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The White Sox, who contended for most of the 2012 season, opened 2013 expecting to contend again, with a payroll approaching $120 million. Instead, Chicago began a rebuilding project under first-year general manager Rick Hahn, Kenny Williams’ longtime lieutenant who ascended to the GM role when Williams was promoted to team president.
Hahn inherited an offense that collapsed despite a veteran presence. The White Sox ranked last in the American League in runs in 2013, en route to their worst record (63-99) since 1970.
With the team out of contention, Hahn started selling some of those veterans, with righthander Jake Peavy and outfielder Alex Rios as his chief bargaining chips. He turned two trades with the Red Sox, sending lefty Matt Thornton and Peavy to Boston in separate deals, and sent Rios to the Rangers for speedy utilityman Leury Garcia.
The Peavy trade, a three-team transaction involving the Tigers, netted an impressive haul led by outfielder Avisail Garcia.
The process also brought several White Sox farmhands to Chicago. Catcher Josh Phegley, fully healthy for the first time since being a supplemental first-round pick in 2009, dominated Triple-A before struggling for a half-season in the majors. Righty Andre Rienzo, who started for Brazil in the World Baseball Classic in March, finished a long season as the first Brazilian pitcher to reach the majors.
Former University of California teammates Marcus Semien, a second baseman, and Erik Johnson, a righthander, sped from Double-A Birmingham to the South Side.
The White Sox kept adding talent in two December trades with the Diamondbacks, adding two potential starters to the lineup for two pitchers. Lefty Hector Santiago was part of the package Chicago used to get center fielder Adam Eaton from Arizona, while they got a potential new third baseman in Matt Davidson in exchange for closer Addison Reed.
More prospects are behind them. For the first time since at least 2000, when the White Sox had the game’s No. 2 farm system, the organization has prospect depth. Birmingham, celebrating a new downtown ballpark, won the Southern League title behind playoff MVP Micah Johnson, who led the minors with 84 stolen bases and ranked sixth with 167 hits. The White Sox also liked what they saw in 2013 first-rounder Tim Anderson, who jumped to low Class A from a Mississippi junior college.
Chicago doesn’t intend to be rebuilding for long, as it spent $68 million on its top prospect, Cuban first baseman Jose Abreu. The plan is for him to replace franchise icon Paul Konerko, who will be back for at least one more season of DH, first base and mentoring duty. With pitching coach Don Cooper still in the majors, and with organization veterans Curt Hasler as roving pitching instructor and Kirk Champion as field coordinator, the White Sox are confident in their ability to develop pitching to go with Abreu and potential igniters Anderson and Johnson.
A major reason for the improved talent and depth in the White Sox system is the club’s decision to spend on scouting and player development, which is directly related to the current labor agreement. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf disdained the old draft rules and restricted his club’s spending on amateurs, and from 2007-11, Chicago spent just $18.3 million on bonuses, barely half the league average. Under the new rules, however, the White Sox have spent every penny of their signing bonus pools, and under assistant to the GM Marco Paddy, they are working hard to be a factor in Latin America.
1. Jose Abreu, 1b
Born: Jan. 29, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 258.
Signed: Cuba, 2013. Signed by: Marco Paddy.
Jose Abreu (Photo by Ezio Ratti/IBAF)
Background: Abreu started playing in Cuba’s top league Serie Nacional when he was 16 and was one of its best hitters by 2007-08, when he hit .295. As the league’s offense spiked, Abreu matured, and he began to put up almost absurd offensive numbers. His best year was 2010-11, when he was the league’s MVP and broke Yoenis Cespedes’ single-season home run record by batting .453/.597/.986 with 33 homers in 66 games. In his last full season, 2011-12, he hit .394/.542/.837 with 35 home runs and led the league in batting, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. Abreu also became a stalwart on Cuban national teams, and BA ranked him as the No. 4 prospect in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He joined the exodus of talent from the island in August 2013, was declared a free agent shortly thereafter by Major League Baseball and worked out for teams in the Dominican Republic. The White Sox signed him to a six-year, $64 million contract in October that included a $10 million signing bonus, the largest in franchise history.
Scouting Report: Physically, Abreu fits right in with the Chicago’s recent string of all-star first basemen and DHs, from Frank Thomas in the 1990s to Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Adam Dunn. He derives massive raw power from his physicality and strength, with strong hands and forearms and the ability to hit balls out to any part of the park. He wowed team president Kenny Williams in a private workout with his feel for hitting, not just his pure power. He has a simple line-drive swing without too many moving parts, at least in his upper half. His swing lacks much of a trigger and his hands come from a dead start, but he has the strength to compensate and his bat stays in the hitting zone a long time. Some scouts worry about his double toe-tap stride and average bat speed, fearing they will inhibit his ability to catch up to premium velocity on the inner half. Abreu is just a fair athlete and well below-average runner who is tied to first base defensively. He should be an adequate defender there as long as he maintains his fitness.
