On February 14th, White Sox pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. Just four days later, on February 18th, the entire team will report to Spring Training.
Normally, Spring Training is used to figure out position battles, or who will win the last few roster spots on the team. But with the White Sox rebuilding, Spring Training will allow fans to get a better look at some of the club’s highly touted prospects.
Even with a depleted major league roster, it’s hard to follow all of the White Sox minor league teams. Spring Training gives fans an opportunity to see all of the team’s young talent in one place.
Fans will surely have their favorite prospects, but Bleacher Report believes there are three in particular you should be paying attention to. Recently the site has been running down all the positions on the diamond, naming ten players at each to watch in Spring Training.
Tim Anderson, Zack Collins and Yoan Moncada all made the top 10 at their respective positions.
Anderson isn’t necessarily a prospect, as he appeared in 99 games for the club last season. In his first year in the MLB, Anderson hit .283 with nine home runs, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Appearing in 332 minor league games, Anderson hit .301 with 19 home runs, 127 RBIs and 94 stolen bases.
Rick Weiner of Bleacher Report wrote of Anderson:
While he’s not in danger of losing his grip on the starting job in Chicago, Anderson must show that he’s made some adjustments this spring.
Anderson will be one of the bright spots on the White Sox season. Spring Training will give fans a better look as to if he could lead the White Sox youth movement. While Anderson got ample experience in the major leagues last season, he is just one year removed from being the White Sox top prospect. If Anderson shines in Spring Training he will prove that he could be the team’s shortstop of the future going forward.
Collins was the team’s first round draft pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. He is currently the White Sox sixth best prospect and the 80th best prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Collins has appeared in 39 minor league games, hitting .244 with six homeruns and 18 RBIs.
It’s important to note that Collins was listed under the top 10 catchers to watch. Some have questioned his ability behind the plate, however Spring Training will give fans and the front office the opportunity to see if he could be the catcher of the future.
Weiner wrote:
How he handles himself while catching big league pitching early this spring will go a long way toward dictating what that rate is. More importantly, it’ll serve as a good indication as to whether Chicago’s seemingly never-ending search for its “catcher of the future” is finally over.
Given Collins’ advanced approach at the plate, it’s not inconceivable that he could begin to move quickly through the team’s farm system if he shows enough improvement behind the plate in what limited playing time he’ll receive in spring training.
Collins is one of the best power hitters in the White Sox farm system and a big part of the White Sox future. Spring Training will allow for management to decide if that future will be behind the plate or at first base/DH.
Moncada was the headliner of the Chris Sale trade. He is currently the White Sox best prospect and the best prospect in all of baseball. In his 187 minor league games, Moncada hit .287 with 23 homeruns, 100 RBIs and 94 stolen bases.
Moncada is expected to lead the charge and be the face of the franchise for the White Sox. He is the leader of the rebuild and is expected to be the Kris Bryant of the White Sox World Series team of the future.
Spring Training gives fans a chance to see exactly what he can do. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter wrote:
There he has a chance to emerge as a true five-tool talent with the wheels to steal 50-plus bases, a compact swing that should produce a high batting average and a developing power stroke that could yield 20-plus home runs annually.
Moncada seems like the real deal. Spring Training gives the former Red Sox an opportunity to prove just how valuable he really is.
There is a chance more White Sox get put on BR’s watch list. The team still has highly touted pitchers in Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez and others.
However if you want to get a good look into the White Sox future offense in Spring Training, look no further than Tim Anderson, Zack Collins and Yoan Moncada.
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