The 2024 season for the Chicago White Sox was one of the worst in modern day baseball history. They were 41-121 and the worst team in the league by far. The bright spots were few and far between, as the team was very hard to watch for many White Sox fans.
However, down on the farm, the White Sox have some very intriguing players that can give fans a glimmer of hope for the future. We will be recapping the seasons of some of the best prospects in the White Sox system, starting from #30 and going in order to #1 as MLB Pipeline has them ranked. As you’ll see, there are some very intriguing prospects that can help bring the White Sox back to relevance.
Nastrini was the main piece in the Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly trade to the Dodgers at the deadline last year. He was the Dodgers fourth-round pick by out of UCLA in the 2021 draft.
Last year when he was traded to the Sox, he would struggle at first but started to figure out things as he got promoted to AAA. Overall, between both of the levels in 2023, he would post a 4.17 ERA over 41 innings. He would strike out 54 while walking 17 batters. Once he got to AAA, he only allowed a .154 average and had a 1.02 WHIP. This was good to see, as he ended the year on a high note.
Unfortunately, the 2024 season wasn’t the best for Nastrini. After a fantastic debut, he would have a few rocky starts before he was sent down to the minors. This was disappointing, as there were high expectations for Nastrini coming into the season.
Nick Nastrini registers his first MLB K!
The @whitesox No. 8 prospect gets Bobby Witt Jr. on an 85.6 mph changeup. pic.twitter.com/J6hXQWC7YI
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 16, 2024
Overall, in 35.2 innings, Nastrini had a 7.07 ERA with the White Sox. He had a respectable .234 batting average against, but he walked 36 batters and only struck out 26. His WHIP was an extremely elevated 1.91. However, when he was recalled towards the end of the season, he looked like he made some tweaks to his motion, as there was clear evidence of progress.
2025 will be a huge year for Nastrini, as the White Sox have a ton of young arms in the high minors and in the majors, so if he doesn’t impress, he may not be able to carve a role out with the team in the future.
If he can get his walks under control, Nastrini can be a very effective pitcher, but that is easier said than done. He is an extremely talented pitcher, so if that is the focus of the offseason, 2025 could be a different story.
