Given the circumstances, it's not unreasonable to say that the 2025 season was a success for the White Sox. The team improved by 19 games from 2024, mainly on the backs of several young players who figure to be integral parts of the team moving forward.
While these young building blocks showed promise, they are far from finished products. There is plenty of room for growth heading into 2026.
Colson Montgomery - Strikeout Rate
After struggling badly in Triple-A to begin 2025, Montgomery quickly burst onto the scene after making his MLB debut on the 4th of July. He hit 21 home runs in just 71 MLB games, was 30% better than the league average hitter, and also emerged as one of baseball's best defensive shortstops.
While this season ended up being a major breakout, strikeouts were still an issue. Montgomery struck out at over a 29% clip in his first taste of MLB action, and lofty strikeout rates plagued him in the minor leagues as well. He struck out nearly 29% of the time at Triple-A in 2024, followed by a 33.9% strikeout rate in Triple-A before his MLB debut. Adding a more contact-oriented approach with two strikes would make him a more well-rounded hitter and even bigger threat at the plate.
Kyle Teel - Overall Defense
Teel became one of the league's most promising young catchers as a rookie, hitting .273/.375/.411 across with 11 doubles and eight home runs in 297 MLB plate appearances.
While the bat was as advertised, the defensive side of his game showed more areas for growth. He ranked in the 5th percentile in blocks above average, the 24th percentile in caught stealing above average, the 43rd percentile in pop time, and the 49th percentile in framing. Refining his skills behind the plate would move him into franchise catcher territory for the White Sox.
Shane Smith - Curveball/Slider Refinement
Other than a short stretch in late June and early July, Smith emerged as arguably the team's best and most consistent starting pitcher. He was the team's All-Star representative and went from a Rule 5 pick to a lock for a rotation spot heading into 2026.
His success as a rookie was mainly because of his fastball. Opposing batters hit just .198 against that pitch, with it also being in the 99th percentile in Run Value. For as good as Smith's fastball was, his breaking stuff was on the other end of the spectrum. Opposing hitters slugged .550 against his curveball and .465 against his slider, and two pitches combined for over 25% of his pitches thrown in his rookie year. Improving those secondary offerings or potentially scrapping them altogether will be essential for him to take the next step as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Edgar Quero - Pitch Framing
Quero showed promise as a rookie, particularly regarding his knowledge of the strike zone as a hitter. He was also one of the best catchers in baseball at picking off opposing baserunners while behind the plate.
One noticeable weakness in his game was his pitch framing. Quero ranked as the worst catcher in baseball in this category, coming in at -13 framing runs. The new ABS challenge system being instituted next year helps him significantly in this regard, but it is still an area of his game that needs refinement. He also slashed just .220/.301/.301 against right-handed pitchers compared to .357/.394/.457 against left-handers, so his at-bats from the left side could use improvement.
Chase Meidroth - Power
Meidroth was largely as advertised as a rookie. He put the bat on the ball, put up quality defensive metrics, flashed some speed, and rarely struck out.
Lack of power proved to be his biggest flaw. He slugged just .320 as a rookie, which actually ended up being lower than his .329 on-base percentage. He hit just 15 doubles and five home runs over 505 plate appearances, while ranking in the 2nd percentile in barrel%, the 20th percentile in hard-hit%, and the 23rd percentile in average exit velocity. Meidroth doesn't figure to ever be a big power threat, but his ceiling and intrigue will become significantly higher if he can start hitting the ball with more authority.
Mike Vasil - Command
Vasil emerged as one of the most reliable pitchers on the staff in his rookie year. He excelled in any role he was put in, and is in a prime position to play a significant role on next year's team.
Unlike Shane Smith, none of Vasil's individual pitches graded out poorly by the metrics. It was his inability to throw strikes that hurt him at times. He walked 52 in 101 innings, coming out to 4.6 walks per 9 innings. Improving his strike throwing and limiting free passes is the next step in his progression.
Grant Taylor - Cutter Refinement
Taylor's high-octane stuff allowed him to dominate the Double-A level and skip the Triple-A level entirely on his way to the big leagues. His 4.91 ERA in 36 MLB appearances isn't anything impressive, but he did strike out 54 in 36.1 innings. He also recorded a 1.42 FIP with a .420 BABIP against him, which is an indication that he was unlucky and pitched much better than his ERA would suggest.
If there is one weakness in Taylor's repertoire, it is his cutter. Opponents hit .364 against that pitch, and he generated just a 19.2 whiff% using it. The quality of that pitch pales in comparison to his four-seamer, which had a 32.1 whiff%, his curveball, which had a 37 whiff%, and his slider, which had a 31.6 whiff%. Taylor used his cutter 16.7% of the time as a rookie, so improving that pitch is essential for his development moving forward.
Brooks Baldwin - Overall Defense
Baldwin showed significant growth with the bat over the course of his sophomore season, hitting .253/.310/.459 in the second half compared to .227/.271/.357 in the first half. He also played all over the field defensively, playing at least 10 games each at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.
While his defensive versatility came in handy for the White Sox, the results were less than stellar. He graded out as a below-average defender at every position he played except for center field, where he was exactly league average. Strengthening his skills with the glove would make Baldwin a much more valuable player moving forward.
Miguel Vargas - Consistency
It was an up-and-down year for Vargas. He hit seven home runs with an .899 OPS in May and looked like he was on the verge of breaking out for good, only to put up a .661 OPS in June. He rebounded with a solid .803 OPS in August, but fell back to Earth again with a .701 OPS in September. Vargas showed flashes of being the player the organization envisioned when they acquired him, but consistency is the next step in his evolution.
Lenyn Sosa - Plate Discipline
2025 was by far the best year of Sosa's career to date. He hit 22 home runs and was arguably the team's most consistent hitter.
Despite his development, some of the same flaws persisted in Sosa's game. He drew just 18 walks in 544 plate appearances and graded out as a below-average defender at both first and second base. He is still just 25 years old and has gotten better every season, which makes it fair to say that he is still not a finished product. At the same time, though, he will have to become more selective at the plate and find a defensive home to reach his full potential.
Jordan Leasure - Fastball Refinement
Leasure has found himself as a polarizing figure in the White Sox bullpen for his lack of consistency, but he improved significantly from his rookie year. His second half of 2025 was especially good, as he pitched to a 3.26 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and 12.2 K/9 in 30 appearances.
His slider turned into a lethal weapon for him in his sophomore campaign, with a whiff rate of nearly 41% and a .147 batting average against. Hitters fared much better against his fastball, slugging .474 off that pitch. Leasure has the opposite weakness of Shane Smith; his slider is excellent, but his fastball needs refinement. Making his heater a more effective pitch could propel him into an even bigger breakout in 2026.
Light at The End of The Tunnel for White Sox
For the first time in a long time, the White Sox aren't selling hope; they're building on it. If this core takes the next step, 2026 could be the year the rebuild finally starts to pay dividends. These players all have certain aspects of their game that need work, however, so it will be interesting to see how they will evolve.
