Chicago White Sox

Burdi was one of the country's most dominant closers at Louisville, racking up 83 strikeouts in 70 collegiate innings and recording 20 career saves. The White Sox drafted him 26th overall in 2016 and signed him for $2,128,500. Burdi spent all but 22 innings of his pro career at Triple-A Charlotte, but his 2017 ended at midseason after he had Tommy John surgery. His brother Nick, a reliever in the Twins system, also went down with Tommy John surgery during the year. When healthy, Burdi brings elite heat with a 98-102 mph fastball featuring with intense riding action borne of a high spin rate. He goes for strikeouts with his 86-89 mph slider, which can be inconsistent but projects as a plus pitch at its best. Burdi has a tendency to get quick in his delivery and get off line to home plate, leading to below-average command. Burdi's stuff is that of a long-time closer, but he's been used just once in his pro career in back-to-back games, and he got shellacked in the second outing. There's also a chance the White Sox could utilize him as multi-inning “relief ace.” Burdi is rehabbing from surgery and could return late in 2018.

When the White Sox zeroed in on Adams in 2014, they saw an athletic pitcher with plenty of projectability. He starred as a basketball player in Georgia, and touched has high as 96 mph as an amateur. That was enough for the White Sox to take him in the second round and sign him for nearly $1.3 million. Adams' velocity has taken a step back since he turned pro. He presently sits more in the 89-92 mph range with the fastball, albeit with above-average sink. He pairs his fastball with a slider that flashes above-average potential at its best, but sometimes morphs into a slurvier offering. The White Sox worked with Adams in 2017 at Double-A Birmingham to make that pitch more consistently crisp. His changeup has average potential, but needs to take a step forward with its consistency. Adams is a quick worker on the mound and is lauded for his willingness to attack the strike zone. He doesn't strike out a ton of hitters, but he doesn't walk many either. Adams projects as a back-end type of starter with plenty of pitchability, though that could change if he matures physically and develops more velocity. He's slated for Triple-A Charlotte in 2018.

Fulmer's highly successful college career at Vanderbilt included a College World Series championship in 2014 and First Team All-America selection in 2015. The White Sox used their first-round pick on him in 2015 and put him on a fast track to the major leagues. He made his big league debut on July 17, 2016, barely 13 months after he was drafted. It's been a rocky road since then for Fulmer, who was used as both a reliever and a starter in the big leagues but pitched exclusively out of the rotation at Triple-A Charlotte in 2017. He's toned down his high-effort delivery since he turned pro, including reducing his hand pump and eliminating a stab in the back of his motion. It's still rushed, but less so than it was at Vanderbilt. Fulmer's fastball sat between 89-93 mph in 2017 with Charlotte, and he mixed in a heavy dose of cutters as well. He also showed an inconsistent but promising curveball and a below-average changeup. Fulmer still has a chance to find a spot at the back of a rotation, but there's a better chance he winds up as a middle reliever. He'll have a chance to earn a place with the big club in spring training, but he could wind up back at Charlotte to start 2018.

Brendan McKay was the headliner as far as college two-way players went in 2017, but Gonzalez deserved mention as well. Born in Sonora, Mexico, Gonzalez's pitching stats didn't jump off the page, but he started 22 games over three seasons at New Mexico and hit .361/.500/.589 in his junior year. The industry much preferred Gonzalez as an outfielder, and the White Sox took him in the third round and signed him for $517,000. Though he was a little tired after his college season, Gonzalez made it to low Class A Kannapolis in his first try as a pro and immediately showed contact ability and strike-zone discipline. There are questions about Gonzalez's long-term power potential, though, the answer to which will determe his ceiling. The White Sox believe he'll have average to slightly better power. He's got enough speed and range to play center field, but he's likely to move around the outfield in 2018. His throwing arm is plus. Gonzalez will start 2018 at either Kannapolis or at high Class A Winston-Salem, and his power output will be important to keep an eye on.

Puckett, who was drafted by the Royals in the second round in 2016 and signed for $1.2 million, is lucky to be alive. He was placed in a medically-induced coma after a serious car accident in high school, which left him with plates in his head after surgery to repair a skull fracture. He was dealt to the White Sox at the 2017 trade deadline--along with lefthander Andre Davis--in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera. Puckett missed time after the trade with a lat injury, but when he was on the mound showed the makings of a potential back-end starter with pitchability. Puckett's fastball typically parks in the 89-92 mph range and can either run or cut. He backs it up with a potentially plus changeup in the high-70s he throws with enough conviction to deceive hitters. He also throws a downer curveball in the 73-79 mph range that has improved since his early days in the Royals system. Some scouts see a little bit more projection and velocity to come from Puckett, which would help improve his ceiling. He should start 2018 at either high Class A Winston-Salem or Double-A Birmingham.

