The post White Sox organization hitting, stealing like never before appeared first on Sox On 35th.
Something special is brewing in the White Sox farm system. Until this point in my 25 years of life, it feels like the South Siders develop pitching well but struggle with hitters. Today, for the first time, I feel genuinely impressed with the progress of both groups.
Several notable hitters … are hitting. At the same time. At all different levels. Moreover, the organization from top to bottom is swiping bases like crazy, from Luis Robert Jr. to the minor-league-leading Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
Let’s start there, with baserunning. Over the last 10 years between the Low-A and Triple-A levels, Chicago’s best bag-swiping mark was an average of 1.35 steals per game in 2024, with a mean over that period close to one. Thus far in 2025, that number is a whopping 1.66 steals per game. Those Cannon Ballers are stealing at will, pacing all farm teams with an absurd 90 steals in 28 games.
Looking to the big leagues, the roster sorely lacks speedsters. But the one guy that has legitimate wheels, Luis Robert Jr., has been a madman on the basepaths, leading the majors alongside Oneil Cruz. His 15 steals in 2025 are only eight off last year’s season total of 23. Clearly, the Sox and their fresh personnel have embraced a new mindset following Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams’ departure towards the end of the 2023 campaign.
Luis Robert Jr. now is the SOLE stolen base leader in the MLB with 15!
pic.twitter.com/fQogqpxy8F
— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) May 4, 2025
Keep in mind, the White Sox brought in a new director of hitting, Ryan Fuller, from the offense-happy Orioles organization this offseason. There’s a concerted effort at specific improvements going on behind the scenes here. Outside increased stealing, which is most clear in the targeting of prospects with elite on-base skills. That plan is already starting to bear fruit across the system.
Sure, the aggregate numbers at the plate across the four main farm teams aren’t anything special, but respectfully, the bottom 60% of farm talent is irrelevant. What’s happening in that other 40%, though, is unprecedented for Chicago.
Observing the last 10 minor league campaigns, the White Sox have had 25 farmhands register with at least 200 plate appearances and a wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) at or above 140. That’s good for an average of 2.5 prospects per year. Thus far in 2025, there are eleven guys at that level with at least 60 plate appearances.
Look at some of the names in that group: Tim Elko, Braden Montgomery, Jeral Perez, Caleb Bonemer, Javier Mogollon, Sam Antonacci. All guys on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospect list for the South Siders!
Yes, regression to the mean is a thing. 12 ballplayers won’t end up on that list at season’s end. But even if half of them fall off over the year, that’s still an impressively high increase in elite offensive showings. Want to see more? Let’s check on-base percentage, the ever-important quality Chris Getz has keyed in on.
The Sox had 11 batters record an OBP of .400 or more with the same criteria in the same range, good for about one per year. Right now, the 2025 stat sheet boasts, again, 11 guys in that category. It’s mostly the same list, with one noteworthy flip of Edgar Quero replacing Perez.
Sure, maybe that’s only four hitters by the end of the campaign. But this quantity of elite offensive talent just hasn’t been present in recent years. Ask anyone who’s written their fair share of minor league recaps—2025 is different for the White Sox. Even turning once more to the big league team, Chase Meidroth and Quero have struggled mightily to drive the ball in the majors, yet still sport OBP’s of .362 and .391, respectively.
We’ll see what the rest of the summer has in store for the South Siders’ talented young position prospects. For now, encouraging strides are visible in the offense department, which is great news for a franchise also loaded with intriguing arms.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more!
Featured Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The post White Sox organization hitting, stealing like never before appeared first on Sox On 35th.