Minor league seasons ended today, just a quick 5 up 5 down for the Sox farm this season.

UP- Tim Anderson SS/CF

Triple slash on the year .301/.327/.482, including a .872 OPS at AA Birmingham in 40+ AB's. His bat took the next step and is probably Charlotte worthy but he needs work with his plate discipline and especially defense. He's probably a top 50 prospect in baseball. Could start next year at Charlotte if he does well at the AFL.

DOWN- Matt Davidson 3B

Finished below the Mendoza Line. Absolute trash. Struck out a ton, didn't walk enough and while he showed power (in the rare instances he made contact) it wasn't all that impressive. This is quite the bummer, giving up Reed hurts and he could've been the 3rd (maybe 4th) prospect in the Top 100 for an improving White Sox farm system. Incredibly disappointing season for him.

UP- Tyler Danish RHP

Bulldozed Kannapolis so hard Sox had to move him up to W-S as a 19 year old. He struggled initially but caught a hell of a groove, at one point having a 13 inning hitless streak and a 20+ inning scoreless streak. Got tired a bit after 100 IP (to be expected of a 19 year old) but still put together a nice year at A+, he'll start next year at Birmingham, with an outside chance for Charlotte. Perhaps a Top 100 prospect due to his age and performance at levels he should've struggled much more at.

DOWN- Erik Johnson RHP

Not technically a prospect anymore due to MLB service time, but he'll make one hell of a sandwich artist soon! Disastrous stint to start the year with the White Sox parlayed into a terrible year at Charlotte. An ERA almost at 7, almost as many walks as K's. At 25 there's no hope at all, Johnson is not only down but out. Like Davidson, this is a kick in the nuts. He was our top arm coming into the season.

UP- Cleuluis Rondon SS

His glove is there. He's one of the best defensive players in all the minors already at age 20. The problem? Why he was thrown into the Peavy trade? We'll he's Clue Luis at the plate (pardon the pun). But there's been some improvement at the plate, enough to suggest he's starting to figure it out. He struck out marginally less, but walked a lot more while making better use of the gaps. He doesn't have to be good at the plate to carve out a major league career, his glove is that good, but he needs to get himself in a position to at least put the bat on the ball enough to hit over .250. A guy to keep an eye on.

5 more a comin'

Is Johnson's future at SS? If so, he's probably a year off with Ramirez entering his final season under contract/

DOWN- Trayce Thompson OF

It feels like he's been around forever, and he has. The tools are still there, he's still a good defensive OF with fantastic speed on the bases, but the kid just can't hit. Slash of .237/.324/.419 in a full season at Birmingham, in his second consecutive year there. He struck out more too in his second year at the same level. Trayce does have a positive, though. He reminds the Sox how absolutely awful this system used to be. I mean, Trayce Thompson was a top 5 prospect for years within the Sox. How far we have come.

UP- Trey Michalczewski 3B

And exciting little something, Trey was an over slot 6th round pick last year and did very well for himself as a 19 year old at Kannapolis before being moved up to W-S (which at his age is a big deal). Winston Salem was not particularly kind to Trey, but he still managed to get his share of walks and kept the plate discipline that facilitated an early breakout year at Kannapolis. Trey is at a cross roads, a big year at W-S gets him squarely on the national radar as one of the games better 3B prospects. You don't often see players this age with his plate discipline and if his bat can come around on high A stuff he becomes something of a can't miss guy on the hot corner. If his struggles persist it will wear the shine off a little, but it'll hardly be the end of the road for him.

DOWN- Keon Barnum 1B

Let's make this quick: if you're going to play first it's nice of you can hit. Barnum cannot. A .671 OPS at 1st as a 21 year old at A+ is pretty unacceptable for any player trying to stay on the prospect radar. Barnum doesn't walk, he doesn't hit for HR power (doubles power, which is fine if he could play any other position) and he absolutely adores striking out. There was hope for him as a big lefty bat when he was drafted, now he's Matt Davidson but worse. Yikes.

