Back on the farm

[Mingo]

White Sox prospect update: Checking in on Jared Kelley, Jonathan Stiever, Yoelqui Céspedes and more

White Sox assistant GM Chris Getz discusses a group of White Sox prospects to keep an eye on.

theathletic.com

Giving the Athletic a little free publicity here from behind the paywall. Top future pitchers are getting straightened out - lots of minor league strength in the middle infield:

White Sox prospect update: Checking in on Jared Kelley, Jonathan Stiever, Yoelqui Céspedes and more​

By James Fegan Aug 5, 2021

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The White Sox turned strong years from Konnor Pilkington and Bailey Horn into deals for César Hernández and Ryan Tepera last week, but much of their farm system could be discussed along similar lines as 2019 second-round pick Matthew Thompson. The full-season assignment for the 20-year-old right-hander at Low-A Kannapolis was challenging. The surface-level numbers (6.47 ERA, 12.6 percent walk rate) are unappetizing. But the real focus is how he closes the final six weeks.
“We knew that their first full season wasn’t going to be smooth sailing or necessarily up to perhaps even their expectations,” said assistant general manager Chris Getz. “It was really about how they finished and the last two months of their season, certainly more important than their first two months. And to see Matt put together a couple quality starts here recently has been really encouraging.”
Thompson returned from the injured list for a hip flexor issue in July, and his last two starts have seen him allow just a solo home run over 11 innings, striking out a batter per frame while issuing just one walk, as his velocity trended into the mid-90s. The White Sox would prefer all their pitching prospects to have pristine hip flexors, and 2019 third-round pick Andrew Dalquist‘s season attests that they don’t need IL stints to manage workloads. But as they’ve implored Thompson to involve his changeup earlier in his game plan, Getz found a silver lining in Thompson taking a mid-season break to observe how other pitchers work through their outings.
And it doesn’t take long to glean that Thompson has probably watched more than his teammates, and mixed in a Marcus Stroman start or two. With his red socks regularly hiked up to his knees, Thompson seems to love pausing in his delivery like Stroman and balancing on his back leg with his front foot frozen in the air, just to throw off opposing hitters trying to time him up. Since Thompson’s early years in the organization were focused on riding his back leg to improve his four-seam fastball ride, it’s a welcome skill, even if it’s not something that’s precisely taught.
“It speaks to his athleticism, and then also the understanding of how to help his attack against hitters,” Getz said. “We do like building a foundational consistent delivery. However, we want Matthew to be confident, to be himself out there. So from time to time, when he alters his timing, we’re OK with it. And we’ve reached a point where we feel like he’s really about to take off here.”
In his return from an IL stint for forearm soreness, 2020 second-round pick Jared Kelley does not have the same level of momentum apparent in his results. The 19-year-old’s best outing to date was the three scoreless innings he threw in late May before his injury, and with his 22 walks in 18 2/3 innings this year spiking his ERA, the focus is more on the raw elements the Sox are trying to build out in Kelley’s first real professional season. Already in possession of what scouts view as a plus changeup, Getz says the biggest focus for Kelley has been sharpening a reliable slider, which he is also trying to pair with a more consistent shape on his 95-97 mph fastball. Right now, Kelley’s fastball does a lot of different things, and the Sox are getting him to be in more control of what it does and where he targets it in the zone, and for which purpose.
“It’s more of a natural running fastball,” Getz said. “That’s connected a bit to his arm stroke and the consistency of his arm stroke. If you look at the axis of his fastball, it’ll fluctuate at times. When he locks it in, it’s pretty good and more of a riding fastball than a running fastball. But as his career progresses, I could see Jared as a guy that uses multiple fastballs, perhaps like a Lance Lynn-type. But as we want to continue to build a strong foundation, we’re trying to simplify things.”

