The White Sox will get top prospect Caleb Bonemer work in center field in the minor leagues, assistant GM Josh Barfield tells Scott Merkin of MLB.com. He’ll mix in outfield work through the end of the Double-A season and during the Arizona Fall League.
Bonemer, a second-round pick out of high school in 2024, has been a full-time infielder. He was drafted as a shortstop and has split his playing time between the two positions on the left side of the infield. Bonemer is more of a bat-first prospect whose future with the White Sox is unlikely to be at shortstop.
Colson Montgomery has the positioned locked down at the MLB level, at least until the arrival of 2026 #1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky. Last year’s first-round selection, Billy Carlson, might be the best defender of the group but faces questions from scouts about his offensive ceiling.
In any case, it’s unlikely that Bonemer winds up as the long-term shortstop. Breaking into that infield at all is a challenge. The Sox are well positioned across the diamond for this year and next with Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas. Cholowsky, despite a slow start in High-A, could be a factor by the middle of next season given the general timeline for top college draftees.
Although Barfield stressed that Bonemer isn’t moving off the infield entirely, it’s sensible to expand his versatility. Chicago is also well positioned in the outfield with Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters and Braden Montgomery. Bonemer would have more paths to breaking into the 2027 roster if he can handle multiple positions in response to injuries or anyone underperforming.
The 20-year-old Bonemer is one of the better power hitters in the minor leagues, popping 33 home runs with a .249/.381/.556 slash between High-A and Double-A. The Sox won’t need to put him on the 40-man roster this offseason but figure to start him at Triple-A Charlotte with an eye toward a potential midseason promotion in ’27.
Bonemer’s ultimate positional fit is a question for next season and beyond. The Sox have an established starting lineup right now. The pitching staff is much more up in the air. Between Davis Martin’s blister injury and Noah Schultz’s demotion to Triple-A, the Sox are juggling two spots. Erick Fedde and José Urquidy are getting the bulk work on those days, usually behind openers.
Drew Thorpe could be an alternative for the stretch run. The righty is pitching well on a rehab assignment from March 2025 Tommy John surgery. Thorpe has gotten up to five innings in each of his past two appearances and is slated for another start with Triple-A Charlotte this evening (link via James Fegan of The Chicago Sun-Times).
He shouldn’t be far off MLB readiness and could be activated from the 60-day injured list when teams get an extra pitcher in September. Thorpe struggled over his first nine starts back in 2024 but was a highly-regarded prospect who headlined Chicago’s return from the Padres for Dylan Cease.
Kyle Teel is also heading to Charlotte this evening, as Brooke Fletcher of Chicago Sports Network relays that he’ll begin a rehab stint. That keeps Teel on track for the early September activation for which the team hoped. He has been out since mid-July with a sprained left ankle. The Sox acquired Joey Bart as a stopgap catcher but almost immediately lost him to a hand fracture. Drew Romo and waiver claim Jake Rogers have split the catching duties for the last couple weeks. Teel has a much higher offensive ceiling.
