2017 Chicago White Sox Top 10 Prospects Insider
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The song remained the same on the South Side, as a top-heavy pitching staff wasn’t enough to drag a below-par offense to a winning record. The fourth straight losing season cost manager Robin Ventura his job at season’s end.
HIGH POINT: The White Sox led the American League Central through most of the first two months of the season, starting with a 17-8 April. As late as May 13, the Sox were 24-12 after ace Chris Sale won his eighth straight decision to open the season, with a complete-game six-hitter in a 7-1 win at Yankee Stadium.
LOW POINT: The Sox went 9-24 after Sale’s win before rallying to finish the first half above .500. But Chicago lost seven of its first eight after the break to become irrelevant in the division and wild-card races.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Chicago tried to buy time for shortstop Tim Anderson by signing Jimmy Rollins in the offseason, but the vet hit .221 and made way for Anderson, who played 99 games and showed athleticism, speed and a need for polish for his offensive approach. Catcher Omar Narvaez, still rookie-eligible for 2017, had a solid September.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: The Sox improved their lineup a bit with offseason trades for second baseman Brett Lawrie (who was often hurt) and third baseman Todd Frazier, who hit a career-high 40 homers, but they weren’t enough. Chicago gave up on righty Erik Johnson as well as teen shorstop Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields when they were still in the race; Shields bombed for the Sox. Thereafter, the Sox traded for prospects, dealing lefty Zach Duke for Chicagoland native Charlie Tilson.
DOWN ON THE FARM: White Sox domestic affiliates had the worst record in baseball collectively with a .427 winning percentage. Only Rookie-level Great Falls made the playoffs, but the system saw strong early results from its 2016 draft class, led by catcher Zack Collins and pitchers Alec Hansen and Zack Burdi.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $116,000,000 (16th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Zack Collins |
| Best Power Hitter | Zack Collins |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Zack Collins |
| Fastest Baserunner | Joel Booker |
| Best Athlete | Aaron Schnurbusch |
| Best Fastball | Zack Burdi |
| Best Curveball | Carson Fulmer |
| Best Slider | Zack Burdi |
| Best Changeup | Tyler Danish |
| Best Control | Spencer Adams |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Omar Narvaez |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Mitch Roman |
| Best Infield Arm | Mitch Roman |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Adam Engel |
| Best Outfield Arm | Micker Adolfo |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Zack Collins |
| First Base | Jose Abreu |
| Second Base | Brett Lawrie |
| Third Base | Trey Michalczewski |
| Shortstop | Tim Anderson |
| Left Field | Jameson Fisher |
| Center Field | Adam Eaton |
| Right Field | Alex Call |
| Designated Hitter | Todd Frazier |
| No. 1 Starter | Chris Sale |
| No. 2 Starter | Jose Quintana |
| No. 3 Starter | Carlos Rodon |
| No. 4 Starter | Alec Hansen |
| No. 5 Starter | Carson Fulmer |
| Closer | Zack Burdi |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Ryan Sweeney, of | Did not play |
| 2008 | Aaron Poreda, lhp | Yomiuri (Japan) |
| 2009 | Gordon Beckham, ss | Giants |
| 2010 | Jared Mitchell, of | Yankees |
| 2011 | Chris Sale, lhp | White Sox |
| 2012 | Addison Reed, rhp | Mets |
| 2013 | Courtney Hawkins, of | White Sox |
| 2014 | Jose Abreu, 1b | White Sox |
| 2015 | Carlos Rodon, lhp | White Sox |
| 2016 | Tim Anderson, ss | White Sox |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Aaron Poreda, lhp | Yomiuri (Japan) |
| 2008 | Gordon Beckham, ss | Giants |
| 2009 | Jared Mitchell, of | Yankees |
| 2010 | Chris Sale, lhp | White Sox |
| 2011 | Keenyn Walker, of (1st round supp.) | White Sox |
| 2012 | Courtney Hawkins, of | White Sox |
| 2013 | Tim Anderson, ss | White Sox |
| 2014 | Carlos Rodon, lhp | White Sox |
| 2015 | Carson Fulmer, rhp | White Sox |
| 2016 | Zack Collins, c | White Sox |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Jose Abreu, 2013 | $10,000,000 |
| Carlos Rodon, 2014 | $6,582,000 |
| Joe Borchard, 2000 | $5,300,000 |
| Dayan Viciedo, 2008 | $4,000,000 |
| Carson Fulmer, 2015 | $3,470,600 |
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