Wes Kath

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #18 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The White Sox stayed close to their Arizona complex in selecting Kath with their second-round pick in 2021 and signed the Scottsdale high school product for $1.8 million. After starting his career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Kath moved up to Low-A Kannapolis in 2022. He took some time getting acclimated to that level of baseball but finished his Low-A season with a strong month of August when he put up a .263/.382/.544 line and hit six of his 13 home runs.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath's development will take time, with improvement needed with his swing and approach at the plate. He has strength with a bit of loft and pull-side power, but it can get lengthy at times. He needs to improve his pitch recognition to cut down on the swing-and-miss, but a positive sign is that he reduced his strikeout rate slightly from 36.5%to 33.0% with the jump from rookie ball to Low-A . He also boosted his walk rate to 13.4%. Kath doesn't get good swings against lefthanded pitchers, with 12 of his 13 home runs coming off righties. Defensively, he makes the routine plays despite not having great footwork or a good first step--he needs to work on his body to get more quickness and lateral range. His plus arm is the best infield arm in the organization. Kath is a below-average runner but with a good stride that helps him pick up speed underway.
  
  The Future: Kath will need to proceed one level at a time, likely spending most or all of 2023 at High-A Winston-Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #4 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Kath was the top high school prospect in Arizona his senior year, leading Desert Mountain High to the state 5-A championship and capping his prep career with a long home run over the right field bullpen at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The White Sox selected him in the second round and signed him for an above-slot $1.8 million bonus to pass on his commitment to nearby Arizona State. Kath made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League and flashed big power, but he also struck out 42 times in 115 plate appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath’s main draw is his plus power from the left side. He gets to his power with an easy stroke, and the planned offseason strength work will allow him to get even more power into the swing. Kath has the ability to make adjustments as a hitter and use the whole field, but he got caught trying to do too much at the plate in his pro debut and at times was clearly putting too much pressure on himself. He has the swing and underlying attributes to be an average hitter if he can adjust his approach and mindset. Kath is a below-average runner but has a good stride and picks up speed underway. He played shortstop as an amateur but has already moved to third base. Kath is a potentially average defender at the hot corner with good actions and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Kath should be ready for full-season ball in 2022. He has a chance to be an everyday, power-hitting third baseman but is many years from that ceiling.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #53 prospect in 2021 draft
  Kath got plenty of eyeballs on him as soon as MLB allowed amateur scouts to get back on the field last summer, with the lefthanded-hitting infielder playing in quite a few tournaments leading into his final high school season at Desert Mountain (Ariz.) High. The Arizona State commit was up to the challenge as he steadily started climbing draft boards, putting an exclamation point on his high school career when he slammed a long home run over the right-field bullpen at Tempe Diablo Stadium in the Wolves’ successful Arizona 5-A state championship game. Kath looks the part of an old-school ballplayer, not using batting gloves at the plate and having a consistency to his game. He shows plus raw power with an at least average hit tool, using a nice, easy flat swing and having a plan at the plate. It’s more gap-to-gap doubles power now with the ability to make adjustments and use all fields, but he’s expected to grow into more over-the-fence pop with age and experience. Most scouts believe Kath will have to move off shortstop to a corner infield spot, as he lacks twitchiness and good footwork coupled with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Observers who think he has a chance to stay at shortstop point out the good instincts and ability to finish plays. He has a plus arm with good carry on his throws. Kath is a below-average runner but better underway. The consensus opinion is that he’s a second-round talent, but there is speculation that with enough teams on him he could go before the end of the first round.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The White Sox stayed close to their Arizona complex in selecting Kath with their second-round pick in 2021 and signed the Scottsdale high school product for $1.8 million. After starting his career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Kath moved up to Low-A Kannapolis in 2022. He took some time getting acclimated to that level of baseball but finished his Low-A season with a strong month of August when he put up a .263/.382/.544 line and hit six of his 13 home runs.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath's development will take time, with improvement needed with his swing and approach at the plate. He has strength with a bit of loft and pull-side power, but it can get lengthy at times. He needs to improve his pitch recognition to cut down on the swing-and-miss, but a positive sign is that he reduced his strikeout rate slightly from 36.5%to 33.0% with the jump from rookie ball to Low-A . He also boosted his walk rate to 13.4%. Kath doesn't get good swings against lefthanded pitchers, with 12 of his 13 home runs coming off righties. Defensively, he makes the routine plays despite not having great footwork or a good first step--he needs to work on his body to get more quickness and lateral range. His plus arm is the best infield arm in the organization. Kath is a below-average runner but with a good stride that helps him pick up speed underway.
  