After an IL stint, Jared Kelley is working to find his form in his first full professional season. (USA Baseball)
The most encouraging point of Dalquist’s season might have come Wednesday afternoon, as he struck out a career-high eight over 4 2/3 innings, with Baseball America’s Josh Norris reporting that he touched the 97 mph velocity band that he was touted as having the projectable frame for, but is flashing for the first time. For a first professional season, Dalquist taking the ball on schedule 16 times this year and staying healthy as his innings and pitch count have slowly ratcheted up might be one of his biggest accomplishments. As with the other members of this prep pitcher trio, 34 walks in 55 1/3 innings have discolored his ERA (5.53), but Dalquist’s athleticism and repeatable motion give him a specific toolset to believe this should be a temporary ailment as the Sox work with him on a number of delivery cues.
“He walks into this season with four quality pitches, and you can project those to be quality pitches not only in Kannapolis, but as a major leaguer,” Getz said. “He has been probably the most consistent amongst that trio, but we know there’s more in there. Drew is a very, very sharp kid. Very determined, asks a lot of questions. Always, always listening, and now it’s about applying all that information.”

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Look at Jonathan Stiever‘s strikeouts (27.2 percent) and walks (8.6 percent) at Triple-A Charlotte, and it’s easy to imagine an alternate world where the 24-year-old is providing pitching depth to the major league club rather than representing another arm the Sox believe is better than his surface numbers (6.05 ERA). Between the oddities of bouncing between the alternate site, the taxi squad, a relief outing as the 27th man, and having the bandbox of Truist Field as a home stadium at Triple A, Getz is looking beyond 12 home runs allowed in 64 minor league innings.
“Jonathan’s had a very solid season in a very unusual year,” Getz said. “Thankfully, there’s some necessary adjusted numbers that help us in a ballpark like Charlotte, that you see some very encouraging signs. And we’ve certainly seen what we’ve seen in the past from Jonathan Stiever, when he was in A-ball.”
Acknowledging it could be next year or even still this one when Stiever next has the opportunity to help the White Sox, Getz said he’s “very confident” that he will prove to be a major league starter despite a strange progression since dominating the Carolina League in 2019. Since that breakout, Stiever has not experienced the straight-line path of progressing through Double A, but Getz points to the raw ingredients, including his 2019 mid-90s velocity returning.
“You look at the fastball, you look at the slider, the way the consistency of the curveball continues to get better where it was a little shaky early on, and there’s days when the changeup’s been solid as well,” Getz said. “The repertoire is there. He’s a physical kid, loves to compete, has four pitches. He’s a major league starter.”

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[Mingo]

This is not a knock on first-round pick Colson Montgomery, who as scouting director Mike Shirley explained last week, is seen by the White Sox as having more upside than his age would suggest due to his relative lack of baseball reps. But Cuban-born infielder Bryan Ramos is younger than Montgomery, which colors how the Sox feel about the 19-year-old being able to scrape together a .241/.350/.403 line in his first full-season assignment, even if it’s come in an up-and-down fashion while playing at third and second base.
“You’ve got a player that you can really dream on,” said Getz. “He makes good swing decisions. He’s got the ability to get on base. He’s got raw power. He’s got game power. Now if we can be consistent with his approach, we’ll keep his swing mechanics in line, you’ve got a guy that’s going to find the gaps, he’s going to run into his home runs and he’s going to put together an overall quality at-bat.”
The initial plans for Yoelqui Céspedes had the 23-year-old heading to Double-A Birmingham to start the season. But those plans did not involve Céspedes’ work visa situation keeping him from heading to an affiliate until mid-June, or a shoulder issue relegating him to designated hitter duty for another month after that. Instead, he’s spent 37 games to date getting his feet wet at High-A Winston-Salem, where a high strikeout rate (29.6 percent) has encouraged the idea of giving him time to get settled against lesser competition. A .328 batting average with seven extra-base hits over his last 13 games suggests Céspedes is becoming acclimated, and Getz did not rule out him making it to Birmingham at some point before the end of 2021.
“You’ll see flashes of an impact player,” Getz said, praising Céspedes’ instincts on defense and on the bases. “He’ll drive balls to right-center, he’ll pull balls correctly. He hits the ball very hard. We’ve got some adjustments that need to be made within his swing to be more consistent throughout the zone with how pitchers attack him. Without question, we know that he has the ability to do that, based on just the makeup of the kid and the athleticism of the player.”

