White Sox Draft Pick Caleb Bonemer Works To Level His Swing
Last year, the White Sox fielded one of their most talented Area Code Games teams that scouts can remember.
The high school prospect all-star team culled players from 17 Midwestern states and included eight players who would become top-five-rounds picks in the 2024 draft, including White Sox second-round shortstop Caleb Bonemer from Okemos High in Michigan.
Bonemer put together an impressive showing at both Area Codes and Perfect Game National events in 2023. This year, the White Sox selected the 6-foot-1, 195-pound righthanded hitter with the 43rd overall pick and went well over slot to sign him for nearly $3 million.
“It was huge for me because, actually, the summer before I was hurt and couldn’t play at all,” Bonemer said. “Last summer really kind of put me on the radar. Being able to play against the top competition, we don’t always see that up here in Michigan.”
Scouts like the power and ready-made feel to pull and loft the ball that Bonemer offers at 18 years old, but they question whether his swing has the fluidity to compete against premium velocity on his hands.
The self-aware Bonemer has already been at work to answer questions about his hit tool.
“I’m working on flattening out my swing a little bit, and sometimes I have the tendency to stride a little bit too far,” Bonemer said. “Definitely high-velo fastballs up in the zone—just being able to get on plane with that earlier (will help).
“Because, before, I was super uphill.”
As Bonemer’s body matures, most—including the White Sox—forecast a move to third base. But for now, they plan to give Bonemer regular reps at shortstop as he spends the rest of the season playing in a bridge league at the Arizona complex.
“He’s so young and athletic and he’s already exhibited some baseball IQ that leads me to believe he’s going to be able to play short for a little while,” White Sox farm director Paul Janish said.
“Am I going to promise you that he’s going to play short in the major leagues? No. But he’s going to have to prove to us that he can’t.”
CHI-LITES
• In addition to Chicago 2024 second-rounder Caleb Bonemer, last year’s White Sox Area Code Games team also included first-rounder Slade Caldwell from Arkansas and supplemental first-rounder JD Dix from Wisconsin. Both were drafted by the D-backs. Other Midwestern prep standouts on that ACG team who were drafted in the top five rounds in 2024 were Tyson Lewis and Kale Fountain from Nebraska, Ryan Sloan and Tyler Bell from Illinois, Joey Oakie from Iowa and Owen Hall from Oklahoma.
