A full look at the latest performances from White Sox prospects across all levels of the minor leagues, including standout outings from top arms and rising bats.
It’s been a somewhat rocky start for the Chicago White Sox at the Major League level in 2026.
Chicago’s 6–10 record is tied for the worst in baseball, and their -30 run differential already tells the story. But with the way they’ve played, it almost feels like it could be even worse. That -30 mark is the worst in the league, and whether it’s players not taking the projected steps forward the White Sox hoped for, or injuries forcing them into ugly, on-paper lineups, the start to the regular season hasn’t been what many fans envisioned.
Luckily, there could be some help on the way.
The White Sox are calling up top pitching prospect Noah Schultz to make his MLB debut on Tuesday. We may even see Sam Antonacci in Chicago by the end of the week. And while things haven’t been perfect by any means in the minor leagues, there’s a lot going on down on the farm that should give some optimism to White Sox fans who need it.
With Mondays serving as the required off day across Minor League Baseball, there’s no better time to look back at the most recent week of games and reflect on everything happening with notable White Sox prospects.
Charlotte Knights (AAA)
In Triple-A Charlotte, the starting pitching remains the main storyline, and it has been as advertised.
Noah Schultz tossed five innings with one earned run and nine strikeouts in his most recent outing, and as mentioned, he’s now headed to the big leagues for his MLB debut. And by the looks of it, he may be just the first of a wave of prospects we see in Chicago before the end of the 2026 season.
Former No. 5 overall pick Hagen Smith tossed three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his latest start. Smith has been on a stricter innings limit than the other top pitching prospects in the system, but through three outings, he owns a 2.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts across nine innings.
Tanner McDougal is more stretched out. He went six innings with two earned runs and eight strikeouts in his most recent appearance. His ERA now sits at 2.40, with 19 strikeouts in 15 innings of work.
Everyone looks the part, and given how badly the White Sox already need innings, it wouldn’t be surprising to see both Smith and McDougal in Chicago before the end of the year.
Birmingham Barons (AA)
There’s more pitching to highlight in Double-A as well.
For whatever reason, 25-year-old left-hander Shane Murphy remains with the Birmingham Barons, despite posting a 1.38 ERA at that level over 110.2 innings in 2025. Murphy delivered six scoreless innings with five strikeouts over the weekend and now sits at 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA through two starts in 2026.
At some point, his production needs to be rewarded with an opportunity, whether that’s in Charlotte or Chicago.
Beyond that, the story in Birmingham centers around two outfield prospects.
Samuel Zavala, acquired from the Padres in the Dylan Cease trade, is off to a massive start to his age-21 season. Zavala had a huge weekend, going 6-for-14 with two home runs, five RBIs, and two walks. He’s now batting .345 with a 1.093 OPS, and at just 21 years old, it’s a strong sign he may have turned a corner and could become a legitimate piece for the White Sox if he sustains it.
Braden Montgomery, the top prospect in the organization, struggled for much of last week before finding his footing over the weekend. He hit two home runs on Sunday, bringing his season OPS back up to .834. The White Sox would certainly like to see more consistency and a reduced strikeout rate, but Sunday served as a reminder that slumps happen, and Montgomery still has all the talent in the world.
Winston-Salem Dash (A+)
In High-A Winston-Salem, it’s all about the bats.
Shortstop Caleb Bonemer, currently ranked as the No. 57 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, is playing like someone ready to climb that list quickly. He’s on a five-game hitting streak, going 7-for-19 with four doubles and two home runs, and now owns a .303 batting average and a 1.052 OPS on the season.
Corner infielder Anthony DePino hit two home runs over the weekend, showcasing the raw power that led to 20 home runs in his final season at Rhode Island. DePino has been forced to spend time at first base in Winston-Salem due to just how loaded the infield is.
That group includes Colby Shelton, a sixth-round pick out of Florida last year. Shelton started the season 0-for-5 but has since gone 10-for-21. He’s now hit safely in six straight games, recorded an RBI in five straight, and has a batting average of .476 since that slow start.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (A)
It’s been a rough start for the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, who have struggled to generate offense and have just three home runs as a team.
One of the few bright spots has been the patience of Jaden Fauske, the No. 7 prospect in the White Sox system and their second-round pick in 2025 out of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park, IL. Fauske has drawn nine walks in eight games, posting a .436 on-base percentage with three stolen bases.
Beyond that, starting pitcher Max Banks has stood out. A 14th-round pick in 2025 out of the University of Washington, Banks has made two professional starts and thrown eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. At 22 years old, he could be a candidate for an early-season promotion.
White Sox Roundtable will continue to provide weekly rundowns of everything happening in Chicago’s farm system, with recaps of the prospects and minor leaguers who are so critical to the team’s future.