2025 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 25

Jacob Gonzalez tops our Round 24 ballot. So, who is the 25th-best prospect in the White Sox system?

Just one Vote after setting this year’s mark for player longest on the ballot, Jacob Gonzalez took 41 of 207 votes (20%) on his 21st try. He made a pretty incredible leap, from his perpetual No. 7 slot to first place:

2025 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 25

Gonzalez becomes the fifth shortstop and 12th position player overall to advance. That means that nearly than half of our position players advancing so far are shortstops — although it’s been 13 rounds since we’ve seen one move on:

Like Jake Eder and Nick Nastrini right before him, Gonzalez fell badly from the high regard with which he was held a year ago, in his first time on the ballot: In 2024 Gonzalez finished ninth in our voting, which qualified him as our second shortstop and fourth position player overall.

Here are the past No. 24s in our Votes:

2024 Ryan Burrowes (21%)
2023 Jordan Sprinkle (21%)
2022 No one; Jonathan Stiever (40%) at No. 17 represented our final vote
2021 DJ Gladney (30%)
2020 Codi Heuer (30%)
2019 Konnor Pilkington (35%)
2018 Charlie Tilson (40%)

With this Vote, Caleb Bonemer has been on the ballot for 20 rounds, meaning he will have to win Round 25 to avoid at least a tie with Gonzalez as the player longest on our ballot. And just two spots behind him is Blake Larson. The good news for both is that for the first time since they entered the ballot 18-20 rounds ago, they moved up from No. 9 and 10 on the ballot. We’ll see how these perennial cellar-dwellers fare in the key Votes to come.

New addition Nick McLain became the first player in ages to debut in last place, earning 12 votes. This round sees catcher Ronny Hernandez hop on the ballot.

South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2025

Brooks Baldwin — 37% (Schultz 26%, Quero 13%, Smith 4.5%, C. Montgomery 4.1%, Adams 3.8%, Wolkow 3.5%, Taylor 3.1%, Iriarte 2.8%, Ramos 2.4%)
Noah Schultz — 21% (Quero 19%, Smith 11.4%, C. Montgomery 10.7%, Adams 9%, Wolkow 8%, Taylor 7%, Bush 6%, Ramos 5%, Iriarte 4%)
Edgar Quero — 25% (Smith 15%, C. Montgomery 12%, Adams 9%, Wolkow 8%, Taylor 7.4%, Bush 6.9%, Ramos 6.3%, Iriarte 5.7%, Perez 5.1%)
Hagen Smith — 23% (C. Montgomery 18%, Adams 11%, Perez 9%, Taylor 8.0%, Wolkow 7.5%, Ramos 7.0%, J. Gonzalez 6.5%, Bush 6.0%, Iriarte 5.5%)
Colson Montgomery — 29% (Adams 13%, Taylor 10%, Perez/Wolkow 9.5%, Ramos 8.6%, J. Gonzalez 6%, Bush 5.4%, Iriarte 5.0%, Bonemer 4.5%)
Aldrin Batista — 22% (Adams 13%, Perez 12%, Taylor 11%, Wolkow 10%, Ramos 9%, Bush 7%, J. Gonzalez 6.3%, Iriarte 5.9%, Bonemer 5.4%)
Mason Adams — 20% (Perez 13%, Taylor 12%, Wolkow 10%, Ramos 9.1%, J. Gonzalez 8.6%, Iriarte 8.1%, Bush 7.5%, Larson 6%, Bonemer 5%)
Kyle Teel — 30% (B. Montgomery 9.4%, Meidroth 8.7%, Perez 8.1%, W. Gonzalez/Taylor 7.4%, Wolkow 6.7%, Ramos 5.4%, J. Gonzalez 4.7%, Bush 4.0%, Iriarte 3.4%, Larson 2.7%, Bonemer 2.0%)
Braden Montgomery — 26% (Meidroth 11%, Perez 10%, Taylor 9%, W. Gonzalez 8%, Ramos 6.7%, Wolkow 6.4%, J. Gonzalez 5.8%, Bush 5.5%, Iriarte 5.1%, Bonemer 4%, Larson 3%)
Chase Meidroth — 22% (Perez 12%, Taylor 11%, W. Gonzalez 10%, Wolkow 9%, Ramos 8%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Iriarte 6.3%, Bush 5.8%, Bonemer 5.3%, Larson 4.8%)
Jeral Perez — 20% (Taylor 14%, W. Gonzalez 12%, Wolkow 11%, Ramos 10%, J. Gonzalez 9%, Bush 8%, Iriarte 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Grant Taylor — 25% (Wolkow 12.1%, W. Gonzalez 11.6%, Ramos 10%, Bush 9%, Iriarte 8.1%, Burke 7.6%, J. Gonzalez 6.1%, Bonemer 5.6%, Larson 5.1%)
George Wolkow — 24% (W. Gonzalez 12.3%, Ramos 11.8%, Iriarte 10%, Nastrini 9%, Bush 8%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Burke 6%, Bonemer 5.4%, Larson 4.9%)
Tyler Schweitzer — 20% (Ramos 13%, W. Gonzalez 12%, Nastrini 11%, Bush 10%, Iriarte 9%, J. Gonzalez 8%, Burke 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Alexander Albertus — 18% (Ramos 14%, W. Gonzalez 12%, Nastrini 11%, Bush 10%, Iriarte 9%, Burke 8%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Bryan Ramos — 21% (W. Gonzalez 12%, Veras 11%, Nastrini 10.4%, Bush/Iriarte 10.0%, J. Gonzalez 8%, Burke 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Wikelman Gonzalez — 21% (Veras 13%, Nastrini 12%, Keener 11%, Bush 10%, Iriarte 9%, Burke 8%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Wilfred Veras — 17% (Keener 13.2%, Iriarte 12.7%, Nastrini 12.2%, Burke 11%, Bush 9%, Bergolla 8%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Bonemer 6%, Larson 5%)
Jairo Iriarte — 20% (Burke 15%, Nastrini 12%, Bush 11%, Zavala 10%, Bergolla 8%, Keener 7%, J. Gonzalez 6%, Bonemer 5%, Larson 4%)
Ky Bush — 22% (Burke 16%, Nastrini 12%, Zavala 11%, Bergolla 9%, Keener 8%, Pallette 7.2%, J. Gonzalez 6.8%, Bonemer 5.3%, Larson 4.9%)
Sean Burke — 22% (Eder 13%, Nastrini 12%, Zavala 11%, Bergolla 10%, Keener 8%, Pallette 7%, J. Gonzalez 6%, Bonemer 5.4%, Larson 4.5%)
Jake Eder — 19% (Nastrini 14%, Carela 13%, Zavala 11%, Bergolla 9%, Keener/Pallette 8%, J. Gonzalez 6.4%, Bonemer 5.6%, Larson 4%)
Nick Nastrini — 21% (Carela 14%, Zavala 12%, Bergolla 11%, Keener 10%, Pallette 9%, J. Gonzalez 7%, Mogollón 6.4%, Bonemer 5.6%, Larson 4%)
Jacob Gonzalez — 20% (Bergolla 14%, Zavala 12%, Carela 11%, Keener 9%, Pallette 8.7%, Mogollón 7.7%, Bonemer 6.8%, Larson 6.3%, McLain 5.8%)