Stephens stood out his sophomore year at Rice but had Tommy John surgery his junior year and took a medical redshirt. He rebounded the following year and the White Sox drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $300,000. Stephens struck out a system-best 155 hitters in 141 innings in his first full year as a pro in 2016. Stephens' stuff and results in 2017 at Double-A Birmingham were solid but not spectacular. Stephens typically sits in the low 90s with his four-seam fastball but can bump the mid-90s on his best days. His fastball isn't particularly lively, so he added a cutter in the high-80s to his arsenal. His primary offspeed pitch is an 11-to-5 curveball with average potential. He needs more consistency with it, as it was sometimes loopy out of his hand instead of the better, tighter offering. His sparsely-thrown changeup is below-average. Some in the White Sox's organization believe Stephens' stuff might play better out of the pen, but he'll head to Triple-A Charlotte in 2018 as a starter to see if he can find more consistency.

Adolfo, then known as Micker Zapata, ranked as one of the top international prospects in 2013 and received a $1.6 million bonus from the White Sox. After a few years of tantalizing tools with little production, Adolfo made strides with improved plate discipline and improved hitting mechanics in 2017 at low Class A Kannapolis, but his season ended in late August after he fractured his hand punching a wall. Adolfo's improvements in the box yielded an OPS 125 points better than his previous career-high, and his 16 home runs were good for third in the South Atlantic League. He also managed to mostly banish the injury bug. He played in a career-high 112 games, besting his previous career-high of 69, before his self-inflicted, season-ending injury. Adolfo has power potential, but he needs to improve his plate discipline further and better determine which pitches he can drive and which will result in weak contact. Adolfo's an average defender in right field with average range and a plus-plus arm that draws a few “80” grades on the 20-80 scouting scale. He turns in run times that are average or a tick better. Adolfo should graduate to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2018.

For a time, both Basabe and his identical twin brother Luis Alejandro Basabe were part of the Red Sox system. Luis Alejandro Basabe was dealt to the Diamondbacks for reliever Brad Ziegler in 2016, and Luis Alexander Basabe was shipped to the White Sox as part of the deal that brought ace Chris Sale to Boston. At his best, Basabe's believers see a player with a chance to impact the game offensively and defensively. Problem was, Basabe was nowhere near his best for most of 2017. He hit .221/.320/.320 as he battled knee injuries all year. Eventually he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn left mensicus in August. When he was healthy, Basabe worked with the White Sox to become more consistent at the plate. In particular, they were adjusting his bat path to allow him to make more contact. Basabe has above-average to plus range in the outfield, and a strong throwing arm that could allow him to play in a corner if needed. Basabe is expected to be ready in time for spring training and should return to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2018.

Louisville used Henzman in a setup role for two seasons before moving him into the closer role in 2017, replacing White Sox organization-mate Zack Burdi. Henzman went 3-0, 1.67 with 16 saves for a Cardinals club that made it to the College World Series, and the White Sox loaded up on Louisville players in the draft, taking Henzman as well as teammates Kade McClure and Logan Taylor. Henzman signed for $450,000 in the fourth round a year after turning down the Mariners in the 31st round. The White Sox plan to convert Henzman into a starter because he has three pitches, and he made nine starts at Rookie-level Great Falls after signing. Henzman starts his arsenal with a heavy low-to-mid-90s fastball and couples it with an average slider with varying bite in the mid-80s. His slider has flashed plus at its best. He's also got a split-type changeup as his third pitch with average potential. Because of his age and college pedigree, Henzman should begin 2018 in the rotation at low Class A Kannapolis.

When the Mariners signed Vieira in 2010 as a 17-year-old for just $65,000, they saw a raw arm with the potential to light up radar guns as he matured. They were, in a word, right. Vieira became a must-see minor league who lit up radar guns as high as 104 mph and made his major league debut in August. The Mariners dealt him to the White Sox after the season in exchange for international slot money to help the Seattle's unsuccessful pursuit of Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani. Vierira, along with Michael Kopech and Zack Burdi, is part of a trio of White Sox prospects who have touched at least 102 mph with their fastballs. He couples the pitch, which typically sits in the 98-100 mph range, with a fringe-average slider and a developing changeup in the low-90s. He's also working on a split-fingered fastball. If that takes, he could quickly become a back-end of the bullpen stalwart. Vieira, who has an effortful delivery, still needs to improve his command to up his odds of finding a spot as a high-leverage bullpen arm. He's likely to head to Triple-A Charlotte to begin the 2018 season.

