Rebuild 2.0: The Quiet Revolution Transforming Our Future—What You’re Missing

As winter’s icy grip loosens its hold and the bitter chill begins to fade, we find ourselves on the cusp of baseball’s much-anticipated Spring Training. For those of us worn out from battling snowdrifts and scraping frost off our cars, the timing couldn’t be better. This year, the Chicago White Sox head to Camelback Ranch carrying more than just hopes—they bring solid proof that their Rebuild 2.0 strategy is bearing real fruit. Last week’s release of MLB Pipeline’s refreshed Top 100 Prospects list featured five White Sox players, placing Chicago in a tie with the Brewers, Cardinals, Dodgers, Marlins, and Pirates, and trailing only behind the Mariners and Guardians in sheer quantity.

This surge doesn’t just boost the Sox’s pride—it nudged them into the top 10 organizations for “prospect points,” tying with the Boston Red Sox at 214. Not flashy, but a steady, meaningful climb that reveals a system carefully and patiently retooled over the last couple of seasons. Leading this promising pack is Braden Montgomery at No. 36—a switch-hitting dynamo and the crown jewel acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet deal. Montgomery doesn’t just promise power; he offers it from both sides of the plate, already carving out his spot as the team’s premier offensive hope.

The pitching pipeline isn’t lagging either. Lefties Noah Schultz (No. 49) and Hagen Smith (No. 72) present a rare one-two punch, both boasting frontline starter potential that’s been catching eyes—and turning heads. It’s rare for teams to stockpile such left-handed talent with this kind of upside, and these two might be the backbone of a rotation the city can finally count on to stay home.

Beyond the mound, position-player depth is no joke anymore. Caleb Bonemer (No. 61) exploded onto the scene with a breakout season that showed off his power and defensive finesse, earning him Single-A Carolina League MVP honors. Billy Carlson (No. 73) might be a bit further down the road, but buzz about his defensive prowess is all over the industry. Together, they hint at a bright, balanced future for the White Sox—a system that’s finally stacking not just names, but real talent.

Momentum is on Chicago’s side as expert evaluators like Keith Law keep the Sox prospects in their sights, even as ESPN’s rankings leave a few names out in the cold. This discrepancy aside, the consensus is pretty clear: Chicago’s farm system is no longer just a work in progress—it’s a burgeoning force to be reckoned with. Having moved three hitters to the majors last year, the pipeline has kept pace rather than collapsing, thanks to players like Montgomery, Bonemer, Schultz, and Smith.

With camp opening soon and the 2026 No. 1 draft pick on the horizon, the White Sox’s future on the South Side might just be looking sunnier than ever before. LEARN MORE

Spring Training is nearly here, and not a moment too soon for those of us shoveling snow from our driveways and scraping ice off the windshields. As the Sox pack up for Camelback Ranch, they have fresh validation that Rebuild 2.0 is stocking the system with real upside. MLB Pipeline’s updated Top 100 Prospects list dropped last week, and Chicago landed five names on it, tying them with the Brewers, Cardinals, Dodgers, Marlins and Pirates. The Good Guys trail only two clubs, the Mariners (seven) and Guardians (six).

That presence also nudged the Sox into the organizational top 10 in regard to “prospect points,” where they finished tied with the Boston Red Sox at 214. While it’s not parade-worthy, it’s a modest and meaningful margin for a system that’s been steadily reshaped over the past two seasons.

Headlined by Braden Montgomery at No. 36, the White Sox have strong representation thanks to GM Chris Getz and a front office aggressively upgrading the farm through both trades and the draft. The switch-hitting outfielder, the crown jewel of the haul Boston sent back in the Garrett Crochet trade, heads into camp as the organization’s clear No. 1 prospect. He brings legitimate middle-of-the-order power potential from both sides of the plate and immediately slots in as one of the system’s most impactful offensive bets — something reflected in his rising stock across the industry.

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The rest of the list underscores the system’s growing balance, particularly on the mound. Lefthander Noah Schultz (No. 49) and fellow southpaw Hagen Smith (No. 72) give the White Sox something few organizations can match: two left-handed hurlers with frontline-starter upside. Schultz’s size and angle have long intrigued evaluators, while Smith adds polish along with swing-and-miss ability. Together, they offer the South Siders a potential one-two punch anchoring a future rotation that actually stays in Chicago this time around instead of being shipped off for parts.

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Position-player depth is no longer a punchline and comes in the form of hitters with varying journeys and timelines. Alongside Montgomery is Caleb Bonemer (No. 61), who vaulted up prospect lists after a breakout campaign that showcased emerging power and defensive versatility at shortstop and third base, culminating in a Single-A Carolina League MVP award. Meanwhile, Billy Carlson (No. 73) remains further away but is already earning industry-wide praise as a defensive darling. If everything clicks, the Sox may have an elite long-term answer in the middle of the diamond.

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The momentum for Chicago’s prospects carried into this week as well, when The Athletic’s Keith Law released his own Top 100 Prospects list on Tuesday, and again, the White Sox were well represented. It was a stark contrast to ESPN’s rankings published on Wednesday, which featured only Bonemer (No. 34), Schultz (No. 96) and Carlson (No. 100), leaving off both Montgomery and Smith entirely. Law ranked Montgomery even higher than Pipeline did at No. 30 overall, while also including Bonemer (No. 44), Smith (No. 58), Carlson (No. 66) and Schultz (No. 95). The overlap between evaluators — our friends at ESPN not withstanding — only reinforces what’s becoming harder to dismiss: the Sox aren’t just accumulating names, they’re stacking up some genuine talent.

What makes all of this particularly encouraging is the context. A year ago, the White Sox graduated three hitting prospects to the big leagues in Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Rather than leaving a void, the system has maintained its stability with Braden Montgomery, Bonemer and Carlson on the offensive side, while Schultz and Smith form the backbone of the next wave of pitching. With camp about to open and the 2026 No. 1 draft pick looming, maybe, just maybe, things are finally looking up on the South Side.