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There is another Cuban signing that Getz believes has been beneficial for 21-year-old Venezuelan infielder Lenyn Sosa. Twenty-four-year-old infielder Yolbert Sánchez has since been promoted to Double-A Birmingham (and started very hot there), but while he was still in Winston-Salem, Getz believes his use of his lower half to swing “with intent,” rubbed off on Sosa, whose previous calling card was a ton of contact but not much power. Sánchez’s own aggression will need to be curbed a bit at the higher levels and is not the perfect model. But with a bit more aggression and leverage on display, Sosa has already set a new career-high with nine home runs and is hitting .283/.311/.428 while mixing in at both up-the-middle positions. Sosa’s strikeouts have ticked up this year and he’s yet to be a dominant force at any professional stop yet, but showing an expanded offensive toolkit after a mostly lost 2020 season offers some confidence about him realizing a utilityman role.
“As he continues to get older and mature and gain confidence in the box, he’ll pick his spots to be able to drive the ball to the pull side,” Getz said. “I think we’ll see even more gap power and home run power. And once again, you put that on top of a player that has the ability to play shortstop, second base and third base, you’re encouraged and you get excited.”

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Behind Sosa in Kannapolis is 20-year-old José Rodriguez, who at .287/.331/.455, has been arguably the most consistent hitter on that extremely young and talented roster. Getz tabbed Rodriguez as a player to watch ahead of the season, and three months later, his affection for the flinty middle infielder has not dissipated.
“He’s fearless,” Getz said. “Every time I’m either at a game or watching his game, he leads off the game with a rocket. He brings such energy to his team. He just plays with a sense of passion that I believe is infectious to the organization.”
The 21 errors charged to Rodriguez are the primary knock on him at this stage, and any need to move off of the position would challenge his power — which is impressive given his small frame — to play more consistently to all fields going forward. But Getz views Rodriguez’s errors as largely the product of mechanical issues with his throwing motion that have since been corrected. As long as he can continue to stick at shortstop, Rodriguez should quickly rise as one of the more compelling prospects in the organization, if he’s not there already
“He’s got arm strength and really it was just a matter of syncing up his lower half with his upper half, and getting his arm swing consistent,” Getz said.

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At the risk of suggesting that Getz has some sort of type, the emergence of 24-year-old former 18th-round pick Romy Gonzalez as someone to watch as a shortstop/utilityman draws a similar tenor of praise. As a college junior who spent his draft year at the now non-affiliated rookie-level Great Falls, and posting underwhelming numbers while spending his entire 2019 at Low-A Kannapolis, Gonzalez has been old for his level through his professional career. But when you hit .262/.355/.480 with 16 home runs in a park as cavernous as Regions Field in Birmingham, it is still notable, especially when it comes after Gonzalez was challenged to play shortstop on a more regular basis.
“Romy has really put himself on the map,” Getz said. “There’s always just a short list of players that take giant leaps within the organization and I believe Romy is one of those players.”

Romy Gonzalez has been a versatile player at Kannapolis. (Brian Westerholt / Four Seam Images via AP)
Gonzalez has played every defensive position in the organization at some point besides pitching and catching, but the commitment to him at shortstop began during 2019 instructional league, which Getz believes spurred Gonzalez’s confidence and commitment. That has continued to show up as Gonzalez got himself in shape over the pandemic, and emerged offensively despite being assigned to a traditional pitcher’s park for 2021. Because of the reputation of utilitymen, Getz doesn’t want to make it sound like he’s selling Gonzalez’s offense short by preparing him for a multi-position role. He’s just being realistic, and believes Gonzalez’s value will come from providing viable at-bats from all over the diamond.
“He’s a real offensive force,” Getz said. “He’s got tremendous bat speed and strength to all fields. He makes good swing decisions and it’s beginning to pay off. The kid is rock solid, he shows up every day with a major league mindset.”

