Chicago White Sox

Track Record: The Red Sox signed Basabe and his identical twin brother in 2012, but shipped both players out in separate deals in 2016. Luis Alexander was included as part of the four-player deal Boston used to acquire ace lefthander Chris Sale, but his tools were muted in his first season with his new team because of a nagging knee injury that required surgery in the offseason.

Scouting Report: Basabe has a chance to be a true five-tool player. His hit tool is the least polished at this point, but projects as average with further refinement. The White Sox worked with him this year on his hand position at the plate and made his swing more direct to the ball. Evaluators noted that he saw spin well, but was vulnerable to changeups. He shows the ability to get the barrel to hard fastballs, and uses plus bat speed to generate above-average raw power. Those skills were evident in the Futures Game, where he turned around a 102-mph pitch for a home run against Reds fireballer Hunter Greene. Basabe has all the tools to stick in center field, including plus footspeed that helps him get excellent jumps on balls and a plus throwing arm.

The Future: After a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Basabe is likely to return to Double-A Birmingham to continue working on his hit tool and adding polish to his overall game.

Track Record: After three stellar seasons at Miami, the White Sox selected Collins in the first round in 2016 and signed him for $3,380,600. He quickly jumped to high Class A Winston-Salem, and spent 137 of his first 140 pro games with the Dash before moving to Double-A late in 2017. He spent all of 2018 in Birmingham, where he showed flashes of his potential in between fallow stretches.

Scouting Report: Collins’ best tool is his batting eye. His 101 walks in 2018 were the second-most in the minors, and his knowledge of the strike zone has helped him boost his on-base percentage significantly. His hit tool is not likely to be average and still needs refinement both in approach and mechanics. His swing starts with a deep, exaggerated load that can leave him vulnerable to hard fastballs. He also has a tendency to get out of a natural opposite-field swing and instead try to pull everything with his double-plus raw power. The White Sox are committed to developing Collins as a catcher, but outside evaluators wonder if he might need to move to first base. He made strides as a game-caller, but needs serious improvement as a receiver. He struggles simply catching the ball at times, and his poor footwork forces his above-average arm strength to play down.

The Future: After an entire season at Double-A Birmingham, Collins is likely to move to Triple-A Charlotte in 2019. With serious improvements to his defense, he could be an offensive-minded catcher.

Track Record: Hamilton spent his final college season in the rotation at Washington State, but he missed the late-innings adrenaline and moved back to the bullpen immediately upon turning pro. He made his major league debut on Aug. 31.

Scouting Report: Hamilton’s signature is his high-octane heat. He averaged close to 97 mph in his major league time, and touched triple digits regularly in the minor leagues. The pitch also spins at roughly 2,300 rpm, close to the major league average for four-seam fastballs. He pairs the fastball with a sharp-biting, plus slider in the low 90s that he can use both as a called strike or a chase pitch for a strikeout. He also has a changeup, but it is below-average and a distant third pitch. Hamilton has shown excellent control in the minors, but worked in 2018 to polish his command. He also worked to stay behind the fastball to get the most out of the pitch when he throws it in the upper part of the strike zone.

The Future: Hamilton should be in the mix for a bullpen spot out of spring training, but could also head back to Triple-A Charlotte for more seasoning. He has the ceiling of a late-inning reliever.

Track Record: After hitting 11 home runs in his freshman and sophomore seasons at Wake Forest, Sheets nearly doubled that total by swatting 21 in his junior season. That power surge prompted the White Sox to draft him in the second round and sign him for $2 million. He did not meet expectations as a pro, and his .397 slugging percentage was a bit eyebrow-raising considering what he’d done in college.

Scouting Report: Sheets’ rough pro debut was a precursor to his first full year. He hit just six home runs in 2018, none of which came after May 23. The White Sox worked with Sheets on his mechanics at the plate, including adjustments to the way his hands worked through the zone and some tweaks designed to incorporate his lower half more so his bat path can become more uphill. Opposing scouts saw plus raw power in batting practice, but also noticed exploitable holes in his swing inside and up during games. He’s an average defender at first base with an average arm, but is also a well below-average runner.

The Future: Sheets is likely to move to Double-A Birmingham in 2019, where he’ll continue to work to unlock the power he’ll need to profile at first base.

Track Record: Zavala’s career at San Diego State included a Tommy John surgery, a switch to left field and a breakout in power that boosted his draft stock. As a professional, Zavala has moved more or less in lockstep with the organization’s other high-profile catching prospect, Zack Collins.

