Chicago’s farm system is deeper than most realize — and two under-the-radar lefties could be the next breakout arms in the organization.
The 2025 season saw the Chicago White Sox finish 60–102, marking their third straight 100-loss campaign.
But down on the farm, it was an incredibly productive season that inspired hope.
The Birmingham Barons posted an 81–57 regular-season record and capped it off with a championship run in the Southern League playoffs.
Prospects such as Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, and Grant Taylor all climbed their way to the big leagues and made an impact in Chicago. Others rose rapidly through the system and elevated their prospect status, including Christian Oppor, Caleb Bonemer, Sam Antonacci, and Tanner McDougal — who was recently added to the 40-man roster.
So who’s next? Who’s the prospect that White Sox fans aren’t talking about yet — but will be by the end of 2026?
Keep an eye on a pair of left-handed pitchers: Grant Umberger and Blake Larson.
Grant Umberger
In 34 appearances at Virginia Tech from 2021–23, Umberger struggled, posting a 6.48 ERA with nearly as many walks (32) as innings pitched (33.1).
A transfer to Toledo changed his trajcetory. Moving into a full-time starting role, Umberger logged 15 starts, 75.2 innings, 80 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .243 average — enough to get him on MLB radars, but not enough to hear his name called in the 2024 draft.
After graduation, Umberger joined the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League, where he quickly earned a reputation as one of the league’s best arms. He later signed with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, and manager (at the time) Lamarr Rogers praised him as “one of the best starting pitchers in the [Draft League] in 2024." MLB contacts believed Umberger was a “big-bodied lefty with a bulldog mentality.”
Clearly, the White Sox agreed. On February 20, 2025, Umberger signed a minor-league deal with Chicago and opened the season at Low-A Kannapolis. He earned a late promotion to High-A Winston-Salem — and was solid from start to finish.
He went 9–2 with a 2.56 ERA and 116 strikeouts, allowing just 34 walks in 105.2 innings. He threw 66% strikes, signaling real improvement in command.
For an organization with a strong history of developing left-handed starters, Umberger fits the mold. He’s not on any Top 30 lists and remains largely unknown, but another strong season in High-A — and eventually Birmingham — could put him firmly on the radar. By this time next year, he could be in the conversation as a minor-league arm knocking on the door of Chicago’s rotation.
Don’t sleep on Umberger because of his undrafted status. The White Sox may have found a true diamond in the rough.
Blake Larson
Blake Larson doesn’t have the same underdog story as Umberger, but he’s just as much of an unkown heading into 2026.
The White Sox selected Larson with the 68th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft — a pick acquired from Seattle in the Gregory Santos trade early in Chris Getz’s tenure. Chicago made a significant investment immediately, signing Larson for just under $1.4 million after scouting him heavily at IMG Academy and the Area Code Games.
However, fans haven’t seen him in game action yet. After gaining 17 pounds of strength following the draft, Larson suffered an elbow injury in January that required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire 2025 season.
He’s projected to be healthy for Opening Day 2026.
Before the injury, Larson sat at 94–96 mph with run and sink. I think his fastball could tick into the upper 90s as he matures. His slider already grades as a plus pitch, giving him a legitimate foundation for a starter’s arsenal.
Larson currently sits as the No. 23 prospect in the organization — but that ranking could skyrocket quickly if he flashes post-injury. Even Chris Getz expressed excitement, telling FanGraphs that "[Blake Larson]’s got a chance to be really special. We anticipate him having a productive, fun, first active season.”
The optimism isn’t just internal. MLB evaluators see Larson as a high-upside project with a massive ceiling. MLB Pipeline noted he’s drawn early comparisons to Max Fried and Shane McClanahan — lofty names, but maybe not unrealistic if Larson stays healthy.
And there may be no better place for his development than the pitching lab under Brian Bannister.
Larson is in good hands — and 2026 could be the year White Sox fans start hearing his name a whole lot more.