Brooks Baldwin is a little bit of an unknown to most White Sox fans. He was taken in the 12th round out of UNC Wilmington in 2022, so he was not a top pick by any means. But, for him to make the top 30 list as a 12th-rounder in just a year is pretty impressive.
Baldwin played in two levels this year, at low A with the Cannon Ballers and at A+ ball with the Dash. The young utility player hit only .245 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs at low A, but he really picked up the average once he got promoted.
In 26 games since his promotion, he hit .327 with a .375 OBP. He was able to add five homers and 19 RBIs in that same time frame. In total, he had 15 homers and 68 RBIs. For a 12th-round pick, those are very solid numbers and a nice season for this first full year in the minor leagues.
Baldwin has some speed to his game as he was able to steal 24 bases this season. That would be very welcome in Chicago, as the White Sox have a tough time stealing bases for whatever reason, as teams seem to steal plenty of bases on them.
This season was much improved for Baldwin, as in his first 27 games in the minor leagues last year, he only hit .219 and didn’t have any home runs. For him to improve this much in just an offseason is really impressive and it is worth watching him this year to see if he can make another jump.
One of the best parts about Baldiwn’s game is his positional versatility. He is listed as a third baseman, a shortstop, and an outfielder. This will help him in the future, as teams, especially the White Sox, love players who can play multiple positions. He is graded as an average defender, but if he were to stick at one position has the upside to become an above-average defender. It all depends on how Chirs Getz views Baldwin for the future.
The one trait that scouts have graded Baldwin above average in is his speed. They have him graded as an average hitter, but as a switch hitter, he has looked more comfortable from the left side. Perhaps if he sticks to just hitting lefty, he could become an even better hitter. His versatility is a plus and he will be a fast riser through the system, but if he narrows his focus on one position and one side of the plate, he could be on the Sox sooner rather than later.
Overall, I would give his season a B+. For a 12th-rounder he has looked great, as he looks like he should have been a top 10-round pick, but there are a few things he needs to clean up to take the step to the next level.
