Where are White Sox top prospects starting the 2026 season?

By Jim Callis | 12:56 PM EDT

This browser does not support the video element.

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the White Sox Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

  1. Braden Montgomery (MLB No. 34), OF -- Birmingham (Double-A)
  2. Noah Schultz (MLB No. 47), LHP -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  3. Caleb Bonemer (MLB No. 59), SS/3B -- Winston-Salem (High-A)
  4. Hagen Smith (MLB No. 69), LHP -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  5. Billy Carlson (MLB No. 70), SS -- Kannapolis (Single-A)
  6. Tanner McDougal, RHP -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  7. Jaden Fauske, OF -- Kannapolis (Single-A)
  8. Christian Oppor, LHP -- Birmingham (Double-A)
  9. Sam Antonacci, 2B/3B -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  10. Kyle Lodise, SS -- Winston-Salem (High-A)
  11. William Bergolla Jr., SS/2B -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  12. Mason Adams, RHP -- Birmingham (Double-A) -- IL (Tommy John surgery rehab)
  13. Javier Mogollon, 2B/SS -- Kannapolis (Single-A)
  14. George Wolkow, OF -- Winston-Salem (High-A)
  15. Jeral Perez, 2B/SS -- Birmingham (Double-A)
  16. Blake Larson, LHP -- Extended spring training (Tommy John surgery rehab)
  17. Mathias LaCombe, RHP -- Extended spring training
  18. David Sandlin, RHP -- Extended spring training
  19. Jedixson Paez, RHP -- Chicago (MLB)
  20. Sebastian Romero, OF -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
  21. Landon Hodge, C -- Extended spring training
  22. Alexander Albertus, 3B -- Extended spring training (left tibia surgery rehab)
  23. Aldrin Batista, RHP -- Winston-Salem (High-A) -- IL (elbow stress fracture rehab)
  24. Tyler Schweitzer, LHP -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  25. Jacob Gonzalez, INF -- Charlotte (Triple-A)
  26. Gabe Davis, RHP -- Winston-Salem (High-A)
  27. Fernando Graterol, C -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
  28. Shane Murphy, LHP -- Birmingham (Double-A)
  29. Ky Bush, LHP -- Chicago (MLB) -- IL (Tommy John surgery rehab)
  30. Ryan Burrowes, INF/OF -- Winston-Salem (High-A)

Team to watch

Triple-A Charlotte has one of the best starting rotations in the Minors with Top 100 Prospects Noah Schultz (No. 47) and Hagen Smith (No. 69), as well as Tanner McDougal, who just missed the list. Left-hander Tyler Schweitzer, who opened the season in the bullpen, didn't allow an earned run in his first 42 2/3 innings in Double-A last year. Second baseman Sam Antonacci ranked third in the Minors in on-base percentage (.433) among players with at least 400 plate appearances in 2025, while double-play partner William Bergolla Jr. led the full-season Minors in strikeout rate (4.7 percent). Infielder Jacob Gonzalez homered twice in his first three games this season.

Players we could see in MLB in 2026

The White Sox graduated three Top 100 Prospects -- Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero -- to the Majors last season and could do so again in 2026. Chicago's top prospect, outfielder Braden Montgomery, is beginning the year at Double-A but is on track to arrive at Rate Field later in the season, as are Schultz and Smith. McDougal could get there before all of them.

This browser does not support the video element.

New faces

Four of Chicago's top five 2025 Draft choices will make their pro debuts this spring. Shortstop Billy Carlson (first round) and outfielder Jaden Fauske (second) are at Single-A Kannapolis, catcher Landon Hodge (fourth) is ticketed for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in May and right-hander Gabe Davis (fifth) is at High-A Winston-Salem. Righty David Sandlin, part of the Jordan Hicks salary dump with the Red Sox in February, will join Charlotte once he builds up some more in extended spring training. Righty Jedixson Paez made Chicago's Opening Day roster as a Rule 5 pick from Boston, but the club designated him for assignment on Wednesday after he surrendered six runs in three innings. Outfielder Sebastian Romero and catcher Fernando Graterol, the prizes of the White Sox 2026 international crop, will break into pro ball in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in June.

On the shelf

Right-hander Mason Adams and left-handers Blake Larson and Ky Bush all had Tommy John surgery in early 2025 and should return to game action around midseason. Righty Matias Lacombe fell behind after dealing with shoulder discomfort and is ramping up a bit more in extended spring training before joining an affiliate (likely Kannapolis) in the near future. Third baseman Alexander Albertus is continuing his lengthy recovery from a fractured left tibia in July 2024, with the hope that he'll be able to join a Class A club by the end of April. Right-hander Aldrin Batista came down with a stress fracture in his elbow last April, and the timetable for his return is unclear.

How to watch

Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLBNetwork and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.

More from MLB.com