This powerful prospect is beneficiary of some hard-hitting lessons

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MESA, Ariz. -- It’s time to talk about George Wolkow's 120.7 mph exit velocity ... even if the moment was ruled to never officially happen.

The No. 14 White Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline connected off Arizona’s Casey Anderson for a ninth-inning single to right during a 6-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday at Salt River Fields. That ensuing lofty number quickly played up across social media.

“You just barrel it up and don’t even feel it,” Wolkow told MLB.com during a recent interview. “I knew I hit it hard. I didn’t think I hit it that hard.”

As it turns out, the 20-year-old Wolkow didn’t hit it hard.

There is no official number provided by Statcast for Wolkow’s second hit in two at-bats, but it was not a new personal record for the multi-talented outfielder. The exit velocity discussion stands as an entrance point to talk about how solid Wolkow feels during this current Spring Training following a subpar 2025 season overall at Single-A Kannapolis.

Take this ninth inning at-bat, as an example. The single wouldn’t have been possible if Wolkow didn’t lay off an 0-1 changeup and a 1-1 cutter to get set up in the count.

“I feel great. I feel like it’s cool to see some of the work from the offseason pay off a little bit,” Wolkow said. “Being in Chicago, in the cold, it’s tough working out inside all the time.

“You don’t really get to get outside and see it translate. To come out of the gate, feeling really comfortable in the box, making better decisions, and hitting the ball hard, I feel like overall I’m playing pretty well right now.”

At 6-foot-7, 239 pounds, Wolkow looks like a star in the making. He’s a local kid from Downers Grove, Ill., as talked about frequently when he was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Wolkow has the personality and eloquent speaking ability to make him a city favorite when he gets to the Majors.

Wolkow’s Major League arrival took a little bit of a hit with the left-handed hitter posting a .227/.317/.362 slash line with 13 home runs, 69 RBIs and 58 runs scored for Kannapolis. He also had 147 strikeouts against a career-high 54 walks.

Lofty goals were set at the start of Wolkow’s ’25 season, ranging from promotions to High-A Winston-Salem or Double-A Birmingham, not to mention an All-Star selection. His slow start brought about frustration.

But through his offseason conditioning work at Bracey Performance in Chicago, hitting at the Bo Jackson Dome in Lockport and a commitment to his religious faith, Wolkow feels as if that ‘25 campaign is further in the rearview mirror than last year. He's in a different headspace and better prepared as a player.

“My swing is in a place where I can hit different pitches, pitch types, locations, whatever, but if I’m swinging at balls and taking strikes, then I’m not going to put myself in position to do that,” Wolkow said. “This offseason was swinging a little bit less and just making a lot more decisions.

“If I’m going into hit and I have an hour and half, two hours, to get my work in, rather than just swinging 20 times per round for two hours, get in and swing eight times but see 15 pitches. Make four or five decisions on balls and have the coach mix in balls, not just groove me BP fastballs.

“When I step in the box, a pitcher sees a 6-foot-8 player, power bat, and understands that I’m an imposing figure,” Wolkow said. “So, use that to my strengths. Be more selective. Take my walks. Make them throw me something.”

Wolkow’s power is supplemented by speed and athleticism with his ability to play center field and his 33 stolen bases in ’25. White Sox manager Will Venable has witnessed the total offering during his Cactus League callups.

“He obviously hits the ball extremely hard. He runs hard. For a big guy, he’s really athletic,” Venable said. “Really excited when George comes over. You feel like there’s always something special he’s going to do. Just a really powerful skillset with his legs, with his arm. His ability to hit the ball hard. Really interesting guy.”

“Setting number goals sometimes is hard for me, just because I don’t want to be someone who is literally chasing stats,” Wolkow said. “But I know if I can show up every day and be the best version of myself, stay healthy and just put in the best effort every day, I think 30-30 is totally possible.”

A 120 mph exit velocity is possible for Wolkow, even if his first dalliance with the number eventually was erased.

“Yeah, if that was really wrong, I know I got it in me,” Wolkow said with a smile. “It will come soon.”