Major League Baseball’s offseason is in full swing, which means everyone’s thinking about the future. In most cities, that means next season; in some cases, however, it means looking at the big picture, the next three to five years. Either you sell victories or you sell hope, the old saying goes. At CBS Sports, we like to give as much hope as possible to this time of winter by evaluating each team’s farming system.
Of course, that doesn’t mean every team has an equally good farm system – some, as you’ll find throughout this process, are lacking in this regard. That still means CBS Sports will be spending the next few weeks looking at each organization’s top three prospects. We define “prospects” as retaining rookie eligibility for the 2023 season, so if a young player is missing out, that’s probably why.
These lists and ratings are formed through conversations with scouts, analysts, and player development types. There’s also first-hand assessment and bias thrown into the mix. Keep in mind that rating players is a difficult task, and it’s okay if you disagree with the ranking. These are opinions, and they have no real bearing on the future. You can check out our top 20 winter list by clicking here.
With that in mind, let’s dissect the Chicago White Sox.
Montgomery, the 22nd pick in the 2021 draft via Huntingburg, Indiana, has drawn comparisons to Rangers shortstop Corey Seager based on their similar builds and skills. He split his first full professional season between three levels, reaching as high as Double-A while batting a combined .274/.381/.429. Montgomery has a good sense of the strike zone and touchdown, and his lanky frame inspires hope that he’ll tap into more of his above-average raw power as he matures. Defensively he has a left arm and a good chance of staying short, although he may have to move elsewhere, perhaps to third, if he loses a step (or more) while he continues to mature and add muscle. .
2. Bryan Ramos, 3B (2023 seasonal age: 21)
Ramos won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until March, but he achieved Double-A at the end of last season after hitting .275/.350/.471 in 99 games against High-A competition that was, on average, , two and a half years his senior. It’s a positive indicator for his long-term offensive prospects. (His move to Double-A didn’t go as well, though we don’t know that due to his youth and small sample size.) Ramos bounced back a little defensively, seeing the action at first and second base in addition to his usual duties at third, but he’s improved enough in the hot corner to imagine him playable there. There’s no doubt that Ramos will need more rehearsals to deliver on his promise. His production-for-age, however, is hard to ignore and hints that he could become a starting third baseman if all goes well.
3. Oscar Colas, OF (seasonal age 2023: 24)
Colas, once dubbed the “Cuban Ohtani” for his two-way game, gave up pitching when he signed with the White Sox last January for $2.7 million. Chicago greatly preferred his bat, and he showed why in his first professional season by hitting .314/.371/.524 with 23 homers across three tiers, including a seven-game move to Triple-A to end the year. . Colas has above average strength which should allow him to crush mistakes. Alas, he will have to work on his approach to maximize his output as he hit more than three times as often as he walked. Colas has mainly played in the center so far but he’s not going to replace Luis Robert at big league level. What he could do, provided he makes the necessary adjustments and depending on the rest of the offseason, is serve as Chicago’s right fielder most often in 2023.
