Chicago White Sox Top 10 Prospects

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TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Tim Anderson, ss
2. Carson Fulmer, rhp
3. Spencer Adams, rhp
4. Trey Michalczewski, 3b
5. Jacob May, of
6. Tyler Danish, rhp
7. Adam Engel, of
8. Jordan Guerrero, lhp
9. Courtney Hawkins, of
10. Corey Zangari, 1b

While the White Sox improved their record by three games in 2015, they didn’t come close to meeting preseason expectations and did not spend one day with a winning record after mid-May.

Chicago ended its season at 76-86 and on the outside of the postseason for the seventh straight year. What’s worse, the White Sox watched as yet another Central Division rival flew the American League pennant. The Royals represented the AL in the 2014 and 2015 World Series after the Tigers had done the same in 2012.

The White Sox positioned themselves for contention in 2015 based on a number of positive developments in 2014. Ace lefthander Chris Sale recorded his lowest ERA and highest strikeout rate, while Cuban import Jose Abreu mashed 36 homers and unanimously won the AL rookie of the year award. Meanwhile, the White Sox scored a potential coup in the 2014 draft when North Carolina State lefthander Carlos Rodon fell to them at No. 3 overall.

With a projected core of Sale, Abreu and hotshot rookie Rodon in place for 2015, general manager Rick Hahn aggressively pursued free agent talent, signing closer David Robertson, left fielder Melky Cabrera, first baseman Adam LaRoche and lefty reliever Zach Duke for a combined $128 million.

Hahn also traded four upper-level prospects to the Athletics for righthander Jeff Samardzija, and three of those prospects—shortstop Marcus Semien, righty Chris Bassitt and catcher Josh Phegley—served as regulars or semi-regulars in Oakland in 2015. Meanwhile, Samardzija bombed in Chicago, allowing the most hits, home runs and earned runs in the AL before leaving as a free agent to sign with the Giants.

The plan failed miserably. The five key imports contributed fewer than two wins above replacement (1.8) collectively in 2015—but they had help. The White Sox ranked last among AL teams in runs, home runs and slugging in 2015.

The club’s outlook for 2016 improved when Hahn orchestrated offseason trades for veteran third basemen Todd Frazier and Brett Lawrie, the latter of which is set to play second base.

Hahn sacrificed five prospects in the two trades, first sending lefthander Zack Erwin and reliever J.B. Wendelken to the Athletics for Lawrie, then parting with a trio of Top 10 Prospects—righthander Frankie Montas, outfielder Trayce Thompson and second baseman Micah Johnson—to acquire the Reds’ Frazier.

Chicago’s infield needed the talent infusion badly because it received the worst offensive production in the AL in 2015 at both second base (Carlos Sanchez) and third base (Tyler Saladino). Similarly, they addressed poor offensive production at catcher by signing free agents Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro to one-year contracts.

With a reconfigured lineup, a little luck and a rotation fronted by Sale, Rodon and Jose Quintana, the White Sox appear poised for a bounce-back season in 2016.

Last Year’s White Sox Top 10 Prospects

1. Tim Anderson, ss

SCOUTING GRADES
Batting: 60
Power: 50
Speed: 70
Defense: 55
Arm: 55
Based on 20-80 scouting scale—where 50 represents major league average—and future projection rather than present tools.

Born: June 23, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185. Drafted: East Central (Miss.) CC, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Warren Hughes.

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2015 Org.
2006	Bobby Jenks, rhp	Did not play
2007	Ryan Sweeney, of	Did not play
2008	Aaron Poreda, lhp	Yomiuri (Japan)
2009	Gordon Beckham, ss	White Sox
2010	Jared Mitchell, of	Angels
2011	Chris Sale, lhp	White Sox
2012	Addison Reed, rhp	Mets
2013	Courtney Hawkins, of	White Sox
2014	Jose Abreu, 1b	White Sox
2015	Carlos Rodon, lhp	White Sox

Background: Anderson focused on basketball at Hillcrest High in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and did not play baseball until his junior year, so he generated no interest from Division I programs. In fact, East Central (Miss.) CC extended the only offer, and he quickly made the Division II juco program look smart. Anderson hit .360 as a freshman and went 30-for-30 on stolen-base attempts, yet went unselected in the 2012 draft. He even hit .328 in the summer collegiate Jayhawk League, but still no team signed him as a nondrafted free agent. Anderson’s exploits became impossible to ignore in 2013, when he hit .495 with 10 homers and 41 steals in 53 games at ECCC to play his way into the first round of the draft. The White Sox selected him 17th overall and signed him for $2.164 million, and he logged 68 games at low Class A Kannapolis in his pro debut. Promoted to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2014, Anderson hit .297 with 31 extra-base hits in 68 games before fracturing his right wrist. When he returned from the disabled list two months later, Chicago pushed him to Double-A Birmingham for 10 games. He returned to the Southern League in 2015 and led the circuit with 160 hits, 79 runs and 49 stolen bases while placing third with a .312 average.