The Future: The White Sox have had success with Cubans, from Minnie Minoso in the 1950s to 2005 World Series hero Jose Contreras to current lineup stalwarts Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Vicideo. They see Abreu as the best of the recent lot and as a middle-of-the-order force to replace the production, if not the leadership, of the 38-year-old Konerko. Ideally, Abreu would hit fifth or sixth in the lineup as a rookie, because the team doesn’t want to put too much pressure on him. The White Sox re-signed Konerko this offseason, alleviating some pressure initially, but fans are looking for the franchise’s Yasiel Puig. If Abreu sees time in the minor leagues in 2014, the White Sox will be disappointed.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Did not play—Signed 2014 contract
Jose Abreu Player Card
2. Erik Johnson, rhp
Erik Johnson (Photo by Mike Janes)
Born: Dec. 30, 1989. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 225.
Drafted: California, 2011 (2nd round).
Signed by: Adam Virchis.
Background: A key starter on California’s Cinderella 2010 College World Series team, Johnson was a workhorse the following season as a junior, pitching his way into the second round. After signing for $450,000, he had his full-season debut delayed by shoulder fatigue, limiting him to 17 starts in 2012. He showed he was healthy in 2013, going 12-3, 1.96 in 142 minor league innings before wrapping the season with a five-game big league trial.
Scouting Report: Johnson has a classic power pitcher’s body and repertoire, as well as demeanor. His four-seam fastball sits at 92 mph and brushes 95, while his two-seamer sits around 90. He thrives with above-average control of both fastballs as well as his hard, upper-80s slider, a plus pitch that helped him shackle righthanded hitters (including big leaguers) to the tune of a .173 average and just two home runs in 324 at-bats. His show-me curveball and fringe-average changeup aren’t where they need to be to neutralize lefthanders, though his changeup plays off his fastball well and has promise.
The Future: A potential No. 3 starter, Johnson fits in well with a projected 2014 Chicago rotation that features lefties Chris Sale, John Danks and Jose Quintana.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Birmingham (AA)
8
2
2.23
14
14
3
0
85
57
6
21
74
.189
Charlotte (AAA)
4
1
1.57
10
10
0
0
57
43
1
19
57
.209
Chicago (AL)
3
2
3.25
5
5
0
0
28
32
5
11
18
.281
Erik Johnson Player Card
3. Tim Anderson, ss
Tim Anderson
Born: June 23, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180.
Drafted: East Central (Miss.) CC, 2013 (1st round).
Signed by: Warren Hughes.
Background: A prep basketball point guard who led his team to an Alabama state championship, Anderson also played baseball, missing his sophomore year with a knee injury and much of his junior year thanks to the basketball title run. Undrafted out of high school, he went to East Central (Miss.) CC to focus on baseball, wasn’t drafted as a freshman, then started to come on in the summer Jayhawk League. He steadily climbed draft boards all spring before the White Sox took him 17th overall in the 2013 draft.
Scouting Report: A potential top-of-the-order shortstop, Anderson has explosive raw tools and has started adding skills to match. He’s a 70 runner and accomplished basestealer with a tremendous first step. That plays well in the infield as well, and Anderson made strides after signing by learning better positioning and doing a better job anticipating balls off the bat. His average arm strength has improved a bit since signing and should be enough for shortstop if he stays on his throwing program. He has an easy swing with below-average power while showing enough juice to keep pitchers honest. His pitch recognition remains understandably modest, but scouts in and out of the organization laud his aptitude.
The Future: The White Sox hope Anderson can be ready by the time Alexei Ramirez’s contract expires after the 2015 season and will push him to high Class A Winston-Salem in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Kannapolis (Lo A)
.277
.348
.363
267
45
74
10
5
1
21
23
78
24
Tim Anderson Player Card
4. Matt Davidson, 3b
Matt Davidson (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Born: March 26, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 225.
Drafted: HS—Yucaipa, Calif., 2009 (1st round supplemental).
Signed by: Jeff Mousser (Diamondbacks).
Background: The Diamondbacks drafted Davidson, a high school teammate of Mariners righthander Taijuan Walker, 35th overall in 2009 and signed him for $900,000. He reached 20 home runs in each of his last three full seasons, with his first three big league homers pushing him to that mark in 2013. The White Sox acquired him in a December trade for closer Addison Reed.
Scouting Report: Davidson has big raw power and the ball jumps off his bat. He’s got a bit of a long swing with plenty of loft, so he struggles to make consistent contact, but he’s made enough contact to get to his power consistently as a pro. Davidson’s walk rate dropped in his first Triple-A season in 2013, though he handled big league pitchers well after being promoted for two stints in Arizona. While he still needs to improve defensively, he makes the routine play consistently and has improved his range to fringe-average to go with an average arm. Davidson needs to improve his lateral movement, quickness and conditioning. He has well below-average speed.