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All these shortstops and utilitymen at the lower levels will need to make room at some point for Montgomery and 2021 second-round pick Wes Kath. Montgomery’s primary goal is shortstop and Kath’s primary focus is third base, but they will also alternate between those two positions and try out some second base as well — be it occasionally or as part of the organization’s dedicated effort toward defensive flexibility.
Having just completed a draftee minicamp in Birmingham, the 2021 class is headed to Arizona to be slowly woven into the Arizona Complex League. With no Great Falls roster to fill out, a later draft producing a longer layoff for many players, and a 180-player minor league roster cap to consider when deploying talent, Getz is not rushing anything. But he’s not ruling out some 2021 draftees playing full-season ball over the final six weeks either.
“There will be a handful of players that will work their way to Kannapolis,” he said, “but that’ll be a very, very small group.”

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

First off Mingo, thanks for the free read from your paid subscription to The Athletic. That's a fairly detailed analysis regarding most of our key youngins. And my takeaway from it is we have an even wider gap between the prospects who have graduated to the parent club vs any help coming down the road from our current batch, than I previously anticipated. At this point, the bright spots appear to be few and far between. Granted, the analysis was focusing largely on our younger, less experienced prospects, with Jonathan Stiever being the lone exception. So perhaps I shouldn't be reading too much into it. After all, they're still developing. But nonetheless, I remain a bit non-plussed reviewing the early goings on of Jared Kelley and to a less extent, Matthew Thompson, my two favorite minor league pitchers, who are the ones for which I otherwise hold out the highest hopes.

 

[Mingo]

First off Mingo, thanks for the free read from your paid subscription to The Athletic. That's a fairly detailed analysis regarding most of our key youngins. And my takeaway from it is we have an even wider gap between the prospects who have graduated to the parent club vs any help coming down the road from our current batch, than I previously anticipated. At this point, the bright spots appear to be few and far between. Granted, the analysis was focusing largely on our younger, less experienced prospects, with Jonathan Stiever being the lone exception. So perhaps I shouldn't be reading too much into it. After all, they're still developing. But nonetheless, I remain a bit non-plussed reviewing the early goings on of Jared Kelley and to a less extent, Matthew Thompson, my two favorite minor league pitchers, who are the ones for which I otherwise hold out the highest hopes.

The context for the youngest pitchers - is they got drafted out of HS - did some developmental league stuff their draft year and than lost a year to Covid. In Low A Kanny the sox field their best prospects as teenagers against opponents who are two and three years older than they are. So new experience - long layoff - older competition - high expectations - the kids got thrown into a sink or swim. In past years the Sox would have a rookie team for these guys to start in - they were consciously started high as a challenge. What is interesting now is that they young pitchers are responding to the coaching and having better outings. The Sox four top prospect pitchers are 19-20 years old right now. They could be in AA and threatening AAA in their 22-23 year. They are 2-3 years away. 5th round draftee HS Righthy - Tanner McDougal will be a sensation as he has a 3,000 spin rate on his fast ball - and 2,400 on his slider - which would be elite in the majors today.

Three kids in the minors - closer to the White Sox regular season roster are - Cade McClure (the guy the Sox choose to keep over Pilkington), Lambert and Stiever. The Cuban signing Norge Vera RP is in the Dominican league - because once you get your bonus from the White Sox - you have to wait a year before you come to work in the US or they will tax your bonus. So Vera is pitching in the DR for US Tax reasons. All these guys are a control issue or a better slider away from the majors. The Sox also drafted some decent college pitching talent The Sox drafted 3 college seniors (older guys) who are pitchers Sean Burke - Taylor Broadway - and Brooks Goshwein who had good college production, but got draft late because they were older 22-23-24 year old guys. This Bunch of draftees will get shots at the majors before the guys just out of HS at Kanny.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, being the Sox Top 30 prospects list was recently published.

