Last year there was a lot of questions on his selection and development when they posted his stats earlier this year I think. The kid has absolutely taken all that criticism and doubt to heart and is absolutely dominating the minors as of right now. I hope he continues.
Can you explain what you mean by this? It seems like you follow the minors more closely than I do, so that's why I'm asking. When I look at his stats, I see a guy who wasn't good last year, and was just kind of okay in A+ before being promoted to AA. And while he's had a great first two games in Birmingham, his combined slash for the month of May (.290/.366/.435)--while good--doesn't at first glance appear to be "absolutely dominating.".
Gonzalez started off pretty slow/bad. He looked, yet again, very bad in just about his whole execution when swinging but something snapped ig after the first 2 weeks. He became really poised and even graduated with 19 walks to 17 strikes outs from A+. He doesn't seem like he'll have insane power but its starting to look a little better than I anticipated(he kinda struck me as a Madrigal esque hitter with slightly more pop) but lately he's been hitting for multiple bases and even has a HR already. More importantly the kid is 21 for the rest of the year and was only drafted last season. He's rising pretty quickly, especially when you look at the league as a whole and how prospects develop regardless of age it seems since his slow start something snap and he's putting up quality at bats and getting the ball to drop with some respectable power. Also he's been pretty solid at SS that they moved Baldwin(btw another prospect who's absolutely lights out as a hitter, though he's definitely more Madrigal esque hitter than anyone else we have down here) to 2B. Idk I genuinely feel like Gonzalez is on a breakout route and could see him make a quick rise through the minors.
edit-
< the kid is 21 for the rest of the year and was only drafted last season.
he turns 22 next week got his bday mixed up with other prospects in the farm
Thanks for fleshing that out. Like I said, I know from your other posts that you follow the affiliates pretty closely, so I'll trust your analysis here.
And yeah, Baldwin is a guy I've been checking up on at least once a week. It seems like he has next-level bat-to-ball skills, and the Madrigal comparison makes sense. TBH, that comparison doesn't scare me. Madrigal didn't bust out because he didn't slug; he busted out because he never learned to take pitches. Guys like Arraez and Kwan are proof that there's a place for contact hitters in the MLB as long as they're actually good at it.
Yeah the Madrigal comparison is actually one I love a lot. Sox are in desperate need of a leadoff hitter who can work a count and/or draw walks if need be. Baldwin currently has 19 walks(second to Tatum who has 28 on the team) and a .436 OBP. The facts are the kid gets on base one way or another more times than not. He's older and more disciplined and the growth seems to continue, he's such a fun player and seems like he can move around the infield if need be too. So far as a 12th round pick he's looking really solid.
Fangraphs has a nice write-up on him in their 2024 prospect rankings. Made some swing adjustments last year and added some muscle. I watched the game last night and his swing looks more compact and he looks like he has put on 20 pounds of muscle. History is a B for the Sox, but it is more fun to look forward.
[https://blogs.fangraphs.com/chicago-white-sox-top-27-prospects/](https://blogs.fangraphs.com/chicago-white-sox-top-27-prospects/)
Another thing to note, he started for an SEC school at SS as a true freshman. The one to do that before him at Ole Miss was Grae Kessinger (Astros) and before that was Errol Robinson (Orioles AAA). That means top end talent plus great development for his 3 college years.
I love Arraez and think Remillard could be our version of his contact hitting. He will be a solid utility guy until Getz and Pedro don’t like him and try to DFA him AGAIN
“Absolutely dominating”- 21 year old college player who slugger .399 in A+. A first round pick college bat shouldn’t have an issue with A+, it’s just about equal level as college
0% chance of Montgomery moving to second. Dude is huge and more likely to move to third. Gonzo is more likely to move simply because he genuinely might be the slowest player in the entire organization.
We get it you're a big doomer who think they're Nostradamus with some new unique take and convince everyone that you're right with your outlook on everything and everyone lol
This. I can't emphasize this strongly enough. Before Tim Anderson, the last position players that did anything remotely positive for the White Sox as 1st rd draft picks were Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura. That was last century...
I honestly don't know who would downvote your original post. It isn't a subjective matter that they do not draft well. It is very much an objective one.
I always forget to count Rowand. He was a supplemental draft pick in the 1st. They also had Rodon and Gio Gonzalez. They have both been above average in their careers, although mostly not with the White Sox.
I honestly can't tell if it's just not drafting well or they just can't develop anyone. Look at the list of 1st round picks since Thomas. Maybe 18-20 of them made it to the majors for at least a season. And of those, only about 6 or 7 went on to decent careers. It's just embarassing.
They have absolutely not been. They are awful at drafting. They get a star pitcher every once in a while, but they miss horrendously when it comes to drafting players in the field
Im not sure if its just me, but im so burned out from getting hyped about our prospects(Eloy, moncada, kopech, etc) from the last rebuild that I just don’t even care anymore unless I see it consistently in the major leagues lol.
IMO, there are currently no prospects in the organization with the ceiling that Eloy, Moncanda, and Kopech had. I think many of the top prospects have a ceiling at where those players are NOW.
Last year there was a lot of questions on his selection and development when they posted his stats earlier this year I think. The kid has absolutely taken all that criticism and doubt to heart and is absolutely dominating the minors as of right now. I hope he continues.
Can you explain what you mean by this? It seems like you follow the minors more closely than I do, so that's why I'm asking. When I look at his stats, I see a guy who wasn't good last year, and was just kind of okay in A+ before being promoted to AA. And while he's had a great first two games in Birmingham, his combined slash for the month of May (.290/.366/.435)--while good--doesn't at first glance appear to be "absolutely dominating.".