The Future: Davidson’s power fits well at US Cellular Field, and he should supplant Conor Gillaspie as Chicago’s everyday third baseman in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Reno (AAA)
.280
.350
.481
443
55
124
32
3
17
74
46
134
1
Arizona
.237
.333
.434
76
8
18
6
0
3
12
10
24
0
Matt Davidson Player Card
5. Marcus Semien, 2b/3b
Marcus Semien (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Born: Sept. 17, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1.
Wt.: 190. Drafted: California, 2011 (6th round). Signed by: Adam Virchis.
Background: Semien’s father Eric played football at California, and Marcus followed him to the school and helped the Bears make a Cinderella 2010 College World Series run. He fell to the sixth round after a mediocre junior season but hasn’t stopped hitting as a pro, reaching the major leagues with a two-hit game at Yankee Stadium in September.
Scouting Report: Semien is an average athlete who can make the routine play at any infield position while wielding a solid bat. He repeats his simple swing with good strength and bat speed, and he’s disciplined enough to get himself into hitter’s counts. Semien’s power is more to the gaps, and scouts don’t expect him to repeat his 20-homer 2013 campaign. He can punish mistakes and is a smart basestealer whose average speed will play. He’s played mostly shortstop in the minors and can fill in there at the big leagues, and he has solid infield actions. He fits better at second base or third due to modest arm strength and fair first-step quickness.
The Future: His offensive showing as a pro has pushed Semien beyond his original utility profile. He could push for playing time in Chicago at second, short or third in 2014 and is the safest bet among the organization’s top infield prospects.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Birmingham (AA)
.290
.420
.483
393
90
114
21
5
15
49
84
66
20
Charlotte (AAA)
.264
.338
.464
125
20
33
11
1
4
17
14
24
4
Chicago (AL)
.261
.268
.406
69
7
18
4
0
2
7
1
22
2
Marcus Semien Player Card
6. Micah Johnson, 2b
Micah Johnson (Photo by Tony Farlow)
Born: Dec. 18, 1990. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-11.
Wt.: 190. Drafted: Indiana, 2012 (9th round). Signed by: Mike Shirley.
Background: An arm injury that required surgery limited Johnson as an Indiana junior, allowing the White Sox to snap him up in the ninth round of the 2012 draft and sign him for $127,600. In his first full season, he led the minors with 84 stolen bases and led Double-A Birmingham to the Southern League title, hitting .368 with seven steals in 10 playoff games.
Scouting Report: Johnson showed up to spring training in top shape, with just 6 percent body fat, and showed explosive tools including 80 speed with sub-4.0 second times to first. Once more of a slap-and-dash hitter, he hangs in to drive the ball more often, especially in left-on-left matchups, and isn’t afraid to go deep in counts and draw a walk. Johnson’s hard hands contributed to 29 errors in the regular season. He has improved with the help of infield coordinator Ever Magallanes and should be an adequate defender at second. He has the arm strength for the position, which would be suitable for center field as well.
The Future: The White Sox believe Johnson’s leadership and offensive upside will help him and Tim Anderson form a dynamic middle-infield and top-of-the-lineup tandem, with Johnson arriving first. He should start 2014 back in Birmingham.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Kannapolis (Lo A)
.342
.422
.530
304
76
104
17
11
6
42
40
67
61
Winston-Salem (Hi A)
.275
.309
.360
211
28
58
7
4
1
15
10
27
22
Birmingham (AA)
.238
.227
.238
21
2
5
0
0
0
1
0
4
1
Micah Johnson Player Card
7. Courtney Hawkins, of
Courtney Hawkins (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Born: Nov. 12, 1993. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3.
Wt.: 220. Drafted: HS—Corpus Christi, Texas, 2012 (1st round).
Signed by: Keith Staab.
Background: Hawkins back-flipped his way into draft lore in 2012 when he attended the draft at MLB Network’s studios and celebrated his selection by the White Sox. The former high school cheerleader then hit 10 home runs (counting the playoffs) in his pro debut before a dismal first full season.
Scouting Report: Hawkins ended 2012 in the high Class A Carolina League playoffs but wasn’t ready for a full season in the eight-team league, where opposing coaches picked him apart. As his confidence waned and Hawkins failed to adjust his overly aggressive, swing-for-the-fences approach, anything other than a fastball over the plate proved very challenging. Still, the organization kept him in Winston-Salem, further exposing his stubborn, immature approach. Hawkins missed a month with a left shoulder strain but showed his above-average speed and arm strength all season despite his struggles. He has plus power, especially to his pull side. He played center all season but profiles better defensively on a corner.
