during his senior year. After a rough first full season in 2021, Thompson flashed the potential that the baseball industry saw during his scholastic years, even with inconsistent results at times in 2022. He began the year with High-A Winston-Salem before finishing at Double-A Birmingham, with his final two starts there among his best of the season.

Scouting Report: The key to Thompson's improvement was in his maturation as a pitcher and his improved confidence in his stuff. While working at the bottom of the zone has been better for him, Thompson does have a 93-97 mph fastball with good carry that generates swings-and-misses up in the zone. The key to Thompson's arsenal is an above-average curveball with 11-to-5 shape, thrown in the 76-80 mph range that flashes plus. His 82-83 mph slider with slurvy break is a newer pitch, added just a year ago, and needs consistency. His fourth pitch is an 86-mph changeup that has a chance to be an average pitch as he throws it more often and adds more feel. Thompson repeated his crossfire delivery more consistently in 2022 and his walk rate fell from 11.4% to 8.2%.

The Future: Thompson is athletic enough to continue the progression he showed in 2022. He'll be just 22 for most of next season and should return to Birmingham to start the year. He projects as a backend starter but could be more with continued improvement.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Slider: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Simas may not yet be a household name among White Sox minor league pitchers, but he's on the threshold. The son of former White Sox six-year reliever Bill Simas, Kohl signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2020 after pitching for three different schools in college. After throwing just 21 innings in 2021, he broke out with a strong 2022 season at Low-A Kannapolis, where he posted a 3.65 ERA and struck out 76 batters in 61.2 innings before tiring late in the year after a promotion to Double-A Birmingham.

Scouting Report: Simas thrives with an effortless fastball that averaged 92 mph and touched 97, with tail and run. His best breaking ball is a 12-to-6 curveball with tight break and average movement, used early in the count for strikes. It's a below-average pitch now but with the potential to be an average offering in time. He's still working on a short-breaking slider at 84-86 mph, but it sometimes gets flat and the velocity tapers. Simas throws an 85-mph above-average changeup with good arm speed and arm action, with downward life off his fastball. He throws all of his pitches for strikes.

The Future: Simas profiles as a back-end starter but could also thrive as a multi-inning bullpen arm with weapons for both side hitters and increased velocity in shorter stints. His bulldog mentality and fiery demeanor also fit in a bullpen role, but for now the White Sox will continue his development as a starter.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox went for power arms with their top two picks in the abbreviated 2020 draft, and signed Kelley with a well over-slot $3 million bonus in the second round. After spending his first White Sox summer at the alternate training site, Kelley struggled with shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness in 2021. He battled back with a decent showing in 2022, mostly at Low-A Kannapolis. With an additional three starts at Double-A Birmingham in September, Kelley finished with 76.2 innings and a combined 3.52 ERA.

Scouting Report: The two keys to Kelley's improvement, besides staying healthy, were using his two-seam fastball to get more ground balls, and getting back to more regular use of his plus changeup. His plus fastball averages 95 mph and touches 98. The pitch is at its best when he pitches down in the zone to both sides and then elevates late in the count to get swings-and-misses with his four-seam fastball. An 80-83 mph changeup is his bread-and-butter pitch, thrown with good arm speed and deception. He has a short-breaking slider in the 82-84 mph range that is fringey, but improved later in the season when he started throwing it harder. Kelley is still figuring out who he is as a pitcher. He needs to add more pitchability and repeat his delivery more consistently to improve below-average control.

The Future: Kelley will likely return to Birmingham to start in 2023. Conditioning his large body is another key factor that could determine if he's a starter or should switch to a reliever role.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox juggled bonus money early in the 2021 draft to grab McDougal in the fifth round for an over-slot bonus of $850,000. He got into six games in the Arizona Complex League in his first summer of pro ball before an elbow injury required Tommy John surgery in October 2021. He got back on the mound for bullpens and live batting practice sessions during the 2022 fall instructional league season, with a full recovery expected in time to break camp with a team in 2023.

Scouting Report: McDougal has the potential for frontline quality pitches when healthy. His fastball was back up to 96 mph during the fall and an upper-70s curveball with tons of spin and depth looked like a future plus pitch. His 81-85 mph changeup is thrown with less arm speed than his fastball, which is an area for improvement once he's back on the mound regularly. McDougal's pre-injury crossfire delivery ended with a head whack, and White Sox coaches have been working with him during his rehab to smooth out the delivery. His command was off during the live BP sessions, which was not surprising considering how recently removed he was from TJ.

