Chicago White Sox: Ian Hamilton quietly having huge year

With arguably the top farm system, and one of the brightest futures in all of baseball, the Chicago White Sox rebuild is sailing smoothly.

With seven Top-100 prospects and the #2 farm system per MLB Pipeline, the White Sox have done a spectacular job of loading up on elite talent, while stacking the system with depth from top-to-bottom.

Possibly the deepest position throughout the White Sox farm system, the White Sox have also built a nice core of future relief aces waiting in the wings.

Of these potential future relief aces is Ian Hamilton.

Hamilton is the White Sox 18th-ranked prospect, and the White Sox #2 relief prospect, behind Zack Burdi.

An 11th-round pick of the White Sox in 2016 out of Washington State, Hamilton started the season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, where he was lights-out.

The 23-year old righty went 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 21 appearances. Hamilton locked down twelve saves, while striking out 34 in 25.1 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .211 against Hamilton, who has failed to surrender a home run in 2018.

After being named a 2018 Southern League All-Star, Hamilton earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. In his first six appearances for Charlotte, Hamilton hasn't allowed a run, striking out nine in 6.2 innings with three saves.

In a farm system containing potential future closers in Thyago Vieira, Tyler Johnson and Burdi, Hamilton is pushing forward a strong case to break camp as the White Sox closer next spring.

If Hamilton continues his dominant 2018, the White Sox will certainly give him an early Opening Day roster audition this September.