Scouting Report: Zavala started strong at Birmingham, swatting 11 home runs (which placed him fifth on the team despite playing just 56 games) and showing the power that put him on the map in 2017. His offense took a dip in Triple-A, but recurring left wrist irritation may have played a significant role. He’s a borderline average defender who blocks well but needs to do better at smothering balls in the dirt. He’s got an average throwing arm, which he used to throw out 33 percent of runners between both levels.

The Future: The White Sox placed Zavala on their 40-man roster after the season, and he has a good shot of making his big league debut at some point in 2019. He’s likely to start back at Triple-A Charlotte.

Track Record: Rivera’s college career saw him bounce from Miami as a freshman to Chipola (Fla.) JC as a sophomore and then to Tampa for his next two seasons before the White Sox popped him in 2017. He hit well wherever he went, posting a .988 OPS among his three schools before turning professional.

Scouting Report: Rivera is part of the new breed of infield prospect who hits first and asks questions later, a la Brandon Lowe and Nick Solak with the Rays. He brings above-average bat speed and a short path to the ball, which he used to post excellent numbers at both Class A levels. He’s an aggressive hitter who crushes fastballs but needs to work on not chasing offspeed pitches. He played almost exclusively at shortstop, though his 40-grade arm profiles better at second base. He has the hands and actions to stay up the middle, but his arm and fringe-average speed will probably push him to the right side of the diamond.

The Future: After a stint in the Arizona Fall League, Rivera is likely headed to Double-A Birmingham.

Track Record: Entering his junior season at Oklahoma, Hansen was in play for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. From there, he lost the strike zone and his spot in the rotation. The White Sox scooped him up in the second round and signed him for $1.2 million. His first two seasons as a pro showed immense potential, highlighted by a dominant season in which his 191 strikeouts were second in the minor leagues.

Scouting Report: From the outset, Hansen’s 2018 season was a disaster. His season was delayed until mid-June by tightness in his right forearm, and he pitched so poorly at Double-A Birmingham that he was sent back to high Class A Winston-Salem less than a month later. He finished the season with more walks (59) than strikeouts (55), but his stuff was clearly down. He was pitching with a low-90s fastball and still didn’t regain his command when he returned to Winston-Salem, where he’d dominated in 2017. Beyond the injuries, the White Sox continued working with Hansen to keep his big body in sync and over the rubber throughout his delivery.

The Future: Hansen clearly has the stuff to dominate, but he needs to find the mental toughness to put 2018 in the rearview mirror. He is likely to return to Double-A in 2019.

Track Record: In three seasons as Louisville’s closer, Burdi was dominant. He struck out 83 in 70 innings and racked up 20 saves over three seasons before the White Sox took him with their first-round pick in 2016. He signed for $2,128,500 then zoomed to Triple-A Charlotte and seemed to be on the cusp of the major leagues before he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in 2017 and had Tommy John surgery. The operation kept him out all of the 2018 regular season before he returned in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Before the surgery, Burdi’s calling card was his hard fastball. The pitch sat in the upper 90s and touched triple digits with regularity. Paired with a slider that flashed plus, Burdi had the earmarks of a late-inning reliever. In the AFL, though, roughly 15 months after the surgery, his velocity ranged anywhere from 91-97 mph. He still showed an 82-86 mph slider that flashed plus, and an 85-88 mph changeup that projects as above-average. He has never pitched on back-to-back days in his pro career.

The Future: Simply getting back on the mound was a good sign, and his ceiling can’t properly be assessed until it’s certain where his fastball is going to park, but a return to full health would give him a future in the back of a bullpen. He should head back to Triple-A in 2019.

Track Record: Stephens had Tommy John surgery in his junior year at Rice, took a medical redshirt and rebounded to be a fifth round pick. He ranked third in the system with 139 strikeouts in 2018.

Scouting Report: Stephens gets his outs with a fairly standard four-pitch arsenal, fronted by a low 90s fastball with cutter action and a mid-80s slider. He throws a mid-70s curveball and a firm mid-80s changeup as well. He throws all four from a simple, repeatable delivery that gives him average control.

The Future: There has been talk in the organization that Stephens’ stuff might play better in the bullpen. In the bullpen he might fit in the seventh or eighth inning. The White Sox added him to their 40-man roster during the offseason.

Track Record: Adams was an attractive draft prospect because of his athleticism and projection, and a fastball that had run its way up to 96 mph. That fastball took a step back once he turned pro, though he still had enough velocity and sink to perform well at the lower levels.