UP- Frank Montas RHP

Another piece of the Peavy return from last year Montas has always had electric stuff. 97 mph fastball, devastating change and, now, some developing breaking stuff. The problem has always been control, which he figured out (and then some) at High A this year. 62 innings with 52 K's and 14 BB, highly encouraging for a guy who's ball and chain has been control. He pitched 5 innings of shut out ball to finish the year at Birmingham, which is probably the same place he'll start next season. A good early performance could put him in the mix at the big league level by the ASB (depending on what the Sox needs are).

DOWN- Courtney Hawkins OF

I'm sick of this guy and his shit. I don't want to talk about him anymore. He's got tools and he does show them occasionally but he strikes out too much. Someone else will see something in him this offseason and maybe we can get a bullpen arm for him. I should not give up on him the way I have, but fuck it. Dude cannot hit, hitting is a big part of being a baseball player. Trayce Thompson v2, spare me it.

Still up in the air, if he can improve his glove at the AFL and into next year he's a very exciting SS prospect. The athleticism is there. Right now though, I'm inclined to Say CF. I do hope he proves me wrong.

America, thanks for that overview. If you had to rate the Sox system relative to other clubs, where do they stand? I follow the local papers closely, but there have been very few stories on the Sox minor league system. The only articles I see are about this year's first round pick.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Slightly below average, between 15-20 but shading towards 15.

The thing about our system now is this time next year it could easily be Top 10. There's a lot of super high upside now dwelling at the lower levels, guys like Danish, Rondon and Trey who I mentioned but also Micker Adolfo, Spencer Adams and Jefferson Olacio who I did not. The Sox farm is (finally) healthy, with real talent across all levels and guys who actually hold some value to other teams.

Gotcha. They're going to need it to fill a lot of holes. I for one do not believe Gillaspie is the answer at third. He lacks power and could easily regress on average. They need a lot of arms. Catching is also a black hole.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Hey pay attention to your own damn plan pal.

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Elections have consequences.

I agree on Gillaspie, I think his future is LF (where he's an average ML player) or on a different team as part of a package in exchange for something bigger. He's just too inconsistent defensively at 3rd and there is a very real regression threat looming over his bat.

The only guy developing for the Sox right now I really believe in as a Major Leaguer is Marcus Semien. I love his game, he sees a ton of pitches, has good power, plays multiple positions (IF and OF) and has a terrific knack for getting on base. I like him more than I like Rodon, and I realllllly like Rodon.

The arms are coming, and whereas the light at the end of the tunnel would be a lot brighter if they were all 1 year ahead of where they are now in their development we should still be encouraged by their presence. It's a big concern going into next year, we need new arms to fill out what should be a totally different bullpen and there's just not much at the upper levels of the minors that appears particularly exciting there. Nolan Sanburn (acquired for Dunn) is a very welcome addition.

Catching is a black hole for half the MLB. Sticking with Flowers may be our best bet. I would love to see better pitch framing by Nieto late this year as well. Just give me barely replacement level guys at C who can defend and I'll be happy.

I do not like the White Sox, but I enjoy watching the games and following them in the papers. I have always been objective with respect to them.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

courtney hawkins went from one of the worst years in history to about average. I'd say that is a huge UP.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

America, you have some strong thoughts. I am with you on Semien. He did some nice stuff earlier this season. They should have dumped Gordon sooner to give Semien a longer look. I am a Hahn fan, and I can't wait to see how he transforms the roster this off season.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I get your point, but America is speaking with respect to his original potential.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

And a lot of others are taking it as such. I just feel like I should know better when it comes to toolsy OF's who struggle at the plate. All they do is entice and tease.

I'm not all that excited with this whole situation.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Buy a gun and shoot yourself.

Seriously.

Do It.

Gillaspie would be fantastic in a platoon situation. He hits MLB RHP very well over 2+ years of experience.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I don't think Ventura could figure out how to do a platoon. He'd bat righties against righties and lefties against lefties.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

From FutureSox, just a fun guy to watch.

and not one mention of Rangel Ravelo

America how could you miss him????

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His stock definitely improved; but his future is DH/1B and I'd like to see a little more power for those positions.

You don't say? Hmm very few articles following the Sox prospects.

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Elections have consequences.

Gillespie reminds me of a Grace type player. No I did not say he is Grace. He can play ball and hit for average and so on. Just need to find a position where power is not needed on either Sox or another team. Probably a 2B guy.

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Elections have consequences.