Chicago White Sox

Hitting: 50. Power: 45. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.

TRACK RECORD: Gonzalez pitched and hit at New Mexico but was universally regarded as a better prospect as a position player. The White Sox drafted him in the third round in 2017 as an outfielder and signed him for $517,000. Gonzalez struggled at Double-A in 2019, but he redeemed himself with a strong showing at the alternate training site in 2020 and made his major league debut Aug. 18.

SCOUTING REPORT: Gonzalez has long had gifted hands, solid bat speed and a patient, mature approach at the plate. The White Sox tweaked his lower half after the 2019 season, including reinstalling a toe top he had previously discarded, and the result was a more rhythmic swing. With his improvements and an emphasis on letting the ball travel deep and using the whole field, Gonzalez shows the potential to be an average hitter. He has more line-drive gap power than home run power, but he has the bat speed to impact the ball and drive it over the fence on occasion. Gonzalez is a well-rounded athlete capable of playing all three outfield spots. He is best in a corner, where his plus arm strength is an asset.

THE FUTURE: Gonzalez will head back to the minors to start 2021. How his swing improvements hold will determine if he reaches his everyday ceiling.

Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Running: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.

TRACK RECORD: Sheets zoomed up draft boards after a power surge during his junior year, hitting 21 home runs in 240 at-bats for Wake Forest. The White Sox drafted him 49th overall and signed him for $2 million. Sheets' power didn't show up initially as a pro, leading some to believe it might have been a mirage, but he broke out in 2019 with 16 homers at Double-A Birmingham and seemed prime for even further gains in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sheets used the coronavirus shutdown to get in better shape, and the White Sox saw enough athleticism to try him in left field at instructional league. Outside scouts who saw him at the position believe it is a legitimate option. In the box, Sheets continued working to utilize his lower half more in his swing, and the results are some of the best exit velocities in the organization and a newfound ability to pull offspeed pitches with authority. He does better on pitches in the upper half of the zone, and working to do damage on pitches in all parts of the zone will be his next step.

THE FUTURE: With left field now an option, Sheets has a clearer path to the big leagues because he was behind top prospect Andrew Vaughn on the first base depth chart. He'll open 2021 at Triple-A.

TRACK RECORD: After a successful career as a starter at Wichita State, Heuer moved to the bullpen in his first full season as a pro and immediately found success. Combined between high Class A and Double-A, Heuer whiffed 8.6 per nine innings. He made his big league debut on July 24 and was a part of Chicago's prospect-laden bullpen the rest of the way.

SCOUTING REPORT: Heuer operates primarily with two pitches: An upper-90s sinker and a devastating high-80s slider which induced a 67% whiff rate in 23.2 big league innings. The growth of the slider was huge in fueling Heuer's rise to Chicago. High-speed cameras showed flaws in the way he was delivering the pitch, and the resulting tweaks to his release point and hand positioning allowed him to get on top of the ball more often for consistent, sharp break. Heuer also gets deception because of the way he hides the ball in the back of his delivery.

THE FUTURE: Heuer's role in 2020 is likely where he'll settle going forth—a power-armed reliever who pitches late innings and can rack up plenty of strikeouts. He should begin 2021 back in Chicago.

TRACK RECORD: After one season in the Yankees' system, Rutherford was dealt to the White Sox for third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle. Since joining his new organization, Rutherford has continued to try to add strength and produce enough power to profile in a corner outfielder. He spent the summer at the team's alternate training site, but could not attend official instructional league because he is part of the 40-man roster.

SCOUTING REPORT: Though the coronavirus pandemic canceled the minor league season, Rutherford was afforded development time at the ATS. There he continued to work on learning how to pull the ball with authority. He worked with Brewers star Christian Yelich over the offseason and brought those lessons to camp, where he worked on getting the barrel on plane quickly and meeting the ball in the strike zone. The result was double-digit home runs against some of the White Sox's higher level pitching. Defensively, his fringe-average speed and below-average throwing arm likely limits him to left field, where he could play to help get Eloy Jimenez to DH.

THE FUTURE: The 2020 season would have been eye-opening for Rutherford, who would have played at the team's hitter-friendly Triple-A park in Charlotte. If his power didn't play there, it would have raised serious red flags. He'll try that path again in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Lambert, whose younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies, got scouts' attention with an excellent five-game stretch at Double-A Birmingham in 2018. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament shortly thereafter and had Tommy John. Under normal circumstances, Lambert would have missed a good chunk of the season finishing his rehab before returning to the minors. With no minor league season, he instead got a chance to make his big league debut.