The Future: McDougal should get to full-season ball in 2023 and will likely start the season in extended spring training to manage his innings. He has tantalizing stuff, and a better projection on his future will come after he's back on the mound in regular games.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Cespedes was already a known commodity when he signed with the White Sox in 2021 for $2.05 million, as the half-brother of the more famous Yoenis Cespedes. After finishing the 2021 regular season with Double-A Birmingham he returned there for all of 2022, with a performance that could be labeled as inconsistent. He flashed plenty of tools but struggled to hit breaking balls and struck out 30.1% of the time, to go with a low walk rate of just 5.7%. His most challenging month was in May when he dealt with back spasms.

Scouting Report: There's no doubt about Cespedes' plus raw power. He has good bat speed, but his aggressiveness at the plate and swing-and-miss against off-speed pitches limit his offensive upside. He can mash fastballs over the plate, but he needs to improve his contact against heaters up in the zone and breaking balls down and away. His above-average speed and instincts allow him to get good jumps in the outfield, where he should be an above-average defender. Like his brother, Cespedes has an above-average arm. His speed also plays on the basepaths, and he's stolen 51 bases in his two pro seasons.

The Future: Cespedes is ready for Triple-A Charlotte in 2023. Barring significant improvements in his approach at the plate, he profiles as a fourth outfielder. His speed and defense will make him a valuable commodity in that role, and he has time to make the adjustments that could push him to more of an everyday role.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Veras has baseball bloodlines, as the son of former big leaguer Wilton Veras and nephew of Fernando Tatis Sr. He forged his own path forward in 2022 by getting his body in better shape and moving to the outfield from the corner infield. His game power emerged with 20 home runs in a season split between Low-A Kannapolis and Double-A Birmingham. A strikeout rate of just under 30% at both levels shows there's still a need for a better plan at the plate, but he played the whole season as a 19-year-old.

Scouting Report: Veras takes big swings at the plate, and when he squares up, the ball jumps off his bat. It's a swing looking to do damage, with a small load and short stride. He has the plus raw power to hit home runs to all fields, though at times he sells out for his power and sacrifices contact by doing so. Veras will always be a bat-first profile and is likely limited to left field. He could do a better job showing urgency as a defender on a more consistent basis. Scouts also thought his arm looked worse in the outfield than it previously did at third base. At best it's an average arm that plays down because his throws are not always consistent or accurate. He's a below-average runner but isn't a base clogger and can go first to third well enough.

The Future: Veras has middle-the-order power--which is a valuable commodity--but here are other parts of his game that need improvement. He'll get the chance to make the necessary adjustments at High-A Winston-Salem in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The White Sox stayed close to their Arizona complex in selecting Kath with their second-round pick in 2021 and signed the Scottsdale high school product for $1.8 million. After starting his career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Kath moved up to Low-A Kannapolis in 2022. He took some time getting acclimated to that level of baseball but finished his Low-A season with a strong month of August when he put up a .263/.382/.544 line and hit six of his 13 home runs.

Scouting Report: Kath's development will take time, with improvement needed with his swing and approach at the plate. He has strength with a bit of loft and pull-side power, but it can get lengthy at times. He needs to improve his pitch recognition to cut down on the swing-and-miss, but a positive sign is that he reduced his strikeout rate slightly from 36.5%to 33.0% with the jump from rookie ball to Low-A . He also boosted his walk rate to 13.4%. Kath doesn't get good swings against lefthanded pitchers, with 12 of his 13 home runs coming off righties. Defensively, he makes the routine plays despite not having great footwork or a good first step--he needs to work on his body to get more quickness and lateral range. His plus arm is the best infield arm in the organization. Kath is a below-average runner but with a good stride that helps him pick up speed underway.

The Future: Kath will need to proceed one level at a time, likely spending most or all of 2023 at High-A Winston-Salem.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Regarded as a first-round talent coming into his junior year at UC Santa Barbara, Sprinkle underachieved at the plate with his approach, power and confidence all going backwards. He posted an OPS of .797 after a much better .938 figure in 2021. He especially struggled to hit the ball with authority, and then took his hitting struggles to the field and affected his plus defense. The White Sox picked him in the fourth round, and he signed for a $452,900 bonus. Sprinkle didn't show much more at Low-A Kannapolis, with a .237/.290/.301 batting line.

