SoxFest 2019 has just gotten underway at the Hilton downtown. Current, past, and future White Sox players have all gathered with fans to have one hell of a weekend. With media running wild, we are bound to get a few good tidbits from the players.
Chuck Garfien was talking with Zack Collins and Dylan Cease earlier and when he asked which prospect will surprise in 2019, they both gave the same answer: Jimmy Lambert.
Asked Dylan Cease and Zack Collins to name a White Sox prospect who will surprise people in 2019. Both said Jimmy Lambert.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) January 25, 2019
Last year, MLB pipeline listed Lambert as the 21st ranked prospect in the White Sox system. The right-handed pitcher uses a fastball/curveball combination primarily, but also has a slider and changeup. All of his pitches are at least average, but none of them have truly eye-popping stuff.
Last year he split time at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. He actually posted better numbers at the Double-A level, but that could be a result of his limited time (5 games) and the fact that Birmingham is one of the worst hitters parks in the minor leagues.
Expect Lambert to start in Double-A this year. Some were surprised that he wasn’t taken in the Rule-5 draft last year seeing as the White Sox chose not to protect him. We might see him make teams regret that choice if Cease and Collins’ predictions become a reality.
