After moving Adam Eaton and Chris Sale, the White Sox currently have six players inside the top 100 prospects according to MLB Pipeline. Four of those prospects came from those two trades alone.
GM Rick Hahn has been universally applauded by the baseball universe for just how much talent he was able to acquire at the Winter Meetings. While Sale and Eaton are great players, the prospects Hahn acquired are expected to help spearhead the White Sox back into the playoffs upon their arrival to the MLB.
Fans should be able to see how bright the White Sox future is once MLB Pipeline releases their 2017 rankings on January 28th. The team will have one of the biggest showings amongst top 100 prospects.
From January 17th until January 26th, MLB Pipeline will be revealing the top ten players at a specific position, before their big reveal on the 28th. The site began their reveal by ranking the top ten right-handed pitchers in the minor leagues.
Number one went to Alex Reyes of the Cardinals. However the Chicago White Sox dominated the list, having three prospects ranked.
Lucas Giolito was ranked as the third best right-hander in the minor leagues. MLB Pipeline wrote:
The prized right-hander of last year's class, Giolito saw his stock wane over the course of the season and especially in the big leagues, where apparent mechanical issues resulted in diminished velocity and hindered his control. He's shown the ceiling of an ace in the past, with the ability to command a mid-to-upper 90s heater, a knee-buckling curveball and a fading changeup, and now has renowned pitching coach Don Cooper on his side after joining the White Sox as part of the offseason Adam Eaton blockbuster deal.
Giolito has appeared in 75 minor league games and 369 innings. He holds a career 25-15 record with a 2.73 ERA and a 397/123 K/BB ratio. Giolito is widely expected to be the team's future ace. Assuming he can fix his mechanical issues, the White Sox prospect could be one of the best pitchers in the MLB.
Michael Kopech was ranked as the fourth best right-handed pitcher in the minors. MLB Pipeline wrote:
Kopech began the year on the disabled list with a broken hand but made up for the time lost with dazzling performances in the Class A Advanced Carolina League and, later, in the Arizona Fall League. Acquired in the Chris Sale trade in December, the 20-year-old hits triple digits with ease and backs it up with a plus slider and a promising changeup. As he continues to make developmental strides, Kopech will move quickly in 2017.
Kopech has appeared in 36 minor league games and 134.2 innings. He holds a career 8-7 record with a 2.61 ERA and a 172/69 K/BB ratio. Kopech is one of the fastest throwers in the minor leagues. He needs more seasoning in the minors, but the former Red Sox should be a lights out front-line starter once he reaches the major leagues.
Reynaldo Lopez was ranked as the tenth best right-hander in the minors. MLB Pipeline wrote:
Overshadowed by Giolito headed into last season, Lopez proved the more effective of the duo in the big leagues before joining him in the offseason trade to Chicago. A more consistent and linear delivery resulted in improved strike-throwing ability for the 23-year-old righty, who can miss bats with his well above-average fastball, excellent curve and improved changeup.
Lopez appeared in 11 games and 44 inning at the major league level last season, pitching to a 5-3 record with a 4.91 ERA and a 42/22 K/BB ratio. In 61 minor league games and 307.2 innings, Lopez pitched to a 19-19 record with a 3.16 ERA and a 303/95 K/BB ratio.
Lopez may not be as hyped up as Giolito or Kopech, but he has the potential to be one of the better pitchers on the White Sox. He should help form a three-headed monster in Chicago's super rotation of the future.
Giolito, Kopech and Lopez are three of the best pitchers in baseball. The fact that Hahn was able to acquire all three is outstanding. If they're able to hit their ceiling, the White Sox should have a downright scary rotation sometime in the future.
Keep in mind that both Tyler Glasnow (#2) and Francis Martes (#5) are ranked inside the top ten. If the White Sox are able to acquire either pitcher in a deal for Jose Quintana, the team would be right up there with the New York Mets for best young pitching staff in the majors.
Other White Sox prospects such as Yoan Moncada, Zack Collins and Carson Fulmer should end up in the top 100. But Giolito, Kopech and Lopez are the cream of the crop when it comes to right-handed pitchers in the minor leagues. These rankings are a symbol of just how successful the South Siders rebuild has been thus far.
Feel free to continue the conversation on Twitter: @DFappiano14
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