Scouting Report: Sprinkle has above-average bat speed with some power, with a leg kick that gets too aggressive and can create length in his swing. The power projects as below-average now but he showed more juice earlier in his college career. Swing adjustments may help him regain some of that pop. He has the hands, feet and range to be a plus defender with an above-average arm at shortstop. His defense and above-average speed should give him the tools to figure things out offensively as he progresses through the system. He was an effective base stealer in college, so he should be able to steal at least 20 bags a season if he gets on base enough.

The Future: He'll likely head back to Kannapolis after spring training, but a strong start could get him to High-A Winston-Salem. With some improvement at the plate, Sprinkle will have a future as a utility infielder, and if he gets the swing and approach he showed earlier in his college career, there's a chance for a second-division starter.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 35. Power: 40. Speed: 55. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Mieses has shown continual improvement as he's moved slowly through the White Sox system, after debuting in the Dominican Summer League in 2017. The lefthanded-hitting outfielder spent most of the season at High-A Winston-Salem before finishing the year at Double-A Birmingham, with solid numbers at both stops.

Scouting Report: Mieses flashes some of the best bat-to-ball skills and pure hitting ability in the organization. He showed improvement across the board in 2022, although he's still overly aggressive at the plate with a walk rate that consistently hovers between just 3-6%. He has loft in his swing and the ball comes off the bat hard, with below-average power now that could become solid-average in the future. One concern is that his groundball rate was up at both stops in 2022--particularly with High-A Winston Salem where he posted a 44.6% groundball rate. Mieses already has a major league body, having added around 50 pounds to his frame since the start of his career. An average defender with an average arm, he fits best in left field but also got some time at first base for the first time in his career. A below-average runner, speed is not part of his game but he's not a basiclogger.

The Future: Mieses has progressed one level at a time, and that pace is not likely to change much in 2023. He'll return to Birmingham but could see Triple-A before the end of the season. Mieses has not yet been added to the 40-man roster.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: After making brief appearances with the White Sox in both 2020 and 2021 and despite an inconsistent 2021 season in Triple-A, Stiever would have been on target to contend for a rotation job with the big league club. Instead, a lat surgery in August 2021 and a long recovery period sidelined the righthander for most of the 2022 season. The 2018 fifth-round pick from Indiana finally got three short outings at Triple-A Charlotte near the end of September.

Scouting Report: Unsurprisingly, Stiever's fastball velocity was down upon his return, but when healthy it's his best pitch and sits in the mid 90s, touching 97-98 at peak . It's easy velocity with run and average movement, thrown to both sides of the plate. His 82-84 mph slider was starting to show improvement in 2021. A mid-70s curveball had gone backward and needed to be thrown with a more consistent shape and feel to land it. He infrequently uses a changeup at 80-83 mph with heavy fade. When at his best, Stiever's athleticism allows him to repeat a low-maintenance delivery which helps him project for average control.

The Future: Assuming he's fully recovered by the spring, Stiever will head to big league camp with a chance to earn a spot on the White Sox opening day roster. His ceiling is as a fourth starter, but his most likely role is as a middle reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 50

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: One of the more interesting players from the White Sox 2022 international class, Burrowes signed for just $70,000. Based on his debut season in the Dominican Summer League, Burrowes could be a real bargain for the White Sox. He's athletic and plays with plenty of energy, and hit .266/.393/.392 in his pro debut with a 12.8% walk rate. He missed the fall instructional league as he returned home to Panama to complete his high school education.

Scouting Report: Burrowes stays upright at the plate with a very balanced swing andm minimal movement. Using a little leg kick, he stays through the ball and avoids overswinging. He's expected to add power to his wiry frame as his body matures, but he lacks strength and power presently. Burrowes was not a true shortstop in Panama-- he played all over the field--so he needs plenty of professional reps for his hands and footwork to get to the point where he can be an average defender. He has a strong arm, which should be above average. A plus runner, Burrowes was successful on all 12 of his stolen base attempts in the DSL.

The Future: His pro career will continue with a 2023 assignment to the Arizona Complex League, and the fact that's already bilingual will help him settle in quickly. There's a lot to dream on with a talent like Burrowes, but he's far away from solidifying what type of ballplayer he'll be.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium

Track Record: Sanchez, who signed out of Cuba in 2019 for a $2.5 million bonus, intrigues with some elite tools but also frustrates scouts with the apparent lack of urgency and effort on the field. He got off to a hot start in 14 games at Double-A Birmingham before moving up to Triple-A Charlotte where he slashed .280/.324/.341 in his age 25 season.

