It’s award season in minor league baseball, and a rising White Sox prospect is taking home the title of Single-A’s best player.
Caleb Bonner, the White Sox fourth-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, capped off his 2025 breakout season by earning Carolina League MVP and All-Star honors. The second round pick in last year’s draft, hit .281 with ten homers, 58 RBIs, and 68 walks during his 96 games with Kannapolis before being promoted to the White Sox High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem.
In just his first professional season, the 19-year-old infielder led the Carolina League with a .400 OBP, .458 slugging percentage, and .858 OPS, to go along with 27 steals. It was an impressive showing for Bonner, who displayed a balance of plate discipline and power. Heading into the season, scouts highlighted his quick swing and the raw power it generated. That was on full display this season, as Bonner connected for 46 extra-base hits between Winston-Salem and Kannapolis.
Bonner has also proven to be a solid defender at shortstop and third base, with a strong arm that allows him to make tough throws from a variety of different angles. However, after committing 16 errors at shortstop, his path to the big leagues may be at third base.
Bonner was considered to be a first-round prospect coming out of high school after earning back-to-back Gatorade Michigan High School Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. However, he fell in the draft after some inconsistent performances during summer showcase events.
The White Sox were able to capitalize, landing him with the 43rd pick in the 2024 draft. Bonner earned a $2,997,500 signing bonus, as a result, which was considered higher than the recommended bonus for a second-round player.
But the invest has already produced early returns with Bonner projected to be MLB-ready by the 2028 season.
