The Chicago White Sox have some of the most talented arms in the minor leagues. Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech, and Reynaldo Lopez are the 3rd, 4th, and 10th rated right handers in all of minor league baseball, respectively. Throw in Carlos Rodon, who has flashed ace potential, and whoever the Sox acquire in a future trade, and we could be talking about one of the best rotations in all of baseball.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and 2020 -- the year the Sox should be able to compete for a World Series. In this article, we will break down the probable 2020 rotation, from the back end, to the No. 1 starter. This will include all minor league call-ups, as well as potential trades and free agent signings.
Let's get started.
About a week ago I had this spot pegged for current Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow. The White Sox seem to match up with Pittsburgh for a Jose Quintana trade better than any other team. That was until Houston picked up two first-round draft picks from the St. Louis Cardinals due to an illegal breach of the Astro's database. This gives them more ammunition to go out and trade for Quintana.
Headlining the deal will be Francis Martes, the No. 29 overall prospect and 5th ranked right-hander. Martes has a 65 grade fastball, sitting consistently in the 93-95 range, with the ability to hit 98. With that comes a power curve that has gotten better each of the last couple years. While his changeup is below average, it has shown signs of developing. If the Astros and White Sox do end up trading, expect Martes to anchor the back end of the rotation for years to come.
If the team's No. 4 starter in 2020 is Reynaldo Lopez, fans should be salivating with eagerness. Lopez' best weapon is his 70 grade fastball that sits at 96 and has hit 100 numerous times. While his curve and change are just average for now, he should be able to develop at least one of the two into a second plus offering.
If Lopez can fully tap into his potential, he will have frontline starter status. The fact that he might be a No. 4 really shows how deep of a rotation the White Sox could eventually have down the road.
By the time 2020 rolls around, Carlos Rodon will have had more than enough experience under his belt. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his short career thus far, but has yet to consistently pitch to his ace potential. Don Cooper is still one of, if not the best pitching coaches in the MLB, and he will surely find a way to get the most out of Rodon this season.
Rodon, along with Tim Anderson, is going to be one of the main faces of this White Sox rebuild. If he can put together a full season that mirrors his second half of 2016, he should finally be classified as an ace, and one of the better left-handers in all of baseball.
When it's all said and done, Giolito could very well be the ace of the Chicago White Sox. However, his short stint in the MLB did not go as the Nationals would have liked, and they seemed perfectly fine with trading him. To some fans, this has raised a red flag. Many worry that he will not reach his max potential.
Obviously, there is an adjustment period to be had for all players when transitioning from the minors to the MLB. Giolito is no different. Furthermore, many scouts have already said that Giolito's mechanics can be easily tweaked so that he can repeat his delivery in an easier and more consistent fashion. His raw stuff is absolutely devastating. Once he develops his control and command, everything else will fall into place and he will become the frontline starter that many see him as.
In the words of Hawk Harrelson, "the best pitch in the baseball is a good fastball." Well, Kopech certainly has one of those. Grading out at a perfect 80 (rarely ever seen), it sits at 96-98, and hit 105 in a minor league game last season. It also has late running life that has opposing batters swinging and missing both inside and outside of the strike zone. However, the opposition cannot just sit and wait for a fastball, as Kopech also provides a wipeout slider that can sit at 90. While his changeup is not completely reliable as of yet, it still shows signs of becoming a plus pitch. If it does, Kopech will have three-plus pitches he can use to consistently keep hitters off balance. He also has an incredible makeup and seems to have that I'm-the-best mentality.
If Kopech can maintain his velocity deep into games, he will unquestionably be the No. 1 starter on the Sox pitching staff. At the end of the day though, any of the five names mentioned has the potential to be that guy.
5) Francis Martes
About a week ago I had this spot pegged for current Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow. The White Sox seem to match up with Pittsburgh for a Jose Quintana trade better than any other team. That was until Houston picked up two first-round draft picks from the St. Louis Cardinals due to an illegal breach of the Astro's database. This gives them more ammunition to go out and trade for Quintana.
Headlining the deal will be Francis Martes, the No. 29 overall prospect and 5th ranked right-hander. Martes has a 65 grade fastball, sitting consistently in the 93-95 range, with the ability to hit 98. With that comes a power curve that has gotten better each of the last couple years. While his changeup is below average, it has shown signs of developing. If the Astros and White Sox do end up trading, expect Martes to anchor the back end of the rotation for years to come.
4) Reynaldo Lopez
If the team's No. 4 starter in 2020 is Reynaldo Lopez, fans should be salivating with eagerness. Lopez' best weapon is his 70 grade fastball that sits at 96 and has hit 100 numerous times. While his curve and change are just average for now, he should be able to develop at least one of the two into a second plus offering.
If Lopez can fully tap into his potential, he will have frontline starter status. The fact that he might be a No. 4 really shows how deep of a rotation the White Sox could eventually have down the road.
3) Carlos Rodon
2) Lucas Giolito
When it's all said and done, Giolito could very well be the ace of the Chicago White Sox. However, his short stint in the MLB did not go as the Nationals would have liked, and they seemed perfectly fine with trading him. To some fans, this has raised a red flag. Many worry that he will not reach his max potential.
Obviously, there is an adjustment period to be had for all players when transitioning from the minors to the MLB. Giolito is no different. Furthermore, many scouts have already said that Giolito's mechanics can be easily tweaked so that he can repeat his delivery in an easier and more consistent fashion. His raw stuff is absolutely devastating. Once he develops his control and command, everything else will fall into place and he will become the frontline starter that many see him as.
1) Michael Kopech
In the words of Hawk Harrelson, "the best pitch in the baseball is a good fastball." Well, Kopech certainly has one of those. Grading out at a perfect 80 (rarely ever seen), it sits at 96-98, and hit 105 in a minor league game last season. It also has late running life that has opposing batters swinging and missing both inside and outside of the strike zone. However, the opposition cannot just sit and wait for a fastball, as Kopech also provides a wipeout slider that can sit at 90. While his changeup is not completely reliable as of yet, it still shows signs of becoming a plus pitch. If it does, Kopech will have three-plus pitches he can use to consistently keep hitters off balance. He also has an incredible makeup and seems to have that I'm-the-best mentality.
If Kopech can maintain his velocity deep into games, he will unquestionably be the No. 1 starter on the Sox pitching staff. At the end of the day though, any of the five names mentioned has the potential to be that guy.