William Bergolla

Second Baseman
Age 20
2024 High Level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -3.1 years
Overall 2024 MiLB stats 89 G ▪️ 1 HR ▪️ 40 RBI ▪️ .300/.359/.381 ▪️ 20 BB ▪️ 38 K▪️ 27-of-33 (81.8%) SB ▪️ .984 FLD%

A tidy pickup from the Phillies for Tanner Banks at the trade deadline last summer, Bergolla fits the bat discipline/speed type that Chris Getz has been collecting of late. He’s been a fast riser, jumping right from the DSL to Low-A ball and cracking High-A, traversing four levels in three seasons.

Caleb Bonemer

Shortstop
Age 19
2024 High Level Okemos (Mich.) H.S.
Age relative to high level N/A
Overall 2024 prep stats 8 HR ▪️ 35 RBI ▪️ .541 BA ▪️ 15 SB

There’s scant stat evidence available for Bonemer, but the White Sox dipped back into the plans of prior drafts by picking a prep high up in the draft, and a shortstop at that (Jacob Gonzalez was 2023’s first-rounder, Colson Montgomery 2021’s). Bonemer was Michigan’s player of the year as a prep, but at just 19 should see a lot more developmental (Camelback Ranch) play than game action in 2025.

Juan Carela

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age 23
2024 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level -2.5 years
Overall 2024 MiLB stats 7-7▪️ 23 starts ▪️ 106 2⁄3 IP ▪️ 3.77 ERA ▪️ 114 K▪️ 45 BB ▪️ 1.238 WHIP

Carela has mostly flown under the radar since being acquired from the Yankees in at the 2023 trade deadline. But he’s forcing his way into an increasingly crowded rotation situation at this point, punctuated by seven brilliant starts for Birmingham to end the 2024 season yielding a 3.58 ERA and 1.163 WHIP while being well underage for the level.