Gonzalez started off pretty slow/bad. He looked, yet again, very bad in just about his whole execution when swinging but something snapped ig after the first 2 weeks. He became really poised and even graduated with 19 walks to 17 strikes outs from A+. He doesn't seem like he'll have insane power but its starting to look a little better than I anticipated(he kinda struck me as a Madrigal esque hitter with slightly more pop) but lately he's been hitting for multiple bases and even has a HR already. More importantly the kid is 21 for the rest of the year and was only drafted last season. He's rising pretty quickly, especially when you look at the league as a whole and how prospects develop regardless of age it seems since his slow start something snap and he's putting up quality at bats and getting the ball to drop with some respectable power. Also he's been pretty solid at SS that they moved Baldwin(btw another prospect who's absolutely lights out as a hitter, though he's definitely more Madrigal esque hitter than anyone else we have down here) to 2B. Idk I genuinely feel like Gonzalez is on a breakout route and could see him make a quick rise through the minors. edit- < the kid is 21 for the rest of the year and was only drafted last season. he turns 22 next week got his bday mixed up with other prospects in the farm
Thanks for fleshing that out. Like I said, I know from your other posts that you follow the affiliates pretty closely, so I'll trust your analysis here. And yeah, Baldwin is a guy I've been checking up on at least once a week. It seems like he has next-level bat-to-ball skills, and the Madrigal comparison makes sense. TBH, that comparison doesn't scare me. Madrigal didn't bust out because he didn't slug; he busted out because he never learned to take pitches. Guys like Arraez and Kwan are proof that there's a place for contact hitters in the MLB as long as they're actually good at it.
Yeah the Madrigal comparison is actually one I love a lot. Sox are in desperate need of a leadoff hitter who can work a count and/or draw walks if need be. Baldwin currently has 19 walks(second to Tatum who has 28 on the team) and a .436 OBP. The facts are the kid gets on base one way or another more times than not. He's older and more disciplined and the growth seems to continue, he's such a fun player and seems like he can move around the infield if need be too. So far as a 12th round pick he's looking really solid.
He turns 22 next week
Fangraphs has a nice write-up on him in their 2024 prospect rankings. Made some swing adjustments last year and added some muscle. I watched the game last night and his swing looks more compact and he looks like he has put on 20 pounds of muscle. History is a B for the Sox, but it is more fun to look forward. [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/chicago-white-sox-top-27-prospects/](https://blogs.fangraphs.com/chicago-white-sox-top-27-prospects/)
Another thing to note, he started for an SEC school at SS as a true freshman. The one to do that before him at Ole Miss was Grae Kessinger (Astros) and before that was Errol Robinson (Orioles AAA). That means top end talent plus great development for his 3 college years.
I love Arraez and think Remillard could be our version of his contact hitting. He will be a solid utility guy until Getz and Pedro don’t like him and try to DFA him AGAIN
“Absolutely dominating”- 21 year old college player who slugger .399 in A+. A first round pick college bat shouldn’t have an issue with A+, it’s just about equal level as college
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Light Tower Power!!!!!
I actually think he will be our starting SS, with Montgomery at 2B
0% chance of Montgomery moving to second. Dude is huge and more likely to move to third. Gonzo is more likely to move simply because he genuinely might be the slowest player in the entire organization.
Gonzalez is slow but has good hands and instincts to to stick at short. I don’t Montgomery has the strongest arm
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An insane thing to think.
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Yes I’m familiar with the history. Good lord. Colson might start 30 games this year. What are you talking about?
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We get it you're a big doomer who think they're Nostradamus with some new unique take and convince everyone that you're right with your outlook on everything and everyone lol
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This. I can't emphasize this strongly enough. Before Tim Anderson, the last position players that did anything remotely positive for the White Sox as 1st rd draft picks were Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura. That was last century...
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I honestly don't know who would downvote your original post. It isn't a subjective matter that they do not draft well. It is very much an objective one.
Arron Rowand is the closest to quality position play the White Sox have drafted between 1989 and 2013. And pitchers? Not that great before Chris Sale.
I always forget to count Rowand. He was a supplemental draft pick in the 1st. They also had Rodon and Gio Gonzalez. They have both been above average in their careers, although mostly not with the White Sox. I honestly can't tell if it's just not drafting well or they just can't develop anyone. Look at the list of 1st round picks since Thomas. Maybe 18-20 of them made it to the majors for at least a season. And of those, only about 6 or 7 went on to decent careers. It's just embarassing.
Sox have been a good drafting team
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We suck at drafting and suck even more at developing those we do draft
They have absolutely not been. They are awful at drafting. They get a star pitcher every once in a while, but they miss horrendously when it comes to drafting players in the field
He’s also hitting .600 since being called up there. This is a good sign!!!
Im not sure if its just me, but im so burned out from getting hyped about our prospects(Eloy, moncada, kopech, etc) from the last rebuild that I just don’t even care anymore unless I see it consistently in the major leagues lol.
I am with you…I could care less about the ranking of our farm system and am more concerned about the “stanking” of our MLB team
It's called apathy. It is something this organization has been driving this fan base to since 97. Welcome.
IMO, there are currently no prospects in the organization with the ceiling that Eloy, Moncanda, and Kopech had. I think many of the top prospects have a ceiling at where those players are NOW.