Oscar Colás’s career continues spiraling downward after being designated for assignment by the White Sox last week. He is now headed to the AA Birmingham Barons, per a team announcement from the AAA Charlotte Knights. The demotion is the latest fall from grace for the White Sox outfielder.
Falling Out Of Favor In Chicago
Once a top prospect and considered the “Cuban Ohtani,” it has been evident for a long time that the White Sox organization has soured on Colás. Even during his 2023 rookie season, then-White Sox manager Pedro Grifol was critical of Colás and his tendency to play out of control.
“This might sound a little weird, but he plays the game at a 10 volume; we need to play him at an 8. A 10 makes him a little reckless, especially at the plate…Let the game come to him as opposed to try to do too much,” Grifol said.
Considering that Grifol was responsible for the worst team in modern MLB history and eventually fired mid-way through last season, it is fair in hindsight to wonder how accurate his perceptions were. Unfortunately for Colás, it appears Grifol’s assessment was right. All told, Colás hit .216 with a .571 OPS in his rookie season. He did not show enough to earn a consistent starting spot on a team that needed all the help they could get.
Limited 2024 Opportunities
As bad as Colás’s rookie year was, his sophomore campaign was even worse for his career trajectory. The team hit absolute rock bottom, using over a dozen outfielders throughout the 2024 season to find anyone who could help stop the bleeding and provide positive value. Last year was the time to give auditions to a player like Colás to let him show what he could do. Yet he appeared in just 13 games for the 121-loss White Sox, with June 21st being his final game. The organization didn’t think highly enough of him to give him much of a chance, even towards the end of the season when the games meant nothing.
Writing Has Been On The Wall For Oscar Colás
Heading into this spring, the writing on the wall for Colás became even more apparent. The team signed several veteran outfielders to one-year contracts to provide stability at the MLB level, further clouding Colás’s future role. The team briefly decided to move him to first base this spring, hoping it would help revive his career. The position change was not enough to move the needle. He appeared in only 10 games this spring and did not make the team.
Colás cleared waivers following his DFA by the White Sox, meaning no other team wanted him. He is now in purgatory with the White Sox, leading to his current predicament. For context, Colás has not played at the AA level since 2022. It is a significant step backward for his career, and it is now fair to wonder if he will ever suit up for the White Sox big league club again.