SCOUTING REPORT: At his best, Lambert pitches with a four-seam fastball that averaged around 93 mph and touched 96 during his two-game stint in the big leagues. He backs it up with a trio of pitches that each could reach above-average. He went to his low-80s changeup and downer, mid-70s curveball in nearequal measure in the majors, and the White Sox particularly like the action his high arm slot creates on his changeup. His fourth pitch is a short, sharp mid-80s slider, which he threw twice in the big leagues (for consecutive swinging strikes against the Twins' Miguel Sano).

THE FUTURE: Lambert's season ended when he strained his right forearm and had to be placed on the injured list. He should be ready to go for spring training, however, and could find himself back in the big leagues at some point.

TRACK RECORD: After impressing as an amateur in Cuba, Ramos earned a $300,000 bonus and was skipped over the Dominican Summer League in favor of a pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League. There, he hit for average and power and performed well as one of just three players in the league who were born in 2002.

SCOUTING REPORT: After missing out on much-needed development in 2020 thanks to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Ramos was intriguing at instructional league. He's a strong player with big bat speed who can impress in batting practice but still needs to work on timing and consistent direction to the ball in his swing. He's a fairly free swinger, especially early in the count, which could hamper his ability to hit. He's a below-average runner, but the White Sox see enough athleticism to possibly try him at second base in addition to his traditional spot at third.

THE FUTURE: No matter when the season begins, Ramos will play all year at 19. He's likely to stay back in the AZL before moving to low Class A. He will take patience, but has one of the system's higher upsides.

TRACK RECORD: Foster was drafted out of high school by the D-backs but chose to head to Gulf Coast State JC for two seasons before transferring to Alabama for his junior year. He moved to the bullpen at Alabama and has stayed there as a pro outside of two appearances as an opener in 2020. Foster made his big league debut on Aug. 1

SCOUTING REPORT: Foster moved slowly through the White Sox system and was on the cusp of the big leagues before the coronavirus pandemic shelved the minor league season before it began. The righthander operates primarily with three pitches—a four-seam fastball that averaged 94 mph and was lauded for its riding life up in the zone, a changeup with roughly 10 mph of separation from his fastball and a slider thrown a tick faster than his changeup. Foster got whiff rates of better than 34% on both of his secondary pitches. His changeup made exceptional progress at instructional league in 2017 thanks to tutelage with pitching coach J.R. Perdew. Foster commands his arsenal well and has weapons for both righties and lefties.

THE FUTURE: Like fellow Top 30 Prospect and 2020 rookie Codi Heuer, Foster has earned a permanent spot in the White Sox bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Adolfo signed with the White Sox with the idea that he'd grow into his body and develop big-time power. Four years later, he proved them right by hitting 16 home runs at low Class A Kannapolis. His development has been slowed, however, first by Tommy John surgery in 2019 and then the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Adolfo easily possesses the most juice in the system. He's a hulking man who takes a huge cut and can quickly lose mistakes to the deepest parts of any park. The question is: Can he cut down enough on his strikeouts to access that power often enough to make himself a big league regular? The White Sox coaching staff worked with Adolfo at the alternate training site to maintain his posture and find a more consistent, less steep bat path that he can trust will help him do the same damage as his old swing. Defensively, his 80-grade arm would be a weapon in right field, where he can potentially be an average defender with fringe-average speed.

THE FUTURE: Adolfo will begin 2021 at one of the team's upper-level affiliates in the hopes of returning to the form that saw him star at high Class A in 2018. There's a lot of rust to kick off, but the reward might be worth the wait.

TRACK RECORD: The White Sox were extremely high on Burger's combination of skills and makeup when they drafted him, and the latter has come into play over the last couple of years as he's dealt with a twice-ruptured left Achilles tendon and a bruised heel that cost him all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2020, Burger played for a bit in a semi-pro league in the midwest before heading to Chicago's alternate training site and instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: It has been a long road back for Burger, who worked at instructs on adjusting his posture to the point where he could better control his barrel on pitches up in the zone. Scouts at instructs also saw a small hitch in his swing that caused him to hit off his front foot at times. Despite that, they liked his bat speed, all-fields power and projected him to hit 20-plus homers if he reaches his peak. Defensively, the injuries have taken their toll, but not as much as would be expected. He is OK moving laterally, has some trouble coming in on balls, and shows above-average arm strength.

THE FUTURE: Despite the two injuries, the White Sox still believed enough in Burger's future to add him to the 40-man roster over the winter. Given the time he's lost, Burger will likely need to start at least at high Class A.

