After earning White Sox Minors Player of the Month honors, Bonemer goes deep off Gerrit Cole
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If the 2025 pro debut of Caleb Bonemer was an enjoyable appetizer, this season has been an entree to be savored.
Hours after being named the White Sox Minor League Player of the Month for April, the organization's No. 3 prospect homered off Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole as High-A Winston-Salem defeated the rehabbing Yankees ace and Hudson Valley, 6-1, on Tuesday night at Heritage Financial Park.
Bonemer's 12th roundtripper of the season moved him into a tie with Triple-A Iowa's Kevin Alcántara (CHC No. 3) for the Minor League lead.
So to recap, the top White Sox Minor League position player last month, a homer off a six-time All-Star and atop the MiLB home run leaderboard. Just another day for the 20-year-old budding star, who has already equaled last year's long ball output ... in 80 fewer games.
"I think, for me, just trying to build off what I did last year," Bonemer said about his hot start. "Didn’t really try to change a whole lot about my swing and everything. Just trying to make sure my swing was mechanically in a good spot. Try to keep it simple at the plate approach-wise. Let everything take care of itself."
After closing April with a flourish -- including three taters in one contest on April 28 -- MLB's No. 51 prospect had not gone deep through his first four contests this month. That changed quickly and emphatically in the opening frame against Cole when he turned around a fastball from the right-hander and deposited it onto the roof of the left-field pavilion.
The solo jack was Bonemer's eighth dinger since April 21, which coincides with the start of his recent hot streak. The Michigan native has hit safely in 12 of his past 13 games -- including eight straight -- and is batting .327 with a 1.321 OPS and 13 RBIs over that span.
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His award-winning April ended with a .284/.396/.750 slash line, 11 roundtrippers, 19 extra-base hits and 27 RBIs. Hagen Smith (CWS No. 4/MLB No. 60) picked up the Minor League Pitcher of the Month kudos.
Bonemer's secret to his increased power? It's really quite simple.
"Honestly, it’s a lot to do with just added strength. I put on a good amount of weight in the offseason," the 2024 second-rounder said. "Getting stronger, swinging the bat faster. All of those things, and having a full year under my belt and probably just being a little bit more wise with some things and with my approach."
Although he was drafted nearly two years ago, Bonemer didn't debut until 2025. The two-time Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year (2023, 2024) had little trouble adjusting to the pro game, slashing .281/.401/.473 with 46 extra-base hits, 64 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 107 games across two Minor League levels.
His approach at the plate was perhaps the most impressive aspect of his rookie campaign. Blessed with a strong grasp of the strike zone, Bonemer walked 75 times in 2025 and sports a .433 OBP this season, having walked 17 times in his first 27 games.
Combine that eye with his newfound slugging prowess and you get one of the top-hitting infielders in the Minors.