After Call hit .353/.425/.530 in three seasons at Ball State, the White Sox took him in the third round of the 2016 draft and signed him for $719,100. His first full season was limited to 38 games at low Class A Kannapolis (and another 13 rehabbing in the Rookie-level Arizona League) because of an intercostal strain and a small fracture to one of his ribs. To make up for lost time he participated in fall instructional league in both Arizona and in the Dominican Republic. Call is a well-rounded player who doesn't have a plus tool, but doesn't have anything below-average, either. When healthy, Call's smooth swing allows him to hit for average with a little bit of power. He's a tick above-average runner, though he's slowed a little bit as he gained strength. He has average range in the outfield and an above-average arm, though those inside the organization believe he's likely to land in left field. It was a lost season for Call, who could get back on track with a strong year at high Class A Winston-Salem. Call projects as an extra outfielder in the majors but could be more if he hits like he always has.

Clarkin was the third of the Yankees' three first-round picks in the 2013 draft, and was traded to the White Sox in the middle of 2017 as part of the package that sent third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to New York. To this point, Clarkin's career has been stuttered by injuries. He missed all of 2015 with elbow inflammation before finally getting on the mound in the Arizona Fall League. He dealt with an oblique injury when he changed teams and missed a month after making his White Sox debut at high Class A Winston-Salem. Back at instructs, Clarkin showed a four-pitch mix fronted by an 86-88 mph fastball with tail and sink. He backed it with a potential plus curveball in the mid-70s, an average slider in the low-80s and a below-average changeup in the mid-80s. White Sox personnel note how driven he is off the field and how vocal he is about wanting to be part of the team's rebuild. Clarkin largely projects to end up in situational relief role with his poor health track record and a curveball that will play against lefties.

Hamilton relieved at Washington State his first two seasons before moving to the rotation in 2016. He was middling at best as a starter with the Cougars, and his stuff and his results backed up significantly. But the White Sox saw plenty of Hamilton out of the bullpen for the Cape Cod League's Wareham Gatemen in the summer of 2015 and believed in him enough as a reliever to take him with their 11th-round pick. Hamilton has been a reliever only in pro ball and experienced quick success, reaching Double-A in his first full season. Hamilton's fastball hovers in the upper-90s and has touched 99 mph. He's also got a plus slider that works in the low-90s and gets swings-and-misses, as well as changeup that could be average in the future. He uses a high-effort delivery and is aggressive attacking the strike zone. The White Sox have encouraged Hamilton to continue to throw his changeup more often to help hasten its development. Hamilton was roughed up toward the end of 2017 at Double-A Birmingham, and he'll return there to begin 2018.

A near-exclusive reliever at South Carolina, Johnson was taken in the fifth round in 2017 and signed to $390,000 bonus because of his supreme arm strength. Johnson dealt with injuries in college, including a stress reaction in his humerus and inflammation in his biceps and triceps. Johnson baffled hitters in the Southeastern Conference with a fastball that sat in the 95-98 mph range and touched triple-digits on occasion. That velocity, plus downhill angle and armside life, helped him strike out 107 hitters in 86 innings for the Gamecocks. He's found the sledding a little bit tougher in pro ball, where he'll need to improve his mechanics and sharpen his offspeed pitches. The White Sox would like to see Johnson stay on line longer through his delivery and would also like to see him improve his slider, which is a below-average pitch right now. He needs to throw that pitch with more conviction moving forward and currently, his changeup is ahead of his slider. Johnson should return to low Class A Kannapolis in 2018, and if everything goes well could become a fast-moving reliever.

When the White Sox drafted Guerrero in 2012, they saw a lefthander with present average fastball velocity as well as a feel for a pair of secondary pitches. His career stalled early after shoulder problems limited him to just 25 innings in 2012 and 2013. He was eased into the rotation toward the end of 2014 at low Class A Kannapolis, then became a full-time rotation piece upon his return there in 2015. Guerrero spent the last two seasons at Double-A Birmingham, where he's struggled to overcome command issues. Guerrero cut his walks roughly in half from 2016 to 2017, but the White Sox would like to see further improvement. That's particularly true when it comes to repeating his arm slot. He brings his fastball between 91-93 mph and has touched 94. He backs it with a plus changeup, but needs to continue to improve his fringy curveball and slider. The White Sox also noted an improved effort on Guerrero's part to be more physically prepared every time he took the mound. Guerrero was left off the 40-man roster and was not picked in the Rule 5 draft, an indicator of how he has further work to do to be big league ready. He'll turn 24 this year and will likely move up to Triple-A Charlotte.

