Organization ranking: 22
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects of 2016. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 White Sox prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2016, prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year and a sleeper prospect (or two) I think can jump into the main Top 100 list for 2017.
A few quick notes: 1) Just as in my other prospect files, I use the 20 to 80 grading scale when scouting these prospects; and 2) If the prospect is in the Top 100, clicking on his ranking will take you to the page his scouting profile is on.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Baltimore Orioles top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects (Top 100 rank in parentheses)
1. Tim Anderson, SS (45)
2. Carson Fulmer, RHP (just missed)
3. Spencer Adams, RHP
4. Trey Michalczewski, 3B
5. Jordan Guerrero, LHP
6. Tyler Danish, RHP
7. Corey Zangari, 1B
8. Robinson Leyer, RHP
9. Adam Engel, OF
10. Micker Adolfo, OF
Overview
This system was much improved earlier in the offseason, but the White Sox traded three top-10 prospects to land an All-Star third baseman, which is half the reason you want to maintain a good farm system in the first place. Adams saw his stuff back up a little bit in his first full year in pro ball, a lot of 87-91 mph with a fringy changeup and below-average slider. It could have been the effects of the heavier workload and working on shorter rest, or it could be because he altered his mechanics a little to cut himself off more and come across his body. He's still athletic and projectable with good arm speed so I'm not giving up on him by any means.
Michalczewski was young for the Carolina League but held his own at the plate and in the field. He has strong hands but his hips tend to trail his swing, so he's not generating much power at the plate. Between his hit tool and his fielding, with a 70 arm, I think he has a chance to develop into an average regular -- although he needs a better hitting plan, one that doesn't include swinging at the first pitch so often.
Guerrero really came on this year, his third full year in the system. The former 15th-rounder is a good athlete with an average fastball he can work to both sides of the plate, and a plus changeup. The White Sox's player development folks did a nice job cleaning up his mechanics and getting him to the point where his 2015 was even possible. I've got him over Danish because Guerrero definitely has a chance to start, and Danish has a reliever's delivery with a starter's fastball. It's a low slot with a lot of effort, but hitters do have a hard time hitting the ball in the air against him. Zangari was the team's sixth-round pick in 2015 -- Fulmer was their first, they didn't have a second or third, and they traded fourth-rounder Zack Erwin for Brett Lawrie -- and has as much offensive upside as anyone in the system. He swings hard, with big power and good results so far, thanks to a fairly polished approach at the plate, but there will still be lots of swinging and missing for the time being and he needs work at first base. I'll take this in the sixth round any day of the week. Leyer is a power-armed reliever, mid-90s with a good changeup from a low three-quarter slot. Engel is a potential fourth outfielder, showing four tools but without any power. Adolfo is a ridiculous athlete with a plus-plus arm and limited baseball acumen or even experience; he was having more success as an AZL repeater when a bad injury on a slide ended his season.
Jacob May (11) is another potential fourth outfielder, closer to helping the major-league club, less exciting than Engel but a bit more polished at the plate.Jhoandro Alfaro (12) is a catcher like his brother Jorge, now in the Phillies' system, and a long way off from helping the big club but brings the good family arm and perhaps better hands than his brother has. Jordan Stephens (13) is an interesting flyer, still recovering after missing nearly all of 2014 and the beginning of his college season in 2015 because of Tommy John surgery -- and is yet another Rice pitcher who got hurt, if you can believe it.
2016 impact
May could easily be the club's fourth outfielder this year, although Engel's speed might be flashy enough to catch the coaching staff's eye in March. If the White Sox want to put Fulmer in the bullpen, he could pitch for them right now in the seventh or eighth innings.
The fallen
I'm running out of things to say about Courtney Hawkins, the 13th overall pick in 2012, who hasn't performed when he has been healthy, and hasn't been healthy enough to start to perform.
Sleeper
Zangari might be two years away from really establishing himself as a serious prospect, but he has the huge upside and just enough present skills to make the big leap.