White Sox Top Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Some immediate observations:

*None of our prospects have cracked the MLB Top 100 rankings. Raise your hand if you're surprised by this. ***Looking around, not seeing any raised hands***
*The two most recent picks from the 2021 draft have immediately vaulted into the #1 and #4 slots, respectively. It's both impressive and pathetic at the same time.
*That Jake Burger, at the ancient prospect age of 25, remains as such indicates much less that he can't make it in the bigs, because he performed well during his brief stay with the parent club. It's more that where he can play is already crowded. To me, he and Gavin Sheets are likely the top two trade baits for the Sox, should such a transaction mandate.
*Players moving sideways or even backwards in their standings within the organization: Jonathan Stiever, Jimmy Lambert, Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, being the Sox Top 30 prospects list was recently published.

White Sox Top Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Some immediate observations:

*None of our prospects have cracked the MLB Top 100 rankings. Raise your hand if you're surprised by this. ***Looking around, not seeing any raised hands***
*The two most recent picks from the 2021 draft have immediately vaulted into the #1 and #4 slots, respectively. It's both impressive and pathetic at the same time.
*That Jake Burger, at the ancient prospect age of 25, remains as such indicates much less that he can't make it in the bigs, because he performed well during his brief stay with the parent club. It's more that where he can play is already crowded. To me, he and Gavin Sheets are likely the top two trade baits for the Sox, should such a transaction mandate.
*Players moving sideways or even backwards in their standings within the organization: Jonathan Stiever, Jimmy Lambert, Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford

Adolfo seems like our 'forever prospect'. Pretty much the same with Rutherford. Was hoping those two would flourish and be in the same 'trade bait' category as Sheets and Burger as you mentioned.

 

[Mingo]

Adolfo seems like our 'forever prospect'. Pretty much the same with Rutherford. Was hoping those two would flourish and be in the same 'trade bait' category as Sheets and Burger as you mentioned.

Adolfo has the power stroke the Sox wanted - he has a top arm and can play D, but KOs over 30% of the time.

I remember seasons where the Sox would think a guy like that would be good for them to play on a budget and cross their fingers he can cut down on his KOs.

 

[Mingo]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread, being the Sox Top 30 prospects list was recently published.

White Sox Top Prospects

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

www.mlb.com

Some immediate observations:

*None of our prospects have cracked the MLB Top 100 rankings. Raise your hand if you're surprised by this. ***Looking around, not seeing any raised hands***
*The two most recent picks from the 2021 draft have immediately vaulted into the #1 and #4 slots, respectively. It's both impressive and pathetic at the same time.
*That Jake Burger, at the ancient prospect age of 25, remains as such indicates much less that he can't make it in the bigs, because he performed well during his brief stay with the parent club. It's more that where he can play is already crowded. To me, he and Gavin Sheets are likely the top two trade baits for the Sox, should such a transaction mandate.
*Players moving sideways or even backwards in their standings within the organization: Jonathan Stiever, Jimmy Lambert, Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford.

What does Gavin Sheets need to do? #6? LOL

 

[Mingo]

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

www.milb.com

Romy Gonzalez has been a very bright spot in the White Sox Minors - with a 23 hr 22SB season - and become a hitting machine in AAA Charlotte. He has played 2nd, 3rd and CF in the minors.

I mention Romy because he might have a shot at 2nd base next season - or as a guy like Leuery who can play the OF and infield positions. Or - he might be trade bait for a guy like Mitch Hanigar who only has a year on his contract, but would solve the RF problem.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

www.milb.com

Romy Gonzalez has been a very bright spot in the White Sox Minors - with a 23 hr 22SB season - and become a hitting machine in AAA Charlotte. He has played 2nd, 3rd and CF in the minors.