Ronny Hernandez

Catcher
Age 20
2024 SSS Top Prospect Poll Ranking 27
2024 High Level Kannapolis (Low-A)
Age relative to high level -1.5 years
Overall 2024 stats 96 games ▪️ 1 HR ▪️ 46 RBI ▪️ .273/.387/.328 ▪️ 15-of-109 (13.8%) CS ▪️ 62 BB ▪️ 59 K ▪️ .998 FLD%

Hernandez had a mixed season as he entered full-season ball at age 19, continuing his contact and on-base prowess but seeing his power get completely sapped. Add to that an average arm in rookie ball getting run on with an 86% success rate, and it’s a bit of a crossroads season for the youngster.

Seth Keener

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age 23
2024 SSS Prospect Poll ranking 20
2024 High Level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -1.0 years
Overall 2024 MiLB stats 4-4 ▪️ 16 starts ▪️ 69 1⁄3 IP ▪️ 4.02 ERA ▪️ 82 K ▪️ 36 BB ▪️ 1.298 WHIP

The 2023 third-rounder saw his roll slowed a bit due to injury than knocked him out for about six weeks in the second half last year. And upon promotion to High-A, it was very rough going (two starts, five innings, 12.60 ERA). Still, this starter intrigues and was a dark horse candidate for the highest-ceiling pitcher taken by the Sox two summers ago.

Blake Larson

Left-Handed Starting Pitcher
Age 19
2024 High Level IMG Academy (Prep)
Age relative to high level N/A
Overall 2024 stats N/A

Larson was a TCU commit out of IMG Academy (via Des Moines, Iowa high school). He was rated a lower pick in the draft (108ish) than the spot the White Sox selected him (second round, 68th overall), but the club took a shot on a $1 million-plus bonus getting a young arm to eschew the Horned Frogs, and succeeded. Larson will likely be on the slow boat coming out of spring, with extended instruction at Camelback Ranch and some token starts in the short ACL season. In 2026, we might get a chance to see him getting rotation work in Kannapolis.

Nick McLain

Right Fielder
Age 22
2024 High Level Arizona State (NCAA)
Age relative to high level +0.1 years
Overall 2024 NCAA stats 48 games ▪️ 12 HR ▪️ 54 RBI ▪️ .342/.457/.663 ▪️ 6-of-8 (75.0%) SB ▪️ 33 BB ▪️ 27 K

McLain was Chicago’s third round pick in 2024, fourth overall, and first college bat. After a prodigious, 48-game season for the Wildcats during his (redshirt) sophomore season, the switch-hitter took a breather and will make his pro debut this spring.

Javier Mogollón

Shortstop
Age 19
2024 High Level Arizona (Rookie)
Age relative to high level -1.8 years
Overall 2024 stats 46 games ▪️ 8 HR ▪️ 29 RBI ▪️ .259/.406/.525 ▪️ 16-of-16 (100%) SB ▪️ 33 BB ▪️ 69 K ▪️ .904 FLD%

Remember the excitement over Ryan Burrowes, just one year ago? Mogollón did everything that Burrowes was supposed to, and better. While the glove still needs to round into shape, this teenager was the sole formidable bat in Arizona in 2024. Keep an eye out for this fella.

Peyton Pallette

Right-handed starting pitcher
Age 23
2023 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 11
2024 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 18
2024 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level -1.5 years
Overall 2024 stats 4-8 ▪️ 32 games (12 starts, 8 finishes) ▪️ 2 SV ▪️ 82 1⁄3 IP ▪️ 4.37 ERA ▪️ 95 K ▪️ 34 BB ▪️ 1.324 WHIP

The rotation just wasn’t working out for Pallette, at all — to the tune of a 7.21 ERA. Once in the pen, however, uh-oh … the righty rocked a 1.01 ERA and 0.739 WHIP and made it up to Birmingham. Another such effort in 2025 could land the man on the South Side.

Samuel Zavala

Center Fielder
Age 20
2024 High Level Winston-Salem (High-A)
Age relative to high level -3.1 years
2024 MiLB stats 111 games ▪️ 8 HR ▪️ 39 RBI ▪️ .187/.340/.301 ▪️ 83 BB ▪️ 104 K ▪️ 14-of-19 (73.7%) SB ▪️ .994 FLD%

Possessing one of the weirder slashes in all of the White Sox system due to an almost Terrell Tatum level of Three True Outcomes, the speedster is still highly regarded due to his pop and the fact that he is well younger than his MiLB peers.