GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox installed two new regulars in their middle infield last season. Colson Montgomery arrived in July and went deep 21 times in 71 games, the best home run rate for a rookie shortstop in baseball history.
Chase Meidroth shifted from shortstop to second base to accommodate Montgomery and reached base 165 times, third-most among American League rookies.
They're just the beginning. Plenty more middle infielders are on the way to Rate Field.
COMPLETE WHITE SOX PROSPECT COVERAGE
Caleb Bonemer (White Sox No. 3 prospect and MLB's No. 61) won Single-A Carolina League MVP honors while starring on both sides of the ball in his 2025 pro debut. Some scouts say fellow Top 100 Prospect Billy Carlson (No. 73), the No. 10 overall pick last July, is the best defensive shortstop they've ever seen at the high school level. Kyle Lodise went straight to High-A after signing as a second-rounder last summer, while William Bergolla led the Minors in strikeout rate (5 percent) and led Double-A Birmingham to a Southern League championship.
And that's just the shortstops. Second baseman Sam Antonacci ranked fourth in the Minors with a .429 on-base percentage last year before raising his profile further in the Arizona Fall League, Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic. Javier Mogollon, Jeral Perez and Ryan Burrowes also offer intriguing offensive upside at the keystone, and Chicago still has hopes for 2023 first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez if he can start swinging with more intent.
The White Sox also own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, with UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky the frontrunner for that selection. Figuring out how to deploy everyone at various levels of the Minors and eventually incorporate them into the big league lineup presents an interesting conundrum.
"It's a good problem to have," farm director Paul Janish said. "It will benefit a lot of those guys to learn to play all the infield positions as they go up through the Minor Leagues. As versatile as we can make those guys, it helps them, and it helps us.
"The reality is that not every guy is going to play shortstop in the big leagues. Fernando Tatis Jr. was an all-everything shortstop, and now he's one of the best right fielders in baseball. It lends itself to having a lot of options down the road, and having a really athletic and defensive-oriented roster."
Bonemer exceeded expectations in his first season as a pro, not an easy task for someone who signed for a well-over-slot $2,997,500 as a 2024 second-rounder from a Michigan high school. Not only did he slash .281/.401/.473 with 12 homers and 29 steals in 107 games, but he proved to be a much better defender at shortstop than evaluators had given him credit for.
"To see what Caleb's done since he came in this year, with his physical development of his body, the camp he's had, he's totally impressed everyone," Janish said. "By nature, he's a worker. Even with all of his offensive accolades, he wants to be a good defender. He wants to continue to get better."
Carlson enters pro ball with the reverse of the reputation than Bonemer had. The California prep product is a dazzling defender but comes with questions about his bat because he tinkers at the plate, his right-handed swing gets too long and his approach can become too passive. He does have the hand-eye coordination, bat speed and strength for at least 20-homer power.
"Billy is so athletic, we just have to give him the opportunity to self-organize," Janish said. "He'll make adjustments. After being around the kid, I think the floor is much higher than the initial impression was. Process over results will be the most important thing in the short term. He has legitimate power. It's just about being as consistent as he can be."
A 2024 fifth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina, Antonacci lacks the pedigree and loud tools of Bonemer and Carlson, but is one of the most skilled players in the system. He consistently takes professional at-bats, plays quicker than his fringy speed on the bases and finds ways to make plays at second base, third base and even shortstop. He homered twice in six Cactus League games before joining Italy for the WBC.
"Sam's barrel control and hit tool are impressive," Janish said. "He may not hit a bunch of 460-foot home runs, but they count if they land in the second row. His floor is very high, and his ceiling is starting to inch up. He has such situational awareness of what's needed to get the job done. The only word to describe him is relentless."
Camp standout: Braden Montgomery
Though the White Sox have an unsettled outfield, it looks like they'll be able to lock down right field with Braden Montgomery in the near future. The 12th overall choice in the 2024 Draft and a key piece in the Garrett Crochet trade with the Red Sox that December, he's a switch-hitter with well-above-average raw power and arm strength. After finishing his first pro season in Double-A and starring in the AFL, he has gone 8-for-23 (.348) with two triples and a homer in Cactus League action.
"Braden is in a class of his own with pure upside," Janish said. "He's so talented. We've been talking to him about swing decisions and strike-zone awareness. He wants to be an All-Star, and we're just helping him be aware of what it will take to be an All-Star. We're encouraging him to play more free defensively and on the bases."
Breakout potential: Jaden Fauske
Like Bonemer, Fauske played for the White Sox Area Code Games team before signing for $2,997,500 as a prep second-rounder. Signed out of Nazareth Academy in suburban Chicago, where one of his assistant coaches was Hall of Famer and Sox special assistant Jim Thome, he ranked among the best pure hitters in the 2025 high school class. He's an athletic center fielder who has drawn some comparisons to three-time All-Star Grady Sizemore.
"Jaden is giving me some Bonemer vibes from last year," Janish said. "He's physically maturing and moving better now. He'll play center field, and we'll move him around the outfield. He controls the zone and he wants more work and instruction."
Bounceback candidate: Blake Larson
Another White Sox Area Code Game alumnus who landed an over-slot bonus, Larson signed for $1,397,500 as a supplemental second-rounder in 2024 out of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). He has been likened to Max Fried, Shane McClanahan and Chris Sale, and he has a pair of potential plus pitches in a lively 92-96 mph fastball and a low-80s slider with high spin rates and two-plane depth at its best. He has yet to make his pro debut because he injured his elbow in a January 2025 minicamp and had Tommy John surgery, but he should take the mound early this season.
"We're pretty excited about getting Blake healthy," Janish said. "It may take him a minute to harness his stuff because it moves so much. We're looking at it like he had a redshirt year. We may look back on it as a blessing in disguise because of the physical development he was able to make."
Draft sleeper: Anthony DePino
DePino rewrote the record books at Rhode Island, setting school single-season and career marks for runs, homers, extra-base hits, total bases and walks. One of two NCAA Division I players to reach 20 homers and 20 steals in 2025, he lasted 196 picks in the Draft because of his age (22) and his projection as a righty-hitting first baseman. His .223/.359/.320 line in 29 games in Single-A belies his offensive potential.
"Anthony hits the ball as hard as anyone we have," Janish said. "It's a very interesting impact profile combined with plate discipline. He's a tough New England kid."