I mention Romy because he might have a shot at 2nd base next season - or as a guy like Leuery who can play the OF and infield positions. Or - he might be trade bait for a guy like Mitch Hanigar who only has a year on his contract, but would solve the RF problem.

Could be excellent timing, assuming the kid can make the leap from AAA to the bigs. While we can't rule out Garcia coming back for another season with the Good Guys, my guess is he will test the market and likely sign with another ballclub. I love having an all-purpose, multi positional player on the roster, and if this kid is also by chance a switch hitter to boot, fantastic!!!

 

[Mingo]

Could be excellent timing, assuming the kid can make the leap from AAA to the bigs. While we can't rule out Garcia coming back for another season with the Good Guys, my guess is he will test the market and likely sign with another ballclub. I love having an all-purpose, multi positional player on the roster, and if this kid is also by chance a switch hitter to boot, fantastic!!!

Bats right

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Bats right

Guess you can't have it all.

 

[idseer]

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

www.milb.com

Romy Gonzalez has been a very bright spot in the White Sox Minors - with a 23 hr 22SB season - and become a hitting machine in AAA Charlotte. He has played 2nd, 3rd and CF in the minors.

I mention Romy because he might have a shot at 2nd base next season - or as a guy like Leuery who can play the OF and infield positions. Or - he might be trade bait for a guy like Mitch Hanigar who only has a year on his contract, but would solve the RF problem.

what rf problem?

 

[Mingo]

what rf problem?

The one where the Sox don't get above replacement expectation production. Are you seeing a different RF?

 

[idseer]

The one where the Sox don't get above replacement expectation production. Are you seeing a different RF?

i'm seeing the one where engel is our right fielder and i don't see a problem.

 

[Mingo]

i'm seeing the one where engel is our right fielder and i don't see a problem.

I like Engel has 4th outfielder - a good glove.

He is batting .205 vs lefties - .220 since the all star break - and has been injured more often than he has been available. Good choice.

 

[idseer]

I like Engel has 4th outfielder - a good glove.

He is batting .205 vs lefties - .220 since the all star break - and has been injured more often than he has been available. Good choice.

He has a positive owar and a positive dwar. He has decent power and he has a .248 average in limited time because of his injury. His average has improved every year except this injury-interrupted one. Include an ops of .844 and .527 waaWL%. He has a low salary and is a dynamite fielder.

I’m quite happy with him as the right field starter.

i don't take a player's injury into account when judging a player unless it's chronic. nor should anyone imo.

 

[Mingo]

When you start a guy in Right Field - you can call him a starter even if he rotates out for lefty starters. Does that help?

I get you Iddy - these are good points, but Engel can be improved upon as a starter and remain invaluable as a super outfield sub.

Next season - there will be competition - just from the White Sox organization for RF starting - with Cespedes and Gavin Sheets and throw in Miker Adolfo. It may be that Engel will lose that competition because he is so good as a sub - and any of those three will likely hit more HRs (chicks dig Hrs).

Sox might also sign a FA - or make a trade - as Collins needs a new home - and Burger - Sheets - Cespedes - Adolfo are beginning to stack up just below the MLB.

The chances of Engel being the starter in RF next season are pretty slim.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

You both make good points. In a perfect world, if the talented Engel was at best our #4 OFer, that would mean we have some pretty damn good #s 1-3.

 

[Mingo]

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

Romy Gonzalez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News

www.milb.com

Romy Gonzalez has been a very bright spot in the White Sox Minors - with a 23 hr 22SB season - and become a hitting machine in AAA Charlotte. He has played 2nd, 3rd and CF in the minors.

I mention Romy because he might have a shot at 2nd base next season - or as a guy like Leuery who can play the OF and infield positions. Or - he might be trade bait for a guy like Mitch Hanigar who only has a year on his contract, but would solve the RF problem.

Romy now in the bigs. Will probably be in the lineup tomorrow