White Sox’s Javier Mogollon Is Short, But Not Short On Power
Javier Mogollon is short.
Viewed in person, the 18-year-old shortstop’s 5-foot-8 listed height scans as generous. And his strikeout rate in the Arizona Complex League—tracking north of 40% at the end of June—was untenable even despite his youth.
Because of Mogollon’s size and arm, a move to second base is widely projected, which puts more emphasis on his bat.
But with his frenetic style of play, Mogollon stands out from the pack in Rookie ball the way any prospect should.
“I was always known as the kid who came out to play hard and played with lots of energy,” Mogollon said via interpreter.
“That kid has too many tools,” joked ACL White Sox manager Danny Gonzalez. “I don’t think he has five. He has more than that.”
Mogollon’s stature belies his well-developed forearms, hinting at the power that allowed him to hit 15 home runs across the Dominican Summer League and ACL the past two seasons before reaching 80 career games.
He lacks elite run times, yet Mogollon quickly and relentlessly gets up to top speed. He was 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts through 29 games this year, while hitting .212/.361/.444.
The White Sox signed Mogollon out of Venezuela in 2023. The biggest question he faces is his hitting ability.
He recently added a prominent leg kick to his swing. At first blush, it looks like a commitment to a power-over-hit approach, but Mogollon feels this loading action is aiding his pitch recognition.
“The key for me is just making sure that the step down is in the right timing window, but that approach has helped me identify and capitalize on pitches,” Mogollon said.
The early returns were a dramatic departure from his previous no-stride swing. His strikeout rate will need to fall sharply—and soon. But when he makes contact, Mogollon impacts the game in a manner that merits watching.
CHI-LITES
- Also at the organization’s Arizona complex was last year’s 12th-round pick Mathias LaCombe. The righthander was born in France and attended Cochise JC in Arizona before he signed with Chicago for $450,000. LaCombe has been sidelined with a lat strain but expects to return to game action in July.
