Earlier this season, Colson Montgomery was not the one Chicago White Sox former first spherical decide that was trending within the flawed route. Jacob Gonzalez, who was drafted fifteenth general by the White Sox again in 2023, began his minor league profession with main crimson flags.
He hit .207 with a .589 OPS in 30 video games at Low-A Kannapolis in 2023 after ge was drafted. His slash line in 94 video games final season at Double-A was .225/.284/.321.
Not solely was Gonzalez struggling to hit for energy, he was struggling to hit in any respect. It was not a very good look, and it was laborious clarify contemplating he as soon as hit .355 as a real freshman within the SEC.
Gonzalez was beginning to appear like one other White So first spherical decide that might be fortunate to simply get a cup of espresso with the MLB squad.
Gonzalez received off to a different tough begin in 2025, together with his common dropping to .207 with a .589 OPS as of May 16. However as an alternative of pulling him from game action and sending him to Arizona to work with Ryan Fuller, the previous Ole Miss Rebels infielder switched to the torpedo bat, per FutureSox
Jacob Gonzalez simply might find yourself inside my prime 10 White Sox prospects record. Hasn’t been that top since he received drafted.
He’s actually discovering a groove with the torpedo bat, and stopping Ok’s at a ridiculous fee (6 Ok in final calendar month), whereas tapping into some energy. https://t.co/9ElBw1F4W6
— Dylan Barnas (@NotCease) June 15, 2025
The bat change is paying off
Since making the change to the torpedo bat, Jacob Gonzalez is hitting .313 with an OPS of .891. He has 14 extra-base hits in his final 31 video games.
He is hitting for common and energy whereas taking part in good protection on the infield. All of the sudden, I really feel some hope surrounding Gonzalez’s future relatively than dread.
It could not be surprising to see him transfer into the workforce’s Prime 10 prospects as soon as Kyle Teel and Grant Taylor graduate from prospect standing. Gonzalez is presently ranked because the Eleventh-best prospect within the workforce’s farm system per MLB Pipeline.
Extra importantly, Gonzalez will be thought of as a viable choice to lastly break a 20-year curse at second base. The workforce has been making an attempt to exchange Ray Durham and discover a long-term resolution for the place since 2002.
Gonzalez is now within the combine, together with Chase Meidroth, Caleb Bonemer, and Colson Montgomery, to be within the White Sox infield for an prolonged time period.
Gonzalez can even play shortstop, however most scouts believe second base shall be his place within the Main Leagues.
I am undecided Gonzalez is ever going to be an All-Star participant. But when he can develop right into a constant starter and put up 1.5-2 fWAR each season, it could be an enormous win contemplating the White Sox have achieved a horrible job of growing first spherical picks into strong ballplayers.
Andrew Vaughn’s fWAR was -1.7 in 5 seasons on the South Aspect earlier than lastly being traded to Milwaukee. Vaughn was the third general decide within the 2019 MLB Draft.
Whereas it could be nice for some famous person gamers to emerge throughout this rebuild, growing gamers who elevate the workforce’s ground can be a necessity. Profitable lineups will not be utterly made up of stars. Batting orders want strong, productive gamers, too.
If that’s all Gonzalez seems to be, it could be an enormous draft win.
