White Sox fourth in latest organizational rankings

The Sox will have a losing record for the seventh straight season but there’s a ray of hope with a farm system that ranks fourth in Baseball America’s latest organizational rankings, behind the Rays, Padres and Braves. The Sox ranked fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2017. Before embarking on their rebuild by trading Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and Jose Quintana for prospects, they ranked 23^rd in 2016.

While grades for organizational depth aren’t where they want them to be, the Sox get higher marks for top end talent. Here is BA’s ranking of the Sox’ top 10 prospects, one of whom (Dylan Cease) is already in the major leagues:

1. Luis Robert, OF. BA’s No. 3 overall prospect, Robert’s ranking has climbed simultaneously with a rapid rise through three levels of the minor leagues. By all accounts, he is the goods.

2. Andrew Vaughn, 1B. Ranked 23^rd overall, the best hitter in 2019 draft was selected third overall. Probably two years away.

3. Dylan Cease, RHP. Ranked 30^th overall, Cease was scheduled to make his fourth big league start Friday. Fastball command was lacking in first three, but his tools were evident.

4. Michael Kopech, RHP. Ranked 32^nd overall, his absence due to Tommy John surgery sapped some life from the rebuild, but he’ll return in 2020.

5. Nick Madrigal, 2B. Drafted fourth overall in 2018 and ranked 58^th overall, is a heady, 5-foot-7 contact machine with speed but limited power. Could be at AAA soon.

6. Matthew Thompson, RHP. High upside high schooler taