The Bright Future of the Chicago White Sox

The CWS have had a few years of futility and with that came very few wins. On the bright side, the White Sox have gotten some very good draft pick and have a bright future. Although, I don’t see that occurring any sooner than 2029. Let’s look at some of their top prospects (in no particular order).

I said no order but I am starting with one that may be in the starting line-up in 2026, Colson Montgomery is 24 years of age and a 3B/SS for them.With the pipeline full of shortstops, I believe he will be a third baseman in the majors. He has a legitimate barrel rate and bat speed. Dream on this Whte Sox fans, he smacked 21 home runs in 71 at-bats. He does have the propensity to strike out too much which will reduced his on-base percentage.

Kyle Teel is a 24 year old catcher and had eight home runs with 35 runs batted in with the Sox along with 253 at-bats in the major league last season. He was drafted in the first round by the Boston Red Sox but was traded in the Garrett Crochet deal. Boston has tried to re-acquire him but to no avail.

Grant Taylor is 6’3″ right handed pitcher from Alabama that the White Sox drafted #31. After 46 minor league innings last season, he was promoted to the major leagues to work out of the bullpen where he picked up six saves over 36 games with a 4.91 ERA and 54 strikeouts against 15 walks over 36 2/3 innings, with no home runs allowed. In a game against LSU in college he pitched better than Paul Skenes according to one scout. White Sox brass has stated that Taylor will stay in relief for 2026.

Shane Smith was selected on December 11, 2024, the Chicago White Sox selected Smith from the Brewers with the first selection of the Rule 5 draft. On March 20, 2025, the White Sox announced that Smith had made their Opening Day roster. The right handed pitcher was rushed a biit and struggled in the major where he went 7-8 with 145 strikeouts in 146.1 innings pitched along with a 3.81ERA This was a surprise and likely will stay in the rotation. He is 25 years of age.

Chase Meidroth is an infielder that got reps with the major league club. He had 450 at-bat and finished with five homers and a .253 batting average. On December 11, 2024, Meidroth, along with Braden Montgomery, Wikelman González, and Kyle Teel, was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Garrett Crochet. He is a glove first infielder.

Edgar Quero is a catcher in the White Sox organzation. Quero is an offensive-minded catcher who advanced to Triple-A at age 21 last year and led all Minor League backstops his age or younger in OPS (.829) and wRC+ (139). He has a mature approach, rarely chasing pitches out of the zone and making repeated contact. He got late call-up to join the White Sox. If prospect Kyle Teel turns out then Quero would become an important trade chip.

Others to get a chance and improve the Chicago White Sox and their chances to improve and set up well for baseball in the 2030’s.

Noah Schultz is a left handed pitcher out of Oswego, Illinois.The 23 year old is 6’10” and 240 lbs. His work spiked in the minor leagues, However, he possesses sinker that is effective and is timed between 94-98 mph. He deals with knee issues and that may set him back.

Braden Montgomery is a 6’3″ and 220 lbs. and currently is 23 years of age.He was drafted in the 1st round out of Texas A&M. He possesses a quick swing that explodes the bat to the ball. Appears he will get some work in AAA ball but an early choice to make his MLB debut soon in 2026.

Sam Antonacci is from Springfield, IL.where he was was a member of he national champion Heartland College team. From there he went to Coastal Carolina where he was a solid player and ot drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. Not known as a power hitter but is good for getting on base with high walk rate and excellent contact. He will hit in the major leagues. His Arizona Fall League experience opened many eyes in the Sox organization.

Billy Carlson was drafted in the first round in 2025 out of Corona High School in California. He is 19 years of age. He is outstanding with the glove and will bring great defense to any team he is assigned in 2026. He hits the ball hard and has very quick bat speed. Likely the future shortstop at the major league level for the White Sox.

Caleb Bonemer was selected in the second round of the 2024 draft. At age 20, he is likely the third baseman of the future and will pair up with Carlson on the left side for Chicago. He has become impressive with the bat speed. In the minor leagues he had 29 stolen bases. Look for Bonemer to be up in the majors by 2028.

Hagen Smith is a 23 year old left-handed pitcher. He was drafted in the first round of the 2024 draft out of Arkansas. His fastball is good enough to generate strikeouts. The secondary pitches are coming along. His slider is a nasty pitch but beyond that his secondary pitches are in progress. He will have to find a way to diminsh his walk rate before he gets the nod. Look for Hagen to be the #1 or 2 pitcher in the rotation by 2028 or 2029.

Jaden Fauske from LaGrange Park in Illinois grew up a White Sox fan He was drafted by them in the second round of the 2025 draft. He as given a huge bonus. He appears an average hitter. However, his lefty swing is one that make contact With more development, the Sox see him as a power hitting center fielder that will eventually hit in the middle of the order in the major leagues.

Tanner McDougal is a 6’5″ 240 lbs. right handed pitcher that was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 draft. He has had Tommy John surgery after he left Oregon baseball and now other medical injuries have sidelined him. He will have to find the strike zone more often and find his fastball and curve to put him in at least in the bullpen.

Kyle Lodise is a shortstop that began his college career at Division 2 in Georgia.The shortstop was a good contact hitter and moved on to play for Georgia Tech where his power played well and became a top hitter in the ACC. He can do about everything on the field better than average. He can be an important utility player in the 2030’s.

Christian Oppor is a left-handed hurler that was drafted in the fifth round out of Gulf Coast State in Florida. He has seen his K rate increase an his BB rate decline. His four seam fastball has been clocked at 95 mph and has reached 100 at times. His changeup enters in the low 80’s and it create lots of swing and misses. Look for him to become a midrotation starter and /or an important lefty out of the pen in late innings.

Hope you enjoyed this preview of the future for the Chicago White Sox. -Tom