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.
CHICAGO -- There are no official statistics currently on the back of the baseball card for White Sox prospect Billy Carlson, the 10th pick overall in the 2025 Draft.
But the talented shortstop, who is rated by MLB Pipeline as one of the game’s top-flight defensive prospects, already had his “welcome to the pros” sort of moment.
Carlson was working out post-Draft in Arizona last summer during a game against the Reds, when Kyle Lodise, the team’s third-round pick in that same ’25 Draft, was pulled after his requisite plate appearances designed for an eventual promotion to High A Winston-Salem. Carlson, a 19-year-old from Corona High School in California, was the replacement, and right-hander Tejay Antone, on an injury rehab assignment for Cincinnati, was Carlson’s first-ever pitcher faced.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, God. It’s going to be a big leaguer for my first at-bat. Here we go,’” Carlson said during a phone interview from Arizona. “But I ended up walking, so I was happy with that. It was not a terrible first at-bat, I guess.
“He’s massive too. I was like, ‘Oh, geez. This is the real deal. He’s [6-foot-4], huge. Damn this guy is a big dude.’ I ended up walking, so that was cool.”
Those cool moments are just beginning for Carlson, who is getting ready for his first professional Spring Training possessing the engaging personality, confidence, and drive of a seasoned big leaguer. But where will this gradual developmental process eventually take Carlson within a mix of talented White Sox players at this crucial shortstop position?
Colson Montgomery launched 21 home runs over 71 games following his White Sox promotion on July 4 to finish fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year vote, with his stellar defense solidifying a hold on shortstop. Caleb Bonemer, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 White Sox prospect at 20 years of age, was named the ’25 Single-A Carolina League’s Most Valuable Player.
COMPLETE WHITE SOX PROSPECT COVERAGE
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is seemingly in line to be the No. 1 pick overall in the ’26 Draft by the White Sox. Carlson, the No. 3 White Sox prospect and No. 71 overall, has his focus on that shortstop position in the present.
“Whatever I’m at, I’m giving it my best,” Carlson said. “I’m trying to obviously stay at short. I’m working really hard here on ground balls every day. Just continuing to try to get better and never being complacent. If I keep that same attitude, everything will kind of take care of itself.
“I hope nothing but the best for those guys, but at the end of the day, there’s only one guy who can play short. I’m working really hard knowing that in the back of my head.”
That work at shortstop presently is taking place during a White Sox performance camp at Camelback Ranch, a ramp-up to Spring Training for primarily younger players. Carlson hasn’t really worked at other positions, but he’s ready to do so, if necessary.
“Honestly just infield in general has come really easy to me growing up,” Carlson said. “I think wherever I’ll be at, I’ll be pretty successful, whether it’s second, third or short. I told one of our infield coaches, I was shagging out in the outfield, and I was like ‘Hey if worst comes to worst, I’m a center fielder.’
“My dad has always taught me that growing up. You never know -- you come up, there’s an All-Star shortstop like Colson, he’s a great player. You have to be able to be versatile and play different positions. I’m ready for that, if need be.”
Through his offseason work in Los Angeles and at 108 Sports for a couple of weeks at a time in Knoxville, Tenn., Carlson has prepared for this first real test of pro baseball. He’ll be on his own, away from his original support system. But Carlson is excited for the season.
“It’s just a lot of unknown. I’ve never done it,” Carlson said. “I’m just kind of going in and hoping for the best. I’m excited for the challenge and competing against a lot of really good players.
“I’ve always told my parents, USA events, All-American events, all these events where I’m taking ground balls with the best and taking BP with the best and facing the best pitchers, this is what I like to do. I think any good player likes to give themselves a challenge.”