The White Sox were elated to see the lanky Longhorn fall to them in the 5th round of the 2008 draft. Immediately after signing, Danks was sent to full season Low-A Kanapolis where he batted .325 with 2 HR 7 RBI and 10 runs scored in 10 games. He continued to impress during his brief stint in the Arizona Fall League hitting .302 with a HR 7 RBI and 3 SB in 18 games. Long and lean, Danks has excellent athleticism and speed that serves him well in CF and on the bases. Coming out of high school, Danks was projected to develop into a power hitter, but that skill never manifested itself during his time with the University of Texas. Instead, he employs a short, quick stroke from the left side which produces hits to the gaps and the occasional long ball. Danks allows for the ball to travel deep into the strike zone which gives him a little more time to see a pitch. As a result, his plate discipline is quite advanced and he feels comfortable working deep into counts. There is quite a bit of projectibility left in his frame and with some adjustments to his swing, he could become more of a power hitter in the future.
2009 Projection: Danks' build and overall game is almost identical to Cincinnati Reds prospect and fellow Longhorn Drew Stubbs. The White Sox will probably send him to High-A Winston-Salem for the start of the '09 season and if things go well, a move to AA Birmingham is by no means out of the question. Watch to see how Danks' game evolves this season. He is a player that could develop as a tall, athletic top of the order player a la Dexter Fowler or he could tap into his power potential and become more of a mid-lineup player that hits 20+ HR per season. Either way, Jordan has an exciting batch of skills that should continue to bloom over the next couple of seasons as he works his way to meet up with his brother, John, in Chicago.
The White Sox outbid both the Yankees and Red Sox for the services of the 19 year old Cuban Native Dayan Viciedo. Viciedo was a 17 year old when he joined the Cuban national team and his blend of jaw dropping power and the ability to hit for a high batting average prompted Chicago to offer him a 4-year $11 million Major League deal. Viciedo is reported to have much more offensive upside than fellow Cuban defector and White Sox infielder Alexei Ramirez. Viciedo is built like a bull and, despite his size, is more athletic than expected. However, his weight is a major concern as he first reported to the White Sox at nearly 270 lb. There are questions about how his size will affect his ability to play MLB quality defense at the hot corner. He will be given a long look at spring training by Guillen, who is a stickler for good defense on his clubs.
2009 Projection:The clock is ticking on Viciedo's freshly signed contract, which means that the White Sox are firm believers in his ability to rapidly acclimate himself to MLB baseball. Chicago currently has Josh Fields in the fold as their starting 3B, but his inability to fulfill the promise and accolades levied upon him in the earlier stages of his career could diminish opportunities if his struggles to hit MLB pitching continues. Viciedo will get a long look this spring and the possibility of him breaking camp with the White Sox is a distinct possibility. Last season Alexei Ramirez broke camp with the big club without ever playing a minor league game. Viciedo has the same potential, but nearly 8 years Ramirez's junior, it seems more likely that he will get some seasoning at the minor league level.
The White Sox invested about $600 K in signing this young Dominican SS in the hopes that he would fulfill the comparisons to Miguel Tejada that several scouts assigned to him. Rather, the 17 year old Silverio struggled mightily at short season Bristol hitting just .228 with 2 HR 35 RBI and 38 runs scored in 59 games. Silverio is long and lean with sinewy strength that should increase as he ages and builds muscle. He generates exceptional torque and bat speed that should produce above average power in the future. The biggest deterrent to Silverio's offensive game resides in his awful plate discipline (8 BB/56 K). Silverio has trouble recognizing offspeed pitches and swings at too many balls out of the strike zone. While this is a common malady of many young hitters, it is an area that he will need to improve to ensure future development. Though he is a good athlete and above average runner, he doesn't steal many bases and profiles better as a middle of the lineup hitter. Defense was a real bugaboo with the young SS as he committed 24 errors en route to a lowly .911 fielding %. He has a strong arm and good range, but may find himself playing 3B in future seasons. The White Sox know that they have a long term project in Silverio and are quite willing to take their time in helping him realize his sky high upside.