Scouting Report: Sanchez's strength at the plate is in his elite contact skills and plate discipline, though his walk rate dipped to 5.6% with Charlotte. A line drive gap hitter, Sanchez gets in trouble when he tries to pull the ball and his swing gets too big. Another concern is that he hit more than 50% of balls on the ground. Defensively, he's best at second base where he's at least an average defender, and with an average arm he can handle shortstop in a utility role. The speed grade varies depending on when he's observed, ranging from 40-55-grade evaluations. Sanchez stole 11 bases with Charlotte but was thrown out nine times--a poor 55% success rate.

The Future: Sanchez will go to spring training with the major league team with a chance to make the major league team as an extra infielder. No longer looked at as a potential regular, the ceiling for Sanchez now is as a utility infielder. He'll be 26 in the spring, so it's time for him to show that he's got what it takes to make it to Chicago.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 30. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: An unheralded prospect who wasn't a regular until his senior season at North Carolina State, the White Sox saw potential in Tatum's tools and athleticism, grabbing the lefthanded-hitting outfielder in the 16th round in 2021. He split his first full season assignment between Low-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston-Salem and was in the midst of a strong breakout season when he was suspended for 50 games for a positive test for amphetamines. He was assigned to the Arizona Fall League but got into only six games before an ankle injury put him on the sidelines.

Scouting Report: Tatum flashes five-tool potential, with his speed and defense standing out the most. He projects as an average hitter with average raw power. He uses a short stroke with above-average bat speed and does a nice job hitting the ball back up the middle. With good awareness of the strike zone, Tatum walked at an 18.5% clip but a 29% strikeout rate shows he needs to put more balls in play to take advantage of his plus speed. In addition to using his wheels on the bases, Tatum is an above-average outfielder with a fringe-average arm. He plays hard and has feel to play the game.

The Future: Already 23, Tatum should be ready for Double-A in 2023. It's tempting to slap a fourth outfielder label on him, but he could turn into more as a late bloomer with some exciting tools and somewhat limited baseball experience for his age.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 45.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Hernandez was born in New York but grew up in the Dominican Republic. His $1 million bonus was the second highest in the White Sox 2022 international class, trailing only the $2.7 million for Oscar Colas. He began his career at home in the Dominican Summer League and started strong before struggling with a sore right knee.

Scouting Report: The bat is Hernandez's carrying tool. He has sound knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to put together good at-bats. With a good approach at the plate, he puts the barrel to the ball and has the ability to hit to all fields and also adjust nicely to off-speed pitches. He'll develop more home run pop with added strength, and projects to have fringe-average in-game power. Hernandez is a natural center fielder now, with his impressive instincts and jumps compensating for just average speed. If he slows down with physical maturity, he may have to slide to an outfield corner, and his average arm strength could be a bit short for right field. Most impressive about Hernandez is his consistency and high energy on the field.

The Future: Hernandez spent time at the White Sox complex in Arizona during fall instructional league and will return in 2023 for his official stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League. As a hit-over-power prospect, he brings a different skill set from other international players signed by the organization.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Chapelli was MVP of the U15 World Cup in 2016 and was named Rookie of the Year in his native Cuba in 2019. He was a late acquisition during the 2022 international signing period and didn't sign until May for a bonus of $500,000. He began his White Sox career in the Dominican Summer League one month after signing and hit .344/.448/.636 as a 19-year-old who was old for the league. His father was a 14-year veteran for Camaguey of the Cuban National Series.

Scouting Report: Chapelli is more athletic than he looks at first glance considering his short, stocky frame and plays bigger than his size with a high-energy style of play. He can really swing the bat, with good bat-to-ball skills, advanced plate discipline and surprising power for his size. He has shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate. Chapelli has been strictly a second baseman with the White Sox after playing outfield in Cuba. He's an average defender with a solid-average arm. He gets out of the box quickly from the left side of the plate and has turned in home-to-first times in just over four seconds, with above-average running ability overall.

The Future: Based on his age and previous experience in Cuba, Chapelli could break camp with one of the White Sox two Class A teams. He's a rather unique prospect considering his size and the way he plays the game.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: The track record at Ball State for developing pitchers has been strong in recent years, and Schweitzer is one of the next in line after an outstanding junior season when he posted an 11-2 record with a 2.65 ERA in 17 games--with a 29.6% strikeout rate and 7.9% walk rate. That performance earned him MAC pitcher of the year honors in what was his first year as a starter. The White Sox drafted the southpaw in the fifth round and signed him for a $325,000 bonus. Because he didn't start a throwing program until reporting to the White Sox complex, Schweitzer didn't pitch in games until the fall instructional league.