Scouting Report: Adams still hasn’t recovered the mid-90s velocity that he had as an amateur, and scouts saw the pitch more often in the 89-91 mph range in 2018. The fastball fronted a four-pitch mix completed by a slider and changeup in the low 80s and a curveball in the high 70s. The slider was the best of his offspeed pitches, rating as a touch above-average offering. His changeup and curve are both fringe-average. His lack of an out pitch was made plain in 2018 by a scant 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Future: To succeed in the big leagues, Adams will need to mix and match and pitch to contact, giving him a ceiling of a fifth starter who more likely is an up-and-down arm. The White Sox’s left him off their 40-man roster and he went unpicked in the Rule 5 draft. He’s likely to head back to Triple-A Charlotte.

Track Record: Bush was lauded for having some of the best bat speed in the 2018 draft class, but fell due to signability concerns surrounding his commitment to Mississippi State. The White Sox gambled, however, and signed him for a bonus of $290,000, sixth-highest in Chicago’s class.

Scouting Report: Bush’s top-notch bat speed is part of an unorthodox swing that includes a low hand-set before launching into a steep uphill path. Those two elements make scouts believe he’ll ultimately hit for more power than average. He also needs to adjust his swing to keep him from drifting away from the ball. He’s a work in progress at third base who will need reps to continue to master the intricacies of the position. He needs to learn to slow the game down, improve his reaction time and learn the angles required. He’s got solid reaction time and a strong arm over at third base, and scouts see the necessary athleticism for the position as well. He’s a fringe-average runner.

The Future: Bush bullied his way out of the Rookie-level Arizona League before running into more resistance in the Pioneer League. He could return there in 2019, or start out at low Class A Kannapolis.

Track Record: Pilkington comes with plenty of pedigree. He pitched for three seasons in the Southeastern Conference, ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the 2016 Cape Cod League and pitched to a 2.65 ERA on the 2017 Collegiate National Team. He was also one of the youngest collegiate players available in the draft.

Scouting Report: Pilkington is by no means overpowering, pitching with a fastball that usually settles in around 89-92 but has touched up to 94. His 76-78 mph curveball flashes above-average potential, and Pilkington can vary the break on the pitch to make it look like a slider as well. His changeup, which he throws around 79-83 mph, also got potential plus grades from scouts. He sometimes rushes through his delivery and finishes stiff and upright, but it hasn’t been a problem for him so far.

The Future: Pilkington pitched mostly at Rookie-level Great Falls in 2018, but because of his pedigree could go to either low Class A Kannapolis or high Class A Winston-Salem.

Track Record: After three thunderous years at Missouri State, which included a cumulative 47 home runs and a 1.040 OPS, the White Sox drafted Burger with their first-round pick and let him get his feet wet at low Class A Kannapolis for the bulk of his pro debut. He’s torn his left Achilles tendon twice since then; once in February 2018 and then again in May while rehabbing the original injury.

Scouting Report: Before the injuries, scouts were counting on Burger to be a solid-average hitter with plenty of potential for power production. That aspect of his game will likely remain the same once he returns. The bigger question will revolve around where Burger fits on a diamond. Even before he got hurt there were concerns about whether his size and mobility would allow him to stick at third base. The White Sox pointed to his exemplary makeup as reason to believe he’d get his body in the necessary shape to stay at third. With two major surgeries since then, the questions are only going to get louder.

The Future: Achilles repair typically takes about a year, meaning the earliest Burger would get back on the field would be at midseason 2019.

Track Record: Comas has put up solid numbers in his first two professional seasons, including a .306 batting average in 2018 that ranked fourth in the organization. He will require time and patience as he grows into his frame.

Scouting Report: Comas has produced solid averages and plenty of contact in his first two seasons thanks to a smooth, controlled swing from the left side. He’s got long levers, which will take some development time to learn to get in sync consistently. A slight uppercut paired with the ability to keep his barrel in the zone gives scouts reason to believe he’ll develop at least average power. He’s got natural instincts in the outfield along with an average throwing arm and slightly above-average footspeed.

The Future: Comas will be a project to develop, but his projectable body and present skills suggest a player who might be worth the wait. He’ll play all of 2019 as a 19-year-old, and should move to Rookie-level Great Falls in June.

Track Record: Weaver’s appeal was based on his athleticism, projectable frame and wiry strength. He’s particularly raw, but showed a well-rounded set of skills while playing at South Gwinnett HS, which he helped lead to the second round of the state playoffs. His $226,200 bonus was among the highest handed out in the seventh round.

Scouting Report: Weaver has a bit of a longer swing with a fair amount of moving parts, but he compensates with a whippy stroke with above-average bat speed. He showed a better sense of timing during batting practice, and showed a solid feel for the zone in games. His next best tool is his speed, though he has trouble getting out of the box at times and doesn’t show his true, double-plus quickness until he gets underway. Scouts believe his speed and instincts will keep him in center field.