Scouting Report: Thanks to quick-twitch actions and supreme athleticism, Anderson has made incremental improvement each season despite a rapid promotion schedule. He stayed healthy in 2015 and showcased impressive bat speed and swing mechanics that allow him to turn on any fastball, which combined with an all-fields hitting approach and tendency to hit groundballs and line drives makes him a threat to hit .300. Anderson will leg out his share of doubles and triples thanks to double-plus speed, but he probably won’t hit more than 12-15 home runs based on his swing path. He showed more aggression and better instincts on the bases in 2015 and succeeded in 79 percent of his steal attempts. He likes to attack the first fastball he can handle, and few SL batters walked less frequently. Evaluators are warming to the idea that Anderson can play shortstop at the major league level. He improved his fielding percentage from .897 at Winston-Salem in 2014 to .952 at Birmingham in 2015 because he made fewer careless mistakes (though he led both leagues in errors by a shortstop). He makes his share of highlight-reel plays with above-average range and arm strength, but some evaluators ding him for not always playing the right hop and for not consistently converting throws from deep in the hole.

The Future: The White Sox believe that Anderson can play at least an average major league shortstop with continued repetitions and with better positioning. He may not profile as a table-setter in the lineup unless he improves his on-base ability, but he will factor offensively with his speed and ability to impact the ball. Anderson is ready for Triple-A Charlotte in 2016, though if he plays well, the White Sox might not be able to resist calling him up during the season.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Birmingham (AA)	.312	.350	.429	513	79	160	21	12	5	46	24	114	49

2. Carson Fulmer, rhp

Born: Dec. 13, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 205. Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2015 (1st round). Signed by: Phil Gulley. Video

Background: Fulmer served as an integral part of Vanderbilt’s top-rated 2013 recruiting class that also included Dansby Swanson and Walker Buehler. That trio guided the Commodores to the College World Series title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2015, and all three went in the first round of the 2015 draft. Fulmer, the most dominant starter on Vandy’s CWS teams, landed with the White Sox at No. 8 overall and signed for $3,470,600.

Scouting Report: Fulmer throws two plus pitches, beginning with a 92-95 mph fastball that has reached 97 and often concluding with a power curveball that scrapes the low 80s. He flashed an effective changeup in college but needs to throw it more. While many scouts see Fulmer as a starter, others project him to the bullpen, where he began his Vanderbilt career, because he lacks command and his quick, jumpy delivery features enough effort to inhibit control. He also is considered short for a righthanded starter at about 6 feet, but he has a sturdy lower half and maintains his velocity late into games.

The Future: Fulmer could join fellow White Sox first-round college starters Chris Sale (2010) and Carlos Rodon (2014) in the big league rotation, possibly by 2017 if he can iron out his command and reach his ceiling as a No. 2 or 3 starter.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
AZL White Sox (R)	0	0	0.00	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	.333
Winston-Salem (Hi A)	0	0	2.05	8	8	0	0	22	16	2	9	25	.205

3. Spencer Adams, rhp

Born: April 13, 1996. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 171. Drafted: HS—Cleveland, Ga., 2014 (2nd round). Signed by: Kevin Burrell. Video

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2015 Org.
2006	Kyle McCulloch, rhp	Did not play
2007	Aaron Poreda, lhp	Yomiuri (Japan)
2008	Gordon Beckham, ss	White Sox
2009	Jared Mitchell, of	Angels
2010	Chris Sale, lhp	White Sox
2011	Keenyn Walker, of (1st rd supp.)	White Sox
2012	Courtney Hawkins, of	White Sox
2013	Tim Anderson, ss	White Sox
2014	Carlos Rodon, lhp	White Sox
2015	Carson Fulmer, rhp	White Sox

Background: Fortune smiled on the White Sox in the 2014 draft when lefthander Carlos Rodon fell to them at No. 3 overall and Adams, a first-round talent, slipped to them in the second round. Rodon ascended quickly to the majors in 2015, while Adams went 12-5, 2.99 in 24 starts at two Class A levels with a walk rate of 1.3 per nine innings that ranked 14th best among qualified minor league starters.

