Chicago White Sox prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith created a buzz in their Cactus League debuts on Feb. 26, both pitching one scoreless inning against the San Diego Padres.
Grant Taylor’s first outing of the spring was also an eye-opener when the right-hander was clocked at 101.2 mph on Feb. 23 against the Kansas City Royals.
The trio will begin 2025 at Double-A Birmingham, part of the roster assignments Sox director of player development Paul Janish announced on Tuesday.
“I think we can all agree that we’re excited about the prospect of those guys continuing their development at the minor-league level, getting used to pitching every fifth day,” Janish said in a video conference call.
The lefties Schultz and Smith were first-round picks by the Sox in the 2022 and 2024 drafts, respectively. Schultz is ranked at No. 16 and Smith at No. 34 on MLB.com’s top 100 prospects list.
“I just think the rapport that they develop during the next period of time when they’re playing together as teammates in Double-A is going to pay itself forward down the road, hopefully at the major-league level as well,” Janish said.
Taylor was a second-round draft pick in 2023. He struck out nine in four Cactus League innings.
“I think that what was super encouraging was him taking advantage of a relatively small opportunity of going to major-league camp for the first time,” Janish said.
From Triple-A Charlotte to Single-A Kannapolis, here’s a closer look at where some of the Sox prospects stand.
Infielders Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth are one step away
Montgomery and Meidroth are knocking at the door of the big leagues, starting the season at Charlotte.
Montgomery, the No. 39 prospect according to MLB.com, was the team’s first-round draft pick in 2021. The shortstop played at Charlotte last season.
Meidroth slashed .293/.437/.401 last season at Triple-A Worcester in the Boston Red Sox system. He joined the White Sox organization as part of the December trade that sent pitcher Garrett Crochet to Boston.
Janish wants the two to continue “to hone in on being as good as they can be every day.”
“You’re going to have to go down to Triple-A, you’re going to have to play good, you’re going to have to perform and earn a call to the big leagues with the mindset that ‘I’m not trying to get to the big leagues, I’m going to get there and I’m going to play well.’”
Montgomery will get a bulk of the action at shortstop at Charlotte, Janish said, while Meidroth will “be able to be a little bit of everything.”
Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero will ‘ping-pong’ between catcher and DH
The Sox have two of the top catching prospects in baseball in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. MLB.com ranked Teel at No. 32 on their top 100 prospect list. Quero is No. 65 in that ranking.
Both will start the season in Charlotte, where Janish said the two will “ping-pong each other a lot” between being behind the plate and serving as the designated hitter.
“Not to say that they’re going to DH every game they don’t catch,” Janish said. “They’re likely to split the catching three and three (per week) assuming health and get a good amount of the DH time as well.
“Those guys have both played really well in their time in the minor leagues. And I think we all agree, the catching position is very demanding at the major-league level. But they’re both really close to being ready to perform, hopefully.”
The Kannapolis outfield is filled with young talent
The roster at Single-A Kannapolis features intriguing young outfielders such as Braden Montgomery, Nick McLain and George Wolkow.
Like Meidroth and Teel, Montgomery came over from Boston in the Crochet trade. He is the No. 54 rated prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com.
“Braden Montgomery, we are still getting to know him,” Janish said. “He’s an unbelievable kid and drafted in the first round last year (by the Red Sox) but had the unfortunate (right ankle) injury. He literally has not played a professional game. So, (it’s) getting him acclimated to the pro schedule and that environment.”
McLain’s older brothers Matt and Sean both play professional baseball. The Sox selected McLain in the third round in 2024.
“Having Nick McLain, who if anybody had the opportunity to watch him in some of the big-league games (this spring) or on the minor-league side, he plays with his hair on fire,” Janish said. “He’s ready to compete as soon as he gets to the field.”
Janish said the Downers Grove North product Wolkow has a similar approach.
“He’s 19, younger than the other two guys (Montgomery is 21, McLain is 22),” Janish said. “Getting (the three) exposed to each other and just the sheer ability is really the most exciting thing at this juncture (about that group).”
Sox set their rotation for the opening series
The Sox named Sean Burke as the starter for Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Angels a little more than a week ago.
The remainder of the rotation for the three-game series came into shape Tuesday, with Jonathan Cannon in line to start Saturday and Davis Martin on Sunday.
The Sox also made a roster move Tuesday, releasing reliever Dan Altavilla.
The right-hander, who signed a minor-league deal with the club that included a nonroster invitation to major-league camp, had a 2.79 ERA with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 10 Cactus League appearances.
