After a promising wave of rookie debuts in 2025, the next generation of White Sox talent is ready to make noise in the 2026 Rookie of the Year race.
Of the many Chicago White Sox players who made their MLB debuts in 2025 and showed real promise, two ended up receiving votes for American League Rookie of the Year honors.
Shortstop Colson Montgomery finished fifth in the voting, while right-handed starter Shane Smith placed tenth after a rookie season that also earned him an All-Star selection.
In the grand scheme of things, those results don’t mean much. A year from now, few will remember where either Montgomery or Smith finished. But for a fanbase that hasn’t had much to celebrate in recent seasons, it was refreshing to see the White Sox get a little national recognition—and to see some of their young talent mentioned for one of baseball’s most prestigious awards.
And I don’t think that’s the last time we’ll be hearing about this White Sox core in Rookie of the Year conversations, either.
There’s more talent coming through the pipeline, and the 2025 rookie class will soon be joined by an even deeper group of prospects ready to make an impact in 2026.
Chicago has only had six players win Rookie of the Year in franchise history. Before José Abreu did it in 2014, the last White Sox player to take home the honor was Ozzie Guillén in 1985.
With the latest wave of rookies showing out and a promising group thriving in the Arizona Fall League, it’s worth asking: who’s next?
Here are three White Sox players who could be serious Rookie of the Year candidates in 2026.
Braden Montgomery
Braden Montgomery is the top prospect in the White Sox organization and currently ranks No. 35 overall in baseball.
The 22-year-old switch-hitting outfielder flashed all five tools in his first professional season, and his performance in the Arizona Fall League has only made scouts even more bullish on his immediate future.
Montgomery posted 34 doubles, 12 home runs, and an .804 OPS in the minors—then followed it up with a ridiculous .527 on-base percentage and 1.161 OPS through 12 AFL games.
He’s a natural fit in right field for the White Sox, pairing elite arm strength with gap-to-gap power from both sides of the plate.
While he’s unlikely to break camp with the team, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in Chicago before June 1. Another Montgomery is going to bring national attention to the South Side, and there’s a world where his immediate impact makes him one of the most valuable rookies in baseball next season.
Shane Murphy
Shane Murphy doesn’t crack the White Sox Top 30 prospects list, but that’s hardly an accurate reflection of his standing in the organization heading into 2026.
Murphy was dominant nearly every time he took the mound in 2025. After starting the season at High-A Winston-Salem, he earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham—where he absolutely lit up the Southern League.
In 20 starts with the Barons, Murphy posted a 1.38 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, never allowing more than three runs in any of his 26 total appearances all year.
He finished the season in Triple-A Charlotte, throwing 14.2 productive innings at the highest level of the minors. He’ll be 25 on Opening Day, and depending on what the White Sox do in free agency, Murphy could be squarely in the mix for the final spot in the starting rotation.
Because he’s Rule 5 eligible, it’s likely the White Sox will add Murphy to the 40-man roster this winter—potentially opening the door for him to break camp with the big-league club. And just like Shane Smith in 2025, he could surprise some people.
Murphy doesn’t overpower hitters, but he owns a well-rounded pitch mix and elite command. He rarely gives up hard contact, and he simply knows how to get outs.
Considering his 135.1 innings pitched in 2025 were a career high, he might not yet be built for a full MLB workload. But if he throws around 150 innings with an ERA near 3.00, he’ll absolutely be in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
For context, Luis Gil won the award in 2024 after posting a 3.50 ERA over 151.2 innings—that’s the bar.
Hagen Smith
I’d bet on Murphy getting his rotation shot before Hagen Smith, but it’s only a matter of time before the former Arkansas lefty arrives—and when he does, the stuff that once made him a first-round pick will turn heads fast.
Smith’s 2025 season was a roller coaster. At one point, he was shut down for biomechanical work after his control completely wavered and his arm looked fatigued. It was a concerning stretch, but one that ultimately may have saved his season.
Over his final three regular-season starts, Smith posted a 2.08 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 13 innings.
He carried that dominance into the postseason with Birmingham, throwing five no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts in one outing, then following it up with another quality start in the Southern League championship.
Including his playoff work, Smith finished with a 3.40 ERA and 13.3 K/9—elite swing-and-miss stuff.
His momentum has carried right into the Arizona Fall League, where he’s logged a 2.57 ERA and 13.5 K/9 through five starts, earning a spot in the AL Fall Stars Game.
Smith will likely open 2026 in Double-A or Triple-A, but if he keeps trending upward, a big-league debut before the All-Star break feels realistic. From there, the sky’s the limit. His stuff alone will make him must-see TV across the baseball world.