Top White Sox prospects bolster strong arms en route to High-A affiliate's first South Atlantic League title

For the first time in its history, Winston-Salem stands atop the South Atlantic League as champions.

The White Sox High-A affiliate completed its sweep through the playoffs with a 2-0 victory over Greensboro on Tuesday night at First National Bank Field. Some big arms and highly touted prospects had a lot to do with the team's success this year, not just in the postseason.

• Get tickets to a Minor League game near you »

Starting pitching played a paramount role in the finale. For the second time in the postseason, southpaw Grant Umberger matched his career high with an 11-punchout gem. He delivered 7 2/3 dominant innings before right-hander Carlton Perkins struck out three in the final 1 1/3 frame.

The tandem limited the Pirates affiliate to just six baserunners. The contest marked just the third time in 137 games this year that the Grasshoppers were shut out -- two times courtesy of the Dash.

With Umberger -- who totaled 22 strikeouts over 14 innings of one-run ball in the playoffs -- holding it down for most of the game, a pair of solo homers from backstop Rylan Galvan and outfielder Nick McLain proved to be enough to secure the title. It was McLain’s second long ball of the Championship Series.

Jumping back to the semifinals opener -- a 10-inning nailbiter that Winston-Salem tied in the ninth -- the Dash have gone 28 consecutive frames without trailing in a game. Greensboro had put up 249 runs in the regular season. Dating back to 2005, no South Atlantic League team has even eclipsed the 200-run threshold.  

Since joining the league in 2021, the Dash had never made the postseason prior to this year. During its Carolina League tenure while known as the Dash, the franchise finished as runner-up to the champions twice.

This year’s roster featured several prospects who cycled through the lineup and helped the club live up to its potential. MLB’s No. 11 prospect Roch Cholowsky -- the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft -- had a brief nine-game stay with the Dash in which he checked off a myriad of professional firsts. Caleb Bonemer (CWS No. 2/MLB No. 29) served as a key bat during the first half, mashing 18 homers -- including 11 in 18 contests during one particular hot stretch -- over 61 games. Even backstop Boston Smith -- now the Mariners’ No. 13 prospect following the Luis Castillo Deadline deal -- supplied 14 homers and 35 RBIs before jumping to Double-A in early July and eventually leaving the organization. 

They weren't the only ones who left a mark on Winston-Salem's banner season. Here are some of the top contributors:

Kyle Lodise, SS/2B 

Recognized for his ability to impact every facet of the game as a Draft prospect, the 2025 third-rounder proved why in his debut campaign. Lodise (CWS No. 13) closed the regular season with 20 homers and 42 stolen bases in 111 games, becoming the first 20-20 White Sox prospect since 2023 and the first 20-40 since at least 2005. The 22-year-old plays with scrappiness akin to current big leaguer Sam Antonacci, and profiles as a power-hitting infielder with a strong baseball IQ.

Javier Mogollon, 2B/SS 

The White Sox No. 12 prospect delivered one of the biggest moments of the postseason with a three-run homer in the ninth inning of the semifinals opening game. The dinger kickstarted both Winston-Salem's Game 1 victory and momentum for the rest of the playoff run. 

Mogollon had been a steady performer down the stretch for the Dash. The 20-year-old with plus speed and a vicious right-handed stroke was promoted to High-A on July 28. Over 34 games, Mogollon posted an .842 OPS with seven homers, 35 runs and 13 steals.

George Wolkow, OF 

No White Sox Minor Leaguer drove in more runs than Wolkow in 2026. The club’s No. 14 prospect finished the regular season with a perfect 100 RBIs to go along with 22 big flies and 15 stolen bases. At 6-feet-7, 239 pounds, Wolkow produces elite swing speeds and can launch titanic moonshots. He’ll need to cut down on his strikeouts to fully reach his potential, but the physical ability is undeniable.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

James Taussig, OF 

Signed as a Minor League free agent in 2025, Taussig has been a diamond in the rough for the White Sox. This season he rose from Single-A to Double-A, making a 51-game pit stop in Winston-Salem. During his time with the Dash, the Texas native posted a .294/.382/.645 slash line with 16 homers. After heading to Birmingham, Taussig returned to High-A to close out the season and compete in the playoffs. He recorded a knock in all four postseason games, including home runs in both semifinal contests.