Scouting Report: Adams found more velocity as a high school senior, which paired nicely with his pre-existing control and feel for two offspeed pitches. Amateur scouts regularly clocked Adams at 93-95 mph, but he pitched more at 89-91 at low Class A Kannapolis in 2015 as he grew accustomed to a pro workload. He already spots his fastball well to both sides of the plate, but he needs a bit more cut on the pitch or improved secondary offerings to combat lefthanders. Adams’ slider drew plus grades from scouts out of high school, but he didn’t always have that same power in 2015. His changeup has average potential, but he needs to throw it more to gain confidence.

The Future: Adams will make leg work and nutrition his offseason priorities in an effort to gain a tick or two of velocity. He should have no trouble making the high Class A Winston-Salem rotation in 2016 as he chases his future as a potential No. 3 or 4 starter.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Kannapolis (Lo A)	9	5	3.24	19	19	1	0	100	111	7	11	73	.275
Winston-Salem (Hi A)	3	0	2.15	5	5	0	0	29	31	1	7	23	.267

4. Trey Michalczewski, 3b

Born: Feb. 27, 1995. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 210. Drafted: HS—Jenks, Okla., 2013 (7th round). Signed by: Clay Overcash. Video

Background: The top prep talent from Oklahoma in the 2013 draft, Michalczewski slipped to the seventh round but still commanded third-round money ($500,000). The young switch-hitter exudes athleticism and still has room in his 6-foot-3 frame to grow into more power. Playing for high Class A Winston-Salem in 2015, he ranked second in the Carolina League with 35 doubles.

Scouting Report: Michalczewski’s future hinges on his bat. His swing features a slight uppercut and produces leveraged, above-average power from both sides of the plate. He has made more contact (23 percent strikeouts) and hit for more power (.144 isolated slugging) from the left side in full-season ball, but he’s not a slap hitter from the right side by any means—he just doesn’t make as much contact. The White Sox expect him to spray the ball around and recognize pitches well enough to hit .270 with on-base skills and 15-20 homers. While not a natural at third base, Michalczewski has sound hands, a strong arm and enough range to project to average at the position. He just needs to improve his footwork to improve throwing accuracy. He’s not a factor on the bases.

The Future: Michalczewski will advance to Double-A Birmingham as a 21-year-old in 2016 and could enter the big league picture in 2018, just as veteran Todd Frazier, whom the White Sox acquired from the Reds in December, is set to depart as a free agent.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Winston-Salem (Hi A)	.259	.335	.395	474	59	123	35	4	7	75	50	114	4

5. Jacob May, of

Born: Jan. 23, 1992. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 180. Drafted: Coastal Carolina, 2013 (3rd round). Signed by: Kevin Burrell.

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Jose Abreu, 2013		$10,000,000
Carlos Rodon, 2014		$6,582,000
Joe Borchard, 2000		$5,300,000
Dayan Vicideo, 2008		$4,000,000
Carson Fulmer, 2015		$3,470,600

Background: May more resembles his father Lee Jr., a 1986 first-round pick who reached Triple-A as a speed-oriented switch-hitter, than his grandfather Lee Sr., an all-star first baseman who mashed 354 big league home runs. He stole 37 bases at Double-A Birmingham in 2015, ranking second in the Southern League only to teammate Tim Anderson. Incidentally, the two players collided while chasing a popup in early June, and May missed two months with a concussion.

Scouting Report: May’s double-plus speed has played in pro ball. He’s a menace on the basepaths because he reads pitchers well and takes good walking leads, and he has the quick acceleration to glide to the ball in center field, where he grades as a plus defender. His arm plays as fringe-average. A switch-hitter, May impacts the ball more and draws more walks as a righthanded batter, while he focuses more on contact from the left side. When he’s on time with his stride, he looks like an above-average hitter, and he bolsters his on-base skills with the occasional bunt hit and a healthy walk rate. He has well below-average power and focuses on hitting the ball on the ground.