The Future: Weaver typically batted at the top or bottom of lineups, which is where his skill set dictates. He projects as a slash-and-burn type of player who causes havoc on the bases. He’s likely to land at Rookie-level Great Falls in 2019.

Track Record: Henzman pitched almost exclusively as a reliever at Louisville, including a turn as the team’s closer in 2017. He saved 16 games that spring, but the White Sox liked him as a potential starter and popped him with their fourth-round pick. Since transitioning to pro ball, Henzman has moved into a starter’s role for nearly all of his appearances.

Scouting Report: Henzman isn’t going to blow hitters away with his fastball, which sits in the 90-92 mph range with cutting action. He pairs the pitch with an above-average slider in the mid 80s and an average changeup in the low 80s. He controls the strike zone, with a combined rate of 1.5 walks per nine innings between two Class A levels.

The Future: As a pitcher with an Atlantic Coast Conference pedigree, it was no surprise that Henzman was successful at the lower levels. He’ll get a real test in 201

Track Record: After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Indian Hills (Iowa) JC, Booker transferred to Iowa for his junior and senior seasons. He showed contact and speed with the Hawkeyes, which led the White Sox to take a flyer on him as a senior sign. He’s displayed a similar set of skills as a pro and in 2018 started to tap into a bit more power.

Scouting Report: Booker spent the offseason overhauling his swing, including eliminating a bat wrap and re-learning how to use his upper and lower body. The results were stark. He stood out among a prospect-filled outfield at high Class A Winston-Salem, earned the Carolina League’s All-Star Game MVP and then moved to the upper levels for the first time. Booker unlocked some power at Winston-Salem, but the White Sox would prefer he spray the ball around the park and use his plus speed on the basepaths. He plays solid defense in the outfield, and can use his speed to make up for any mistakes he makes on routes.

The Future: Booker will likely return to Double-A Birmingham to start 2019, though the arrivals of Blake Rutherford, Luis Robert and possibly Micker Adolfo might mean a move to Triple-A Charlotte.

Track Record: At 6-foot-7, Thompson was projectable coming out of college. He scuffled somewhat in his junior year at Texas-Arlington, causing him to drop to the White Sox in the fifth round. He transitioned to the bullpen full time in the middle of the 2017 season.

Scouting Report: Thompson uses his massive frame to pump mid-90s fastballs, though his low-90s cutter might be his best offering. He commands the cutter, which grades as a plus pitch, better than his four-seamer. He sometimes has to back off his fastball to keep it in the zone, and command will be an issue he has to keep in check as he advances. He mixes in a below-average curveball as well.

The Future: Thompson finished the year with a solid stint in the Arizona Fall League and should start next season in Triple-A. He went unpicked in the Rule 5 Draft but could make it to Chicago in 2019.

Track Record: At South Carolina, Johnson was one of the most dominant relievers in college. Limited to 85.1 innings because of inflammation in his biceps and triceps and a stress reaction in his back, Johnson still found time to whiff 107 hitters. The White Sox used their fifth-round pick plus a $390,000 bonus to keep him from a senior season with the Gamecocks.

Scouting Report: Johnson's most overwhelming tool is his fastball, which sits in the mid 90s with angle and armside lift. He used the pitch to whiff 89 hitters in just 58 innings between two Class A levels. Impressively, Johnson accomplished that dominance without a knockout secondary pitch. Scouts rated his slider as a 40-grade offering on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, and his command was a tick below-average as well. The lack of a wipeout offspeed pitch and shaky command gives evaluators pause when considering how Johnson will fare at the upper levels.

The Future: After an excellent season at Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, Johnson is likely to move to Double-A Birmingham in 2019.

Track Record: Mid-90s fastballs from the left side made Medeiros one of the most talked-about prospects heading into the 2014 draft, and the Brewers saw enough from the young Hawaiian to draft him in the first round and steer him away from a commitment to Pepperdine with a $2.5 million bonus. There have long been questions about whether his stuff would play better out of the bullpen, but Milwaukee kept him in a starter's role until they dealt him to Chicago for Joakim Soria in 2018.

Scouting Report: Medeiros brings an 88-92 mph fastball from a tough, lowslot angle and pairs it with a sweeping slider in the upper 70s that was undercut by poor command. He also throws a changeup in the mid 80s that grades out better than the slider, though none of his three offerings grades out as better than average, and his command is still poor.

The Future: Medeiros will likely head to Triple-A Charlott in his first full season with his new organization, and could make his first foray into a relief role.