Just as his stock was rising at Southern California, Flores lost the strike zone in his junior year and saw his ERA jump from 3.38 to 6.70. Nevertheless, the White Sox liked the ease with which his left arm produced low-to-mid 90s fastballs and popped him in the seventh round. He performed well at low Class A Kannapolis in 2017 to begin first full pro season, then jumped to high Class A Winston-Salem. His fastball took a step back this year, sitting in the 89-91 mph range as opposed to the version that had touched as high as 94 in the past. He paired it with an average changeup in the mid-70s and a below-average curveball in the 69-71 mph range. He's also added a cutter-slider hybrid to his mix, but that pitch is still in the developmental stages. Flores doesn't have a putaway pitch right now, but the White Sox are hoping his stuff will return once he adds enough strength to his frame to sustain a full-season's workload. Flores is likely to return to Winston-Salem in 2018.

Polo has been a traveling man the last couple of seasons. The Pirates traded him and lefthander Stephen Tarpley in the summer of 2016 to the Yankees in the deal that brought Ivan Nova to Pittsburgh. A year later, the Yankees sent him to the White Sox in the deal that sent Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson to New York. In between, Polo played for Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. At 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, Polo possess a strong, compact build and enough power and speed to slash and burn his way around the bases. He's a well above-average runner whose speed is ranked by some as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale as well as an adept base stealer who was successful in 34 of 44 tries. That speed serves him well in the outfield, where he has enough range to play center field and enough arm to fit in either corner. Polo is an exciting player who has a ceiling of an extra outfielder with benefits on both sides of the ball. He's slated to return to Double-A Birmingham in 2018.

Sosa, who signed with the White Sox on July 2, 2016, was considered one of the best hitting shortstops out of Venezuela in that year's international class and received a $350,000 bonus. As an amateur, he showed coordination, bat-to-ball skills and a touch of gap power as well. The White Sox challenged Sosa by sending him to the Rookie-level Arizona League. He rewarded their confidence. Sosa has a simple, fluid swing that should allow him to continue to hit for average as he matures. Though evaluators believe he will eventually move off of shortstop as he gets bigger and stronger--they note he's already a below-average runner--he has above-average or better hands and average arm strength. If Sosa gains power he'll also profile better offensively at third. The White Sox may continue their aggressive path with Sosa and move him to low Class A Kannapolis as an 18-year-old at some point in 2018.

After hitting two home runs over his first two seasons at San Diego State, Zavala missed his junior year after having Tommy John surgery. He returned for his senior season as a left fielder and saw his power break out. He hit 14 home runs that year and was selected in the 12th round by the White Sox. As a pro, that theme seems to have repeated itself. After hitting just seven home runs in his first full season in 2016 at low Class A Kannapolis, Zavala tripled that total between both levels of A-ball in 2017. In fact, his 21 home runs were most in the White Sox system. The team worked with him to find a diet that helped him maintain strength throughout the course of the season, and he altered his swing path to get a higher launch angle. Combine the power with an all-fields approach and fringy but playable defensive ability with a fringe-average arm, a ceiling as a major league backup catcher starts to come into focus. Zavala will try to continue to get to his power at Double-A Birmingham in 2018.

After missing his freshman season at Cincinnati due to Tommy John surgery, Walsh became a part of the Bearcats' rotation the next two seasons. The White Sox have used him exclusively in relief in pro ball and he reached Triple-A Charlotte in 2017. Walsh's calling card is his premium arm strength, which allows him to pump fastballs consistently in the mid-to-upper 90s. He pairs the fastball with a mid-80s curveball that can be devastating when it's on. At its best it is a plus pitch that gets swings-and-misses. Those numbers dipped some during a stint at Triple-A toward the end of the year, and he got hammered in the Arizona Fall League. Walsh's command is well below average right now, but his raw stuff is still plenty intriguing. If he can smooth out his high-effort delivery and improve the command, he could find a spot as a big league reliever. Walsh will head back to Triple-A Charlotte in 2018.

The nephew of Deivi Cruz and brother of former Nationals farmhand Delbi Yrizarri, Yeyson Yrizarri was born in Venezuela but was raised in the Dominican Republic. He signed with the Rangers for $1.35 million in 2013 and was dealt to the White Sox in the middle of the 2017 season in exchange for international slot money. Yrizarri's best attribute is his defense. He's a plus defender at shortstop with an arm that some scouts rank as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He's also a plus runner. The problem is that his value lies almost exclusively in his glove. He's never had an on-base percentage of .300 or better, and he's had just one season of 10 or more walks. Still, at just 20 years old, there are scouts who think he might develop with more time. If he's able to refine his knowledge of the strike zone and his plate discipline, he could mature into a backup infielder with the versatility to play around the diamond. He's likely to return to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2018.