The Future: While he fits the right-field profile, Hawkins struck out in more than 37 percent of his plate appearances, so his hitting approach needs an overhaul. Scouts outside the organization were impressed with how Hawkins kept playing hard despite his struggles, and the White Sox say the season didn’t crush his spirit. He’s headed back to Winston-Salem for 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Winston-Salem (Hi A)
.178
.249
.384
383
48
68
16
3
19
62
29
160
10
Courtney Hawkins Player Card
8. Trayce Thompson, of
Born: March 15, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 215.
Drafted: HS—Santa Margarita, Calif., 2009 (2nd round). Signed by: George Kashigian.
Background: Thompson’s brother Klay is a sweet-shooting guard for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, while his father Mychal played 14 seasons after being the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft in 1978. Trayce chose baseball and was a start-to-finish stalwart for Birmingham’s Double-A Southern League champions, hitting two postseason home runs.
Scouting Report: Thompson has a Jermaine Dye look and similar tools, with more athleticism and speed. He lacks Dye’s all-around savvy, however, and struggles to make consistent contact. His swing remains too long, which leads to plenty of strikeouts and modest batting averages, and he hasn’t realized he can hit for power with a shorter swing. Thompson can blast tape-measure shots thanks to his leverage, strength and loft-oriented swing. He’s gotten better recognizing breaking balls but still struggles with them. He’s an average runner and effective basestealer who can handle center field thanks to graceful long strides and good instincts. His accurate, average arm helped him rank second in the SL with 13 assists.
The Future: Thompson and Hawkins have similar profiles and have had some similar struggles. Thompson remains closer to the majors and should head to Triple-A Charlotte for the first time in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Birmingham (AA)
.229
.321
.383
507
78
116
23
5
15
73
60
139
25
Trayce Thompson Player Card
9. Chris Beck, rhp
Born: Sept. 4, 1990. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 225.
Drafted: Georgia Southern, 2012 (2nd round). Signed by: Kevin Burrell.
Background: Beck was the ace for two seasons at Georgia Southern, and coming off a strong Cape Cod League and terrific fall scout day, he was positioned to go in the top 10 picks of the 2012 draft. He had a dreadful spring, though, losing velocity and crispness, and fell to the 76th overall pick. The White Sox signed him for $600,000.
Scouting Report: Beck still flashes two plus pitches and an average third pitch. His fastball touches 95 and sits 89-93 mph with good life down in the strike zone. His slider, once a premium power pitch, now is shorter and shallower, but even in the mid-80s it helps him get groundballs. His changeup has become a weapon for him, and he can throw strikes with a show-me curve. Some scouts think he could rediscover his wipeout slider if he were to ditch his curve.
The Future: Beck finished his first full season with a strong Southern League playoff performance (he won both starts), reinforcing the organization’s belief in his competitiveness and big-game ability. If he doesn’t get his old slider back, he could still be a back-of-the-rotation starter or middle reliever. If the old depth and power return to his slider, though, Beck could be a No. 2 starter.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Winston-Salem (Hi A)
11
8
3.11
21
21
1
0
119
117
11
42
57
.262
Birmingham (AA)
2
2
2.89
5
5
0
0
28
26
0
3
22
.250
Chris Beck Player Card
10. Jacob May, of
Jacob May (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Born: Jan. 23, 1992. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 5-10.
Wt.: 180. Drafted: Coastal Carolina, 2013 (3rd round).
Signed by: Kevin Burrell.
Background: May’s father Lee Jr. was a first-round pick in 1986 and reached Triple-A with the Mets, while his grandfather Lee Sr. hit 354 home runs in an 18-year major league career. His uncle Carlos, a first-round pick in 1966, also had a 10-year big league career. May underwhelmed in college but has hit better with wood, both in summer ball and as a pro.
Scouting Report: After being criticized for complacent play in college, May showed scintillating center-field tools in his 2013 pro debut and played with energy. The White Sox love his maturity and leadership ability. The ball jumped off his bat after he signed, with eight pro homers after hitting just nine in college. In the past he’s had enough power to get in trouble, but he’s a legitimate hitter from both sides of the plate. He has some plate discipline and could be an impact, top-of-the-order presence thanks to 80 speed that exceeds even that of first-rounder Tim Anderson. He has rough edges to iron out on the bases, where his jumps could improve, and in center field in terms of routes. His fringy arm strength is playable in center.
The Future: May’s debut startled scouts who had not been impressed by his college career. He’s likely to push Courtney Hawkins to right field in the high Class A Winston-Salem outfield to begin 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Great Falls (R)
.378
.481
.444
45
5
17
1
1
0
7
7
6
5
Kannapolis (Lo A)
.286
.346
.461
206
36
59
6
3
8
28
16
43
19
Jacob May Player Card
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