South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 28

Congratulations, Tito Polo, you’re the 27th-best prospect in our rankings!

The speedy outfielder grabbed 37% (22 of 59 ballots) and continued a recent trend of first-time ballot appearances leaping the competition to a first-vote win.

Next up is an infielder virtually guaranteed not to continue the trend.

South Side Sox Top White Sox Prospects for 2018

1. Eloy Jimenez — 70% (Kopech 16%, Robert 11%, Hansen 2%, Cease 1%)
2. Michael Kopech — 75% (Robert 18%, Hansen 4%, Cease 2%, Dunning 1%)
3. Luis Robert — 63% (Hansen 24%, Cease 8%, Dunning 4%, Collins 1%)
4. Alec Hansen — 64% (Cease 25%, Dunning 6%, Burger 2%, Collins 2%)
5. Dylan Cease — 70% (Dunning 21%, Rutherford 4%, Burger 3%, Collins 2%)
6. Dane Dunning — 68% (Burdi 14%, Collins 7%, Burger 6%, Rutherford 5%)
7. Zack Burdi — 39% (Collins 30%, Rutherford 17%, Burger 14%, Sheets 1%) (+3 jump from consensus)
8. Jake Burger — 29% (Rutherford 26%, Adams/Collins 21%, Sheets 3%) (-1 fall from consensus)
9. Blake Rutherford — 31% (Collins 26%, Adolfo 20%, Adams 19%, Sheets 4%)
10. Micker Adolfo — 39% (Collins 25%, Adams 22%, Clarkin 8%, Sheets 6%) (+2 jump from consensus)
11. Luis Alexander Basabe — 47% (Collins 26%, Adams 16%, Sheets 6%, Clarkin 5%) (+4 jump from consensus)
12. Zack Collins — 46% (Adams 22%, Clarkin 17%, Sheets 14%, Puckett 2%) (-4 fall from consensus)
13. Spencer Adams — 38% (Clarkin 29%, Sheets 19%, Gonzalez 8%, Puckett 6%) (+1 jump from consensus)
14. Ian Clarkin — 47% (Sheets 25%, Gonzalez 15%, Puckett 7%, Stephens 6%) (+1 jump from consensus)
15. Gavin Sheets — 45% (Gonzalez 21%, Cordell 14%, Stephens 11%, Puckett 9%) (-3 fall from consensus)
16. Seby Zavala — 55% (Gonzalez 16%, Cordell 13%, Stephens 10%, Puckett 6%) (+4 jump from consensus)
17. Luis González — 43% (Puckett/Stephens 18%, Cordell 13%, Gillaspie 7%)
18. Jordan Stephens — 28% (Puckett 26%, Cordell 25%, Vieira 15%, Gillaspie 6%) (+1 jump from consensus)
19. Ryan Cordell — 35% (Puckett 22%, Guerrero 21%, Vieira 17%, Gillaspie 6%) (-1 fall from consensus)
20. A.J. Puckett — 39% (Guerrero 25%, Vieira 16%, Gillaspie 13%, Skoug 7%) (-4 fall from consensus)
21. Jordan Guerrero — 49% (Vieira 20%, Henzman 15%, Gillaspie 9%, Skoug 7%) (+2 jump from consensus)
22. Thyago Vieira — 34% (Henzman 21%, Skoug 17%, Yrizarri 16%, Gillaspie 11%)
23. Lincoln Henzman — 43% (Yrizarri 20%, Flores 15%, Gillaspie 12%, Skoug 9%) (+2 jump from consensus)
24. Charlie Tilson — 40% (Flores 24%, Yrizarri 22%, Skoug 12%, Gillaspie 3%) (+2 jump from consensus)
25. Ian Hamilton — 34% (Yrizarri 27%, Flores 17%, Skoug 14%, Gillaspie 8%) (+2 jump from consensus)
26. Yeyson Yrizarri — 30% (Curbelo/Flores 22%, Skoug 17%, Gillaspie 9%) (-2 fall from consensus)
27. Tito Polo — 37% (Curbelo 27%, Flores 20%, Skoug 10%, Gillaspie 5%) (+2 jump from consensus)

Here are your choices for the 28th round of voting:

Luis Curbelo, SS

2018 Age: 19

2017 High Level: Great Falls (Rookie)

Overall 2017 stats: 3 games ▪️ 1 HR ▪️ 2 RBI ▪️ 1 BB ▪️ 4 K ▪️ .429/.529/.714

Curbelo was a 2016 sixth-rounder selected right out of high school, eschewing the University of Miami’s scholarship offer. The White Sox sealed the deal by signing the big shortstop for more than $400,000 over slot. After a solid performance in the AZL (.226/.303/.326), Curbelo suffered a lost 2017 with a meniscus tear after just three games. It’s assumed Curbelo will move to third when he matures. He is still at extended spring training, but with any luck, he’ll see some reps at Kannapolis this season.

Bernardo Flores, SP

2018 Age: 22

2017 High Level: Winston-Salem (A+)

Overall 2017 stats: 23 starts ▪️ 118 ¹⁄₃ IP ▪️ 3.42 ERA ▪️ 103 K ▪️ 32 BB ▪️ 1.25 WHIP

At USC, Flores worked out of the bullpen, with just eight starts before being drafted. On paper, he was a borderline prospect, with a 5.34 ERA as a Trojan and never once cracking 100 innings in a season. He was a seventh-round choice and got 12 starts at Great Falls, grabbing a 3.66 ERA. Last season, Flores started at Kannapolis (14 starts, 3.35 ERA) and got bit a little after an aggressive promotion to Winston-Salem. His fastball runs as fast as 97 mph, although scouts have flagged his velocity as inconsistent. He boasts a solid change, as well as a curve and a cutter, with the changeup earning the most praise given its screwball movement.

Casey Gillaspie, 1B

2018 Age: 25

2017 High Level: Charlotte (AAA)

Overall 2017 stats: 125 games ▪️ 15 HR ▪️ 62 RBI ▪️ 50 BB ▪️ 100 K ▪️ .223/.297/.373

The White Sox struck at the right time in grabbing Casey Gillaspie (younger brother of steely-eyed former Sox, Conor), in a trade for Dan Jennings in 2017. The first baseman was a a quick track to Tampa’s major league roster before the trade, but flagged for Durham (AAA) in 2017, a performance that carried over to his play at Charlotte with the White Sox: .223/.297/.373 in 125 games. Adding to the challenge of adjusting to AAA pitching was an injury (broken toe). At the higher level, Gillaspie’s power has tailed off, and without plus-offensive ability, his value evaporates.

Danny Mendick, IF

2018 Age: 24

2017 High Level: Birmingham (AA)

Overall 2017 stats: 125 games ▪️ 10 HR ▪️ 51 RBI ▪️ 48 BB ▪️ 67 K ▪️ .256/.340/.405

It’s been said that Mendick is rarely the center of attention, but you wouldn’t know it based on the amount the infielder has moved through the White Sox system. This is a guy who tasted two games at Charlotte in his first full year as a pro. It was just a tiny spoonful of Triple-A coffee, yes, but still. That first full year came in 2016, when Mendick switched levels an almost-inconceivable eight times during the course of the season. Last year, Medick flourished at Winston-Salem but struggled to adapt at Birmingham. Perhaps the White Sox just need to keep sending his $1,500 monthlies to a different address, to give him his usual, twisted sense of place.

Evan Skoug, C

2018 Age: 22

2017 High Level: Kannapolis (A)

Overall 2017 stats: 25 games ▪️ 3 HR ▪️ 10 RBI ▪️ 11 BB ▪️ 36 K ▪️ .232/.333/.427

OK, let’s get this right out of the way, because Brett won’t shut up about it, but apparently Skoug is the only player on Baseball-Reference with the same school affiliations as his: Libertyville High School, and Texas Christian University. Somehow, I believe our dear leader’s playing career fell somewhat short of young Evan’s. Something about eight walks in a single doubleheader is on the back of his baseball card, somewhere. Anyhow, Skoug was a seventh-round pick of the White Sox last year and led TCU to three consecutive College World Series appearances. In his final Horned Frogs season, Skoug hit .272/.378/.544, with 20 homers and 71 driven in. Skoug fits the profile that is running rampant through the White Sox system: hit-first, field-later backstops. He’s started his season at Kanny a bit slowly.