TRACK RECORD: The son of a former NFL quarterback and a college volleyball player, McClure was excellent for three seasons at Louisville before the White Sox took him in 2017. He missed most of the 2018 season with a knee injury, then dominated at the lower levels in 2019 and impressed again at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: McClure worked with White Sox biomechanist Ben Hansen to increase the power in his delivery, and the result was a fastball that ticked up to the low 90s with flecks of 95. His go-to offspeed pitch is a potentially average, sweepy slider, and he rounds out his repertoire with a potentially average curveball and a fringy changeup. None of his stuff jumps off the page, but the sum of the parts could allow him to eat innings in the back of a rotation.

THE FUTURE: McClure will be 25 once the season starts, so he'll need to move quickly through the upper levels in order to show the White Sox what he's got.

TRACK RECORD: Originally committed to Mississippi State, Bush was swayed to sign with Chicago thanks to a bonus of $290,000 which ranked as the second-highest in 2018's 33rd round and the sixthhighest in the White Sox's class. He's struggled with swing-and-miss issues as a pro, but shows enough flashes of talent that there's still plenty of hope.

SCOUTING REPORT: The White Sox always knew Bush was going to be a bit of a project, but they were willing to wait. His raw gifts include a pair of extremely strong hands that he uses to power his bat through the zone and generate exceptional raw power. Now, the swing and strike zone discipline must be refined. He struggled especially against sliders in 2019 at low Class A, and scouts who saw him at instructional league noticed a strong tendency to step in the bucket. In 2019, Bush moved from third base to the outfield, where his athleticism and plus throwing arm could be put to better use.

THE FUTURE: Bush sorely needed 2020, but at least got a chance to get some at-bats at instructional league. Once 2021 begins, he's likely to move to high Class A to continue working to turn his tools into skills.

TRACK RECORD: Beard is a speed merchant of the highest order. He's the fastest player in the White Sox's system by a longshot, and he was the fastest player in his draft class overall. He also showed a modicum of power as an amateur, and the White Sox saw enough potential to take the time to let those tools grow into skills.

SCOUTING REPORT: Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and a minor leg injury from the instructional league, Beard didn't get much time to develop in 2020. At his best, Beard is an 80-grade runner with strong hands the White Sox believe will help him tap into double-digit home run power. He needs plenty of refinement as a hitter, though, and team officials saw some progress with his swing, but he'll need plenty more as he gets older. He also has to do a better job controlling the strike zone. His speed also serves him well in center field, where he projects to stick.

THE FUTURE: Once the 2021 season begins, Beard could stick back in the Rookie-level Arizona League before moving to low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Out of high school, the White Sox liked Weaver's blend of athleticism and relatively polished tools. The $226,200 bonus he received was the highest for his draft round. He held his own at Rookie-level Great Falls in 2019 and then impressed scouts with moderate improvements at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: At instructional league, Weaver appeared to fill out his body a little bit more and showed the corresponding strength gains. Scouts noted that he's shortened his swing a bit, which gives them a little more confidence in his ability to hit, though there's still a ways to go in that area. The White Sox have tried to get him to use his legs a bit more in his swing. He's a plus runner with a below-average arm who should stick in center field.

THE FUTURE: Weaver is exactly the kind of player who was hurt the most by a lack of a minor league season. He'll likely head to low Class A in 2021, when he'll work to build on the gains he's made.

TRACK RECORD: Gladney impressed the White Sox during a private workout at their big league park before the draft, when he showed enough power to convince them he was worth a flier. He was also a part of their Amateur City Elite program, where he showed strong makeup that heartened the White Sox. He socked eight home runs in the Rookie-level Arizona League, which was second on his team behind Jose Rodriguez.

SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney started his instructional league with a bang, hitting three home runs in three games and posting exit velocities up to 114 mph. The White Sox want him to focus on using his legs more in his swing and sharpening his pitch-recognition skills, which were a clear area of improvement after 82 strikeouts in 201 AZL at-bats in 2019. Scouts questioned his footwork and throwing arm at third base, and wondered if first base might be his long-term home.

THE FUTURE: Gladney could move to low Class A to start 2021, but he might also benefit from more seasoning at the lowest levels. He has intriguing power, but there's a lot of work to be done.

TRACK RECORD: Horn had Tommy John surgery during his sophomore season at McLennan (Texas) JC, but still got to Auburn in 2019 and helped pitch the Tigers to the College World Series. He'd started well in 2020 before the novel coronavirus pandemic ended the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Horn works with a three-pitch mix, fronted by a 90-94 mph fastball with tailing action. He backs it up with a potentially plus curveball and a slider that lags behind just a bit. He's also thrown an inconsistent changeup. The White Sox are particularly intrigued by Horn's athleticism, his aggressive mentality on the mound and the carry he gets on his fastball. They plan to continue developing him as a starter but will need to see his command and control improve if he is to remain in that role.