2009 Projection: Silverio will be just 18 when the season begins which makes it quite likely thathe will find his way back to Bristol for more work following an extended spring training stint. Look to see how his body has developed over this year. If he has added some weight, it may be reasonable to expect an increase in power output. Of course, the major component of his success hinges on his ability to effectively work counts and draw more walks. Additionally, the ability for Juan to stay at SS is key to the potential value of his cards. Shortstops, especially ones with power, are much more valued commodities in the prospecting market. If he can shore up his defense and stick at the 6-hole, it will provide for a more beneficial market for his cards.
Poreda kept trudging along Chicago's fast track, pitching well at both High-A Winston Salem and AA Birmingham for a combined 8-9 record with a 3.13 ERA and 40 BB/119 K in 161 IP. Poreda's towering barrell-chested frame is quite durable and effortlessly generates a mid-90's fastball that touches 100 MPH on a few occasions. As dominant as his fastball is, his secondary pitches, a slider and change, are far less effective. This has allowed for hitters to sit on the fastball and make good contact at times. Without a solid secondary reportoire, it would seem that Poreda would be best suited for the bullpen, but Chicago team officials are optimistic that these offerings will come along in time. Poreda does a fine job of commanding his fastball down in the strike zone which helps him to induce more groundballs (1.39 GO/FO) and limit the amount of long balls he surrenders ( 6 HR allowed in '08). His competitive makeup and poise are highly regarded and well suited for his future role as a frontline starter or dominant closer.
2009 Projection: There has been some speculation that Poreda will earn a rotation spot in spring training, but the more likely destination for him is AAA Charlotte. The White Sox are flush with left-handed pitching depth with the likes of Mark Buerhle. John Danks, and Clayton Richard already in the rotation, but the upside for Poreda is so high that he could push Richard for that final spot in the rotation this spring. Another possibility is that Poreda could make the MLB roster as a late inning reliever . The best bet for him would be to continue to refine his offspeed stuff in Charlotte while being first in line for a promotion if and when a spot opens up for him. Watch to see if he can boost his K rate this season as that will be an indicator of how much his breaking pitches have progressed. Regardless of whether he is a starter or reliever, Poreda has the stuff and mindset to be a dominant pitcher at the Major League Level.
This promising young Venezuelan's season was cut short in mid-May when he shattered his ankle sliding into home plate. Prior to the injury, Martinez was hitting .306 with 2 HR 18 RBI and 7 SB at Low-A Kannapolis. Surgery and rehab kept him out for the remainder of the season, but all reports show that he should be ready to begin the 2009 season. Martinez has a long, athletic frame that has evoked comparisons to a young Juan Gonzalez. Like Juan-Gone, Martinez has immense power potential evidenced by his jaw-dropping BP moonshots. Unlike some young hitters, Jose has a good approach at the plate drawing some walks and limiting his strikeouts. He is a complete hitter who uses all fields and his plus speed is well used on the basepaths and in the field. Currently, he has the range to play CF, though his strong arm and thickening frame will likely move him to RF in the future. The tools are there for Martinez to be a special player, but it still remains to be seen if the horrific injury to his ankle will be a thing of the past or a lingering detractor to his development.
2009 Projection: J-Mart will likely be headed back to Kannapolis to finish what he started, and if things go well for him, he could be promoted to High-A Winston Salem at some point in the season. Of course, the rub with him is his health His ankle injury was a serious one and the effects that it could have on his speed is not yet known. Also, it is only a matter of time before that skinny frame of his starts to pack on some muscle. Keep tabs on his reported weight as he enters the season as extra weight should result in greater power numbers. His bat is good enough right now to hit for a solid average but if he stays healthy and adds to his HR totals, Jose Martinez will be a name that many more collectors know.
