CHICAGO – At the halfway point of the 2019 season, the White Sox hold a 39-42 record.

They posted a 1-2 mark in March, finished April at 12-14 overall, ended May at 28-29 and their 4-3 victory over the American League Central-leading Twins closed out June on Sunday. It’s the definition of average, with the White Sox minus-69 run differential suggesting below average.

So why is there such a palpable feeling of excitement among the fan base, increasingly noticeable with each home game? The reason is in Year 3 of the rebuild, the White Sox have reached the end of the beginning of the process as general manager Rick Hahn pointed out Friday.

“We’re by no means where we want to be, and we still have a lot of work to get to where we want to be, and we’re not to the best point of this at all, either,” Hahn said. “But we’re getting close to the end of the beginning of this, which was going to be the toughest part.”

Here’s a look at three other reasons for optimism surrounding manager Rick Renteria’s crew.

Cease the wonder: Dylan has arrived

The No. 18 prospect overall per MLB Pipeline makes his Major League debut Wednesday afternoon in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Tigers. Cease’s numbers weren’t overwhelming during his last five starts for Triple-A Charlotte, but ultimately the right-hander’s Minor League statistics don’t matter nearly as much as the preparatory process followed to get him to this next challenge.

“I actually caught his first bullpen in Spring Training, and I was surprised to find out he was only 23,” said All-Star catcher James McCann of Cease. “How poised he was and his routine, he didn't act like a young kid. He acted like he had been around the block a couple times. So I'm excited. I know his stuff is elite, his stuff is there. I know he's going to be able to grow and mature at this level.”

Depending on how the White Sox schedule Cease, his first six starts could come against the Tigers, Royals, Rays, Twins, Mets and the Tigers again. Cease will gain key experience for the future as a member of the White Sox rotation for the remainder of 2019.

Hey now, you're All-Star worthy

Every team can list a player or two who had All-Star-caliber production but didn’t eventually make the roster. The White Sox feel as if they have four in shortstop Tim Anderson, third baseman Yoan Moncada and relievers Alex Colomé and Aaron Bummer.

Moncada, once considered the top prospect in the game, slashed .314/.374/.571 in April, only to dip to .254/.299/.415 in May. But the switch-hitter showed he’s learning and adjusting not just from year to be year but week to week by bouncing back with a stellar .381/.435/.667 line in June, albeit with only 69 plate appearances due to injury. He’s hitting .304 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs entering July.

“He’s an All-Star for me,” said Jose Abreu, now a three-time All-Star, through interpreter Billy Russo. “He has worked hard this whole season. He worked hard during the offseason. He has improved a lot. He learned from last year and we can see that on the field.”

Colome, who is 18-for-19 in save opportunities, will either be Hahn’s ultimate trade chip or an important future bullpen piece, with the White Sox holding another year of contractual control. Bummer and his 1.84 ERA over 25 games has proven to be a late-inning force, and Anderson with his .317 average, 11 homers and 15 stolen bases became one of the game’s breakout stars in the first half although is now sidelined with a high ankle sprain.

Add this group in with the All-Star emergence of staff ace Lucas Giolito and McCann behind the plate, and the core looks even stronger.

There’s more to come

Outfielder Luis Robert, ranked No. 5 overall per MLB Pipeline, just might be the best prospect of this high-end group. Nick Madrigal, the team’s top pick in the 2018 Draft, is excelling offensively at Double-A Birmingham and already possesses Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base. Michael Kopech, Carlos Rodon and Dane Dunning represent a trio of key starters at various return points from Tommy John surgery, making it easy to understand how average now could become a frontline team in the not-too-distant future.