Scouting Report: Schweitzer's fastball ticked up a couple of miles per hour in the fall and sat 89-93 and touched 96, with good life up in the zone and plenty of spin. His breaking balls tend to blend, with a slider in the low 80s and a curveball in the mid-to-upper 70s. The focus for him moving forward is to get more separation between the pitches and create two distinct breaking balls--both of which have average potential. He rounds out his arsenal with an average changeup at 82 mph.

The Future: An undersized lefty, Schweitzer will begin his pro career at one of the White Sox Class A teams. His pitchability and feel for throwing strikes may result in Schweitzer's projection exceeding the sum of his mostly average parts.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 55

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: Dalquist has become a tough prospect to project since being taken by the White Sox in the third round in 2019, when he signed for an over-slot $2 million bonus. He got just three innings on the mound in his draft year and then pitched at the alternate training site in 2020. With High-A Winston-Salem in 2022, he posted a 6.95 ERA and yielded 22 home runs in 90.2 innings.

Scouting Report: Evaluators have been both confused and frustrated when watching Dalquist, because he flashes the above-average stuff that got him drafted but gets tentative around the zone and is inconsistent. His fastball sits at 92 mph and has touched 97, but doesn't always get the carry it used to have. He's got two breaking balls, a slider at 83-84 mph and a curveball with 11-to-5 shape in the mid 70s. Rounding out his four-pitch mix is a changeup averaging 84 mph. Dalquist often doesn't stay on pitches long enough, which causes inconsistency with hand placement in his release and leads to control and command issues. He needs to trust his stuff better and get ahead in the count to avoid rough innings.

The Future: Dalquist's final start of the year at Double-A Birmingham was his best as a pro. He gave up just one hit and one unearned run while striking out six batters. He'll likely head back to that level in 2023. If it all comes together, he profiles as a back of the rotation starter or a long man in the bullpen.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 40

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: The Hackenberg family boasts a trifecta of pro athletes: Christian, who was a college football star drafted by the New York Jets; Brandon, who was a first-round pick in the Major League Soccer draft; and Adam, who played three years at Clemson before joining the White Sox organization as the 18th round pick in 2021. His second pro year was spent primarily at High-A Winston-Salem, with late season action at Double-A Birmingham followed by an assignment to the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Hackenberg is a defense-first catcher. Offensively, he needs to improve his approach to get more of a line drive stroke to go along with his plus raw power. It's a slow bat and a stiffer swing with effort, which often causes him to mishit balls. He's consistently graded as the best defensive catcher in the system, and moves easily behind the plate. He's an aggressive framer with solid leadership skills who is overall an above-average defensive catcher now, who could become a plus defender in the future. Hackenberg has a plus arm and regularly records sub-2.00 pop times. He threw out 32 percent of runners at both levels this season.

The Future: He'll return to Double-A Birmingham in 2023. Hackenberg will continue to get plenty of time behind the plate as he advances through the system and profiles as a backup catcher.

Scouting Grades Hit: 35. Power: 45. Speed: 40. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Very High

Track Record: The White Sox selected Adler in the sixth round in 2022 despite abysmal numbers in his final season at Wake Forest when he walked 25 and hit nine batters in 21.1 innings while fanning 37. Perhaps a better indication of his potential was seen in the summer of 2021 when he was one of the better relievers in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.15 ERA and struck out 29 in 15.2 innings. Adler made six short outings in the White Sox system before reporting for fall instructional league.

Scouting Report: Adler's electric fastball was up to 98 mph in college and touched 97 at Low-A Kannapolis, with high spin rates on all of his pitches. His 80-mph curveball has medium depth with 11-to-5 shape, and his mid-80s slider has late tilt. Both breaking balls project as average pitches, but have flashed plus for some evaluators. The command and control issues surface when his hand is late and long out of the glove, and he gets behind and tries to use his body to catch up. He has a tendency to miss to his arm side and not get fully on top of his breaking ball.

The Future: He'll head to one of the Class A affiliates in 2023. The White Sox pitching development group will be challenged to unlock Adler's true potential. It's major league closer-caliber stuff if it all comes together.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Control: 40