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Want the recipe to my "secret sauce" of evaluating prospects? Give that mouse of yours a click right here for a detailed breakdown of the process.
The Grading System
My grading system will be familiar to those who keep up with college football recruiting or played the MLB2K video game series as I use a star rating system from one to five stars with half grades in between. An outline of what each level would represent looks like this, but remember these are examples and not definite.
Anything below 2.5 stars is someone who doesn't project to be a major league player, therefore they are not mentioned.
Previous Team Ranks and #1 Prospects
Atlanta Braves - 2B Jose Peraza
Miami Marlins - RHP Tyler Kolek
New York Mets - RHP Noah Syndergaard
Philadelphia Phillies - SS JP Crawford
Washington Nationals - RHP Lucas Giolito
Baltimore Orioles - RHP Dylan Bundy
Boston Red Sox - 2B Yoan Moncada
New York Yankees - RHP Luis Severino
Tampa Bay Rays - SS Willy Adames
Toronto Blue Jays - RHP Aaron Sanchez
With the grading system and previous rankings out of the way now, we can crack open the AL Central and get things started with the Chicago White Sox. Here are the top 20 prospects in the White Sox organization for the 2015 season. All ages are how old they will be for the upcoming season and affiliates mentioned are where I expect them to begin the year.
Chicago White Sox
With Opening Day right around the corner, I'm facing a time crunch that won't allow me to do a breakdown for each player. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about any rankings or lack thereof, leave a comment.
1. LHSP Carlos Rodon - 22 years old, AAA Charlotte
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Blumenfield//Getty Images
2014 Stats (R, A+, and AAA) -
W | L | SV | G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO |
0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 24.2 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 38 |
ERA | FIP | WHIP | BB% | K% | K/BB | H9 | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BABIP |
2.92 | 1.82 | 1.38 | 12.0 | 15.0 | 2.92 | 7.3 | 0.215 | 0.315 | 0.280 | 0.595 | 0.357 |
2015 Outlook -
As much as Rodon deserves to crack the rotation, there is a slim chance of that happening due to similar service time issues as another prospect from a Chicago team, Kris Bryant. Depending on how the Sox feel about Super 2 status, Rodon could be in the big leagues as soon as two weeks into the season. If they want to make sure he doesn't get an extra turn through arbitration, they could wait until June to promote him.
2. SS Tim Anderson - 22 years old, AA Birmingham
Photo courtesy of Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash
2014 Stats (R, A+, and AA) -
PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO |
362 | 345 | 57 | 104 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 40 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 82 |
G | BB% | SO% | XBH | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | wRC+ | wOBA | ISO | BABIP |
83 | 2.5 | 22.7 | 37 | 0.301 | 0.327 | 0.481 | 0.808 | 113 | 0.344 | 0.180 | 0.371 |
2015 Outlook -
Anderson spent most of the 2014 campaign with A+ Winston-Salem and was so impressive the front office had him finish the year off with a 10 game stint at AA Birmingham. That's his likely jumping off point this year as he hit well in the Carolina League despite a hyper-aggressive approach. Let's all hope he cracks double digits in walks this year.
3. RHSP Spencer Adams - 19 years old, Low A Kannapolis
Photo courtesy of Brian Carter/3NOutSports
2014 Stats (R) -
W | L | SV | G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO |
3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 41.2 | 49 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 59 |
ERA | FIP | WHIP | BB% | K% | K/BB | H9 | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BABIP |
3.67 | 1.90 | 1.27 | 2.2 | 33.0 | 14.75 | 10.6 | 0.282 | 0.296 | 0.431 | 0.727 | 0.402 |
2015 Outlook -
Some weren't sure how well Adams would transition from small time high school ball to the pro ranks. He demolished the Arizona League and showed enough to jump the Pioneer League and start the year with Low A Kannapolis. I could see him taking a similar accelerated development path as Tyler Danish.
4. RHSP Francellis Montas - 22 years old, AA Birmingham
5. RHSP Tyler Danish - 20 years old, A+ Winston-Salem
6. 2B Micah Johnson - 24 years old, MLB Chicago
7. RHSP Chris Beck - 24 years old, MLB Chicago
8. 2B Carlos Sanchez - 23 years old, AAA Charlotte
9. 3B Trey Michalczewski - 20 years old, A+ Winston-Salem
10. RHSP David Trexler - 24 years old, Low A Kannapolis
11. LF Courtney Hawkins - 21 years old, AA Birmingham
12. RF Micker Adolfo - 18 years old, R+ Great Falls
13. LHSP Jace Fry - 21 years old, Low A Kannapolis
14. CF Jacob May - 23 years old, AA Birmingham
15. SS Tyler Saladino - 25 years old, AAA Charlotte
16. RHSP JB Wendelken - 22 years old, A+ Winston-Salem
17. LHSP Brian Clark - 22 years old, Low A Kannapolis
18. RHSP James Dykstra - 24 years old, AA Birmingham
19. CF Adam Engel - 23 years old, A+ Winston-Salem
20. LHSP Andre Wheeler - 23 years old, A+ Winston-Salem
Honorable Mentions (three star players, in no particular order) - RHP Luis Martinez, LHP Jordan Guerrero, LHP Chris Freudenberg, RHP Tanner Mendonca, RHP Tyler Barnette, RHP David Putman, LHP Devon Davis, RHP Nolan Sanburn, CF Trayce Thompson, RF Jason Coats, 3B Matt Davidson, SS Cleluis Rondon, 2B Jake Peter, 1B Keon Barnum, LF Antonio Rodriguez, SS Johan Cruz
Chicago White Sox | Age | Pos | Team | Stars | |
1 | Carlos Rodon | 22 | LHSP | AAA | 4.5 |
2 | Tim Anderson | 22 | SS | AA | 4.5 |
3 | Spencer Adams | 19 | RHSP | R | 4.5 |
4 | Francellis Montas | 22 | RHSP | AA | 4 |
5 | Tyler Danish | 20 | RHSP | A+ | 4 |
6 | Micah Johnson | 24 | 2B | AAA | 4 |
7 | Chris Beck | 24 | RHSP | AAA | 4 |
8 | Carlos Sanchez | 23 | 2B | MLB | 4 |
9 | Trey Michalczewski | 20 | 3B | A+ | 3.5 |
10 | David Trexler | 24 | RHP | R+ | 3.5 |
11 | Courtney Hawkins | 21 | LF | A+ | 3.5 |
12 | Micker Adolfo | 18 | RF | R | 3.5 |
13 | Jace Fry | 21 | LHSP | R+ | 3.5 |
14 | Jacob May | 23 | CF | A+ | 3.5 |
15 | Tyler Saladino | 25 | SS | AAA | 3.5 |
16 | JB Wendelken | 22 | RHSP | A+ | 3.5 |
17 | Brian Clark | 22 | LHSP | R+ | 3.5 |
18 | James Dykstra | 24 | RHSP | A+ | 3.5 |
19 | Adam Engel | 23 | CF | A+ | 3.5 |
20 | Andre Wheeler | 23 | LHSP | A | 3.5 |
Team Codes: AAA - Charlotte Knights, AA - Birmingham Barons, A+ - Winston-Salem Dash, A - Kannapolis Intimidators, R+ - Great Falls Voyagers, R - Arizona League White Sox, DSL - Dominican Summer League White Sox, DNP - Did Not Play
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