The son of former Baltimore Oriole and L.A. Dodgers John Shelby once again flew under the radar to put up a rock solid season. Junior skipped a level and played the entire season at AA Winston-Salem batting .295 with 15 HR 80 RBI 33 SB and 81 runs scored. Shelby is a tremendous athlete that plays the game with a high level of energy and uses every inch of his compact frame to hit for surprising power. Over the past two minor league seasons, Shelby has accrued 119 extra-base hits and his great baserunning savvy makes him a superb top of the order candidate. His selectivity at the plate, however, does not. Shelby garnered a lackluster 22 BB/98 K ratio that has some baseball officials concerned that he will not be able to hit for a high average as a major leaguer. Defensively, Shelby's speed and athleticism helps to make up for bad routes on balls and, while he can play CF, there is some thought that LF may be his future home.
2009 Projection: The gaudy stat line at AA has to have raised the collective eyebrows of the White Sox brass. The Sox are a team that is transitioning to a more youth-driven approach as they continue to trade away their high contract players for organizational depth. Shelby should get a prolonged look in spring training before getting jettisoned to AAA Charlotte. With the rumors of Jermaine Dye's departure running rampant, there is a distinct possibility that a trade could shift Carlos Quentin to right field, leaving left field open for Shelby to compete for later this season or early next spring. Keep an eye on the BB/K ratio, as it is the one determinant that keeps T-Bone Jr. from being a top-tier OF prospect. Given that he has no autographed RC's, his 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft cards become intriguing low-risk, high-reward investments for the following year.
The big 2004 5th rounder rocketed up the White Sox organizational depth chart with a big season between High-A Winston-Salem and AA Birmingham. Allen batted .278 with 29 HR 75 RBI 17 SB and 87 runs scored while substantially increasing his OBP and SLG from his 2007 numbers. After the departure of Chris Carter, Brandon Allen has become the premier power hitter and 1B in the White Sox farm system. Surprisingly athletic for his size, Allen should be able to reach double digits in stolen bases each season and his quickness gives him good first step range at 1B. HIs glove still needs work, however, and there have been concerns from those within the organization that he may eventually end up as a DH at the major league level. Allen was more effective in drawing walks this past season and his strikeout rate remained fairly constant, but the Sox would like to see him continue to work on handling off speed pitches as well as balls down in the zone.
2009 Projection: 2008 was a big power breakthrough for Allen and his performance after his promotion to Birmingham lends credence to the notion that he may begin the season at AAA Charlotte. The White Sox have secured Paul Konerko and his powerful bat through the 2010 season, which gives them some time to evaluate Allen's progress. If Allen continues to mash the ball and cuts back on his K's, he immediately becomes a potential late season call up for the Sox and Konerko becomes a potential trading chip. The exodus of Nick Swisher and Javier Vazquez, shows that Chicago is determined to cut back on spending while acquiring younger talent. This bodes well for Allen's not too distant future.
The White Sox were delighted to see Beckham fall to them at the 8th slot in the first round. The former Georgia Bulldog signed quickly and performed well in a short stint at Low-A Kannapolis. Beckham then was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he absolutely tore the cover off of the ball, hitting .394 with 3 HR 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in just 18 games. Beckham’s greatest tool is his bat, which lashes line drives to all parts of the ballpark with surprising power. Beckham works counts extremely well and has a strong feel for the strike zone. Defensively, Beckham has solid range and a good arm that should be able to keep him at SS for the White Sox in the foreseeable future. While he does not have world class speed, Beckham runs the bases with a high level of energy and intelligence which should allow for him to steal 10-15 bases each season. Beckham doesn’t have too many holes in his game, though some believe that he will need to move to 2B as he ages. All in all, Beckham is as close to a surefire MLB star as they come and he is very close to being ready to showcase his talent in a White Sox uniform.
2009 Projection: Beckham’s performance in the AFL should allow for him to get an extended look during spring training before the Sox opt to send him to AA Winston-Salem. Expect Beckham to succeed at each level he plays and he is a pretty good bet to get some mid-late season AB’s in Chicago. Beckham has the potential to be a perennial All-Star for several years to come making his 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft and Donruss Elite Extra autographs extremely valuable purchases.
Key Gordon Beckham Baseball Cards:
2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/710
2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings #/250
Great Deals on Gordon Beckham Baseball Cards & Memorabilia:
H/W: 6-5 205 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 8/7/86