The Future: May recorded a .359 on-base percentage with 25 steals in 52 games prior to suffering a concussion, suggesting he could eventually fill a table-setting role. With such limited power, though, a reserve role also is possible.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Birmingham (AA)	.275	.329	.334	389	47	107	15	1	2	32	29	73	37

6. Tyler Danish, rhp

Born: Sept. 12, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Plant City, Fla., 2013 (2nd round). Signed by: Joe Siers.

Background: Mental toughness drew the White Sox to Danish, a physical, 6-foot righthander who did not allow a run as a prep senior. His father died of colon cancer in 2010 while serving a prison sentence for fraud, so he has more perspective than his peers. Chicago pushed Danish to Double-A Birmingham in 2015, where at age 20 he worked as the Southern League’s youngest starter.

Scouting Report: Danish throws the best changeup in the system, and the pitch receives a double-plus grade from some scouts for its late, split-like action. Danish pitches at 89-91 mph and tops out at 93, generating ferocious sink on a fastball he delivers from a low three-quarters arm slot. He induces a high groundball rate, so a strong infield defense is important to his success. The White Sox expected Danish to develop more velocity as he matured, but that hasn’t materialized. His upper-70s slider shows average potential on some nights, giving him a chance for three pitches, though his control and command need to improve after allowing the most home runs (13) and the highest opponent average (.311) in the SL.

The Future: Danish seeks early-count groundball contact with his sinker and has a ceiling of back-end starter or groundball-oriented reliever. Some in the organization view him as a future seventh- or eighth-inning bullpen arm.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Birmingham (AA)	8	12	4.50	26	26	2	0	142	175	13	60	90	.311

7. Adam Engel, of

Born: Dec. 9, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 215. Drafted: Louisville, 2013 (19th round). Signed by: Phil Gulley. Video

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average	Tim Anderson
Best Power Hitter	Courtney Hawkins
Best Strike-Zone Discipline	Jake Peter
Fastest Baserunner	Adam Engel
Best Athlete	Tim Anderson
Best Fastball	Robin Leyer
Best Curveball	Carson Fulmer
Best Slider	Jordan Guerrero
Best Changeup	Tyler Danish
Best Control	Spencer Adams
Best Defensive Catcher	Seby Zavala
Best Defensive Infielder	Cleluis Rondon
Best Infield Arm	Trey Michalczewski
Best Defensive Outfielder	Adam Engel
Best Outfield Arm	Courtney Hawkins

Background: Engel hit just .265 with two home runs in three years at Louisville, but his speed-and-defense potential enticed the White Sox such that they ponied up $100,000 to sign the 19th-round pick. He adjusted his hand positioning at Rookie-level Great Falls in 2013 to improve his bat path and handle the inside pitch, and the work paid off at high Class A Winston-Salem in 2015, when Engel led the Carolina League with 65 stolen bases and 90 runs—but also 132 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Just two minor league players stole more bases than Engel in 2015, and his speed grades at the very top of the scale. He uses his wheels judiciously to steal bases, drop down bunt hits and chase down flyballs as a plus defensive center fielder. He even has tick above-average raw power and arm strength. The only tool that could keep Engel from reaching his ceiling is his feel to hit. His swing features a hitch and can be a bit rigid and lengthy, thus he tends to cheat on fastballs and can be retired on offspeed stuff. Pitch recognition and understanding his swing will help Engel maximize his potential to be an average big league hitter.

The Future: Engel’s strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, which he led in batting (.403), on-base percentage (.523) and slugging (.642), will propel him to Double-A Birmingham in 2016. He could fit as an extra outfielder if he doesn’t improve his feel to hit.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Winston-Salem (Hi A)	.251	.335	.369	529	90	133	23	9	7	43	62	132	65

8. Jordan Guerrero, lhp

Born: May 31, 1994. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Moorpark, Calif., 2012 (15th round). Signed by: Gary Woods.

Background: As a lefthander with average velocity and feel for secondary pitches, Guerrero commanded $100,000 as a 15th-round pick out of high school in 2012. Shoulder issues stymied his first two pro seasons, but he began to shine with a managed workload in 2014, finishing the year in the low Class A Kannapolis rotation. Guerrero backed up that performance in 2015 by leading the White Sox system with 148 strikeouts.