  The Future: Kath will need to proceed one level at a time, likely spending most or all of 2023 at High-A Winston-Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The White Sox stayed close to their Arizona complex in selecting Kath with their second-round pick in 2021 and signed the Scottsdale high school product for $1.8 million. After starting his career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Kath moved up to Low-A Kannapolis in 2022. He took some time getting acclimated to that level of baseball but finished his Low-A season with a strong month of August when he put up a .263/.382/.544 line and hit six of his 13 home runs.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath's development will take time, with improvement needed with his swing and approach at the plate. He has strength with a bit of loft and pull-side power, but it can get lengthy at times. He needs to improve his pitch recognition to cut down on the swing-and-miss, but a positive sign is that he reduced his strikeout rate slightly from 36.5%to 33.0% with the jump from rookie ball to Low-A . He also boosted his walk rate to 13.4%. Kath doesn't get good swings against lefthanded pitchers, with 12 of his 13 home runs coming off righties. Defensively, he makes the routine plays despite not having great footwork or a good first step--he needs to work on his body to get more quickness and lateral range. His plus arm is the best infield arm in the organization. Kath is a below-average runner but with a good stride that helps him pick up speed underway.
  
  The Future: Kath will need to proceed one level at a time, likely spending most or all of 2023 at High-A Winston-Salem.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Kath was the top high school prospect in Arizona his senior year, leading Desert Mountain High to the state 5-A championship and capping his prep career with a long home run over the right field bullpen at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The White Sox selected him in the second round and signed him for an above-slot $1.8 million bonus to pass on his commitment to nearby Arizona State. Kath made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League and flashed big power, but he also struck out 42 times in 115 plate appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath&#39s main draw is his plus power from the left side. He gets to his power with an easy stroke, and the planned offseason strength work will allow him to get even more power into the swing. Kath has the ability to make adjustments as a hitter and use the whole field, but he got caught trying to do too much at the plate in his pro debut and at times was clearly putting too much pressure on himself. He has the swing and underlying attributes to be an average hitter if he can adjust his approach and mindset. Kath is a below-average runner but has a good stride and picks up speed underway. He played shortstop as an amateur but has already moved to third base. Kath is a potentially average defender at the hot corner with good actions and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Kath should be ready for full-season ball in 2022. He has a chance to be an everyday, power-hitting third baseman but is many years from that ceiling.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Kath was the top high school prospect in Arizona his senior year, leading Desert Mountain High to the state 5-A championship and capping his prep career with a long home run over the right field bullpen at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The White Sox selected him in the second round and signed him for an above-slot $1.8 million bonus to pass on his commitment to nearby Arizona State. Kath made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League and flashed big power, but he also struck out 42 times in 115 plate appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Kath’s main draw is his plus power from the left side. He gets to his power with an easy stroke, and the planned offseason strength work will allow him to get even more power into the swing. Kath has the ability to make adjustments as a hitter and use the whole field, but he got caught trying to do too much at the plate in his pro debut and at times was clearly putting too much pressure on himself. He has the swing and underlying attributes to be an average hitter if he can adjust his approach and mindset. Kath is a below-average runner but has a good stride and picks up speed underway. He played shortstop as an amateur but has already moved to third base. Kath is a potentially average defender at the hot corner with good actions and plus arm strength.
  
  The Future: Kath should be ready for full-season ball in 2022. He has a chance to be an everyday, power-hitting third baseman but is many years from that ceiling.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Kath got plenty of eyeballs on him as soon as MLB allowed amateur scouts to get back on the field last summer, with the lefthanded-hitting infielder playing in quite a few tournaments leading into his final high school season at Desert Mountain (Ariz.) High. The Arizona State commit was up to the challenge as he steadily started climbing draft boards, putting an exclamation point on his high school career when he slammed a long home run over the right-field bullpen at Tempe Diablo Stadium in the Wolves' successful Arizona 5-A state championship game. Kath looks the part of an old-school ballplayer, not using batting gloves at the plate and having a consistency to his game. He shows plus raw power with an at least average hit tool, using a nice, easy flat swing and having a plan at the plate. It's more gap-to-gap doubles power now with the ability to make adjustments and use all fields, but he's expected to grow into more over-the-fence pop with age and experience. Most scouts believe Kath will have to move off shortstop to a corner infield spot, as he lacks twitchiness and good footwork coupled with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Observers who think he has a chance to stay at shortstop point out the good instincts and ability to finish plays. He has a plus arm with good carry on his throws. Kath is a below-average runner but better underway. The consensus opinion is that he's a second-round talent, but there is speculation that with enough teams on him he could go before the end of the first round.