THE FUTURE: Because of his college pedigree, Horn should start his pro career at high Class A with a chance to move to Double-A by season's end.

TRACK RECORD: Signed for just $35,000 in April 2019, Bailey was considered somewhat of a sleeper prospect among that year's international class. He produced in the Dominican Summer League and then impressed during Dominican instructional league as well.

SCOUTING REPORT: In Bailey, the White Sox see a player with a blend of potentially above-average power and speed. Evaluators saw a rusty player at the team's instructional league, where he showed big-time power during batting practice but struggled with pitch recognition during games and tended to step in the bucket on swings. Scouts there also saw a player who'd slowed down quite a bit and will have to play in a corner outfield spot.

THE FUTURE: After a long layoff, Bailey will look to get back into the swing of things in 2021, when he's likely to spend most of the year in the Rookie-level Arizona League but could reach low Class A.

TRACK RECORD: Sanchez earned the top international bonus handed out by the White Sox in 2019. He was teammates with Luis Robert as an amateur in Cuba on the country's U18 national team. He started his career in the Dominican Summer League, where he was among the league's older players.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez reported to instructional league in Arizona and looked particularly rusty. Internal and external evaluators saw a player who'd gotten thicker during the shutdown, lacked an approach at the plate and showed a willingness to chase. Scouts also saw a player who will not be able to stick at shortstop because of below-average speed and fringy arm strength. The White Sox are optimistic he'll be able to regain some of what they saw when they signed him once he gets more consistent reps.

THE FUTURE: Because Sanchez will be 23 once the season starts, the clock is ticking. He has little experience as a pro and will likely need to start at low Class A to give the White Sox the best chance to see what he can do.

TRACK RECORD: Two seasons after signing, Rodriguez has been productive at both of the system's lowest levels. He tied for fourth in the Rookie-level Arizona League in home runs in 2019, with nine, and was one of just 13 players in the league with a slugging percentage better than .500.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez's reports from instructional league were uneven. He plays with aggression that can border on recklessness, but also can play above-average defense when everything goes right. At the plate, he badly needs to reel in his approach. Scouts in Arizona saw an overly free swinger with a loopy swing who stepped in the bucket and had a particular weakness against sliders. When everything clicks in his swing, though, there's surprising power and ability to use the whole field, though the White Sox would like him to work more on going the opposite way. He's a below-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez has a lot of work to do to refine his game, and he'll resume that quest in low Class A. If everything clicks, he could fill a middle-infield utility role with a bit of pop.

TRACK RECORD: Collins as an amateur was lauded for his combination of plate discipline and power, both of which have shown up throughout his minor league career. He's got by far the best knowledge of the strike zone in the system, despite a large amount of strikeouts.

SCOUTING REPORT: Collins' extreme plate discipline plays like a double-edged sword. One the one hand, he sees a ton of pitches and works walks. On the other, getting deep into counts leads to strikeouts. He has a hand hitch in his swing that, when everything is right, can be counteracted with quick hands through the zone. He has plenty of raw power but needs to make more contact to get to it more often. He's a subpar defender who has a strong throwing arm but slow-twitch mechanics that make it difficult for him to catch runners trying to steal. He could also stand to sharpen his receiving skills.

THE FUTURE: Collins was the third catcher in 2020, behind Yasmani Grandal and James McCann, but could move up with McCann gone. He has the ceiling of backup with more impact offensively.

TRACK RECORD: Johnson dealt with biceps and triceps inflammation and a stress reaction in college, but the White Sox were still high enough on his potential to take him in the fifth round. He dominated at the system's lower levels in 2018, but then was limited to just 31.1 innings in 2019 by a strained right lat muscle suffered in the spring.

SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson's allure comes from a mid-90s fastball and a slider that flashes plus but needs more consistency. The pitch had a lot of variance in 2019, and at times almost looked like an overhand curveball when he'd try to flip it in for an early-count strike. At the alternate training site, Johnson worked to get the slider to above-average or plus more often. He also has feel for an average changeup. Johnson also worked on learning the finer points of pitching instead of simply relying on pure velocity.

THE FUTURE: Johnson will likely start the season at Triple-A Charlotte and has a chance to reach the big leagues at some point in 2021. He was protected on the 40-man roster over the winter.