Scouting Report: Guerrero works fast and throws strikes with three pitches. His 90-91 mph fastball bumps 93 and plays up because of plus life and deception. His plus, 76-80 mph changeup is his go-to secondary weapon with excellent fading action off the barrel of righthanded batters. He changed the way he threw his changeup in 2015, using more of a two-seam fastball release and mentality, rather than pronating his wrist in the traditional fashion. It now features more drop as a result, and he’s unafraid to double-up on the pitch. Guerrero throws a slurvy slider that gained more consistent power in 2015 and now grades as at least average. The White Sox say that Guerrero grew up in 2015 and began to take instruction.

The Future: As a three-pitch lefty who can miss bats and throw strikes with his entire arsenal, Guerrero has No. 4 starter potential as he advances to Double-A Birmingham in 2016.

2015 Club (Class)	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Kannapolis (Lo A)	6	1	2.28	9	9	0	0	55	42	1	10	60	.214
Winston-Salem (Hi A)	7	3	3.56	16	16	0	0	94	82	6	21	88	.240

9. Courtney Hawkins, of

Born: Nov. 12, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 230. Drafted: HS—Corpus Christi, Texas, 2012 (1st round). Signed by: Keith Staab. Video

PROJECTED 2019 LINEUP
Catcher	Alex Avila
First Base	Todd Frazier
Second Base	Brett Lawrie
Third Base	Trey Michalczewski
Shortstop	Tim Anderson
Left Field	Jacob May
Center Field	Adam Eaton
Right Field	Adam Engel
Designated Hitter	Jose Abreu
No. 1 Starter	Chris Sale
No. 2 Starter	Carlos Rodon
No. 3 Starter	Carson Fulmer
No. 4 Starter	Jose Quintana
No. 5 Starter	Spencer Adams
Closer	David Robertson

Background: Following his selection at No. 13 overall in 2012, Hawkins back-flipped his way into draft lore with an acrobatic backward somersault on the MLB Network telecast. The White Sox rushed him to high Class A Winston-Salem as a 19-year-old in 2013, where he hit .178 with 38 percent strikeouts, but he improved at the level in 2014, ranking second in the Carolina League with 19 homers.

Scouting Report: Hawkins continued to hit for big power at Double-A Birmingham in 2015 as one of the Southern League’s youngest regulars, though he was limited to 78 games by an early finger injury and then in August by plantar fasciitis in his left foot that ruled out an assignment to the Arizona Fall League. By all accounts, he improved his diet, conditioning and maturity level in 2015 under the influence of Barons manager Julio Vinas and teammates Tim Anderson and Jacob May. Hawkins has huge power to his pull side and can punish any fastball with plus bat speed. Swinging at strikes will be the key to unlocking his potential, but he’s not yet discerning enough at the plate to let breaking balls off the plate go. Hawkins has decent arm strength—he also pitched in high school—but below-average speed and range that will limit him to left field.

The Future: Hawkins showed up at 2015 instructional league with a new attitude while he rehabbed his foot injury, and that could serve him well as he repeats the SL in 2016.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Birmingham (AA)	.243	300	.410	300	39	73	19	2	9	41	20	100	1

10. Corey Zangari, 1b

Born: May 7, 1997. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 240. Drafted: HS—Midwest City, Okla., 2015 (6th round). Signed by: Clay Overcash.

Background: An intriguing but flawed two-way prospect in high school, Zangari played his way off the mound with poor control, while his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame limited him at catcher. The White Sox bought his potential as a righthanded-hitting first baseman and made him their first position-player selection in the 2015 draft.

Scouting Report: Zangari excelled in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his debut, ranking among the circuit’s leaders with a .323 average (seventh), six home runs (fourth) and a .169 isolated slugging percentage (eighth). He impressed AZL observers with loose hitting actions, wicked bat speed and a repeatable, leveraged swing that should produce plus power. He will need to tighten his strike-zone judgment to hit for average, though he improved his contact rate during his debut summer after reducing pre-swing movement in his setup that had caused his head to move. Zangari has more than enough arm strength for first base—he hit 95 mph as a prep pitcher—but every other aspect of his defensive play needs considerable refinement. He’s a well below-average runner with limited range.

The Future: The White Sox love Zangari’s hitting potential and work ethic, so don’t be surprised to see him at low Class A Kannapolis in 2016.

2015 Club (Class)	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
AZL White Sox (R)	.323	.356	.492	195	29	63	13	1	6	40	11	49	1
Great Falls (R)	.235	.381	.353	17	0	4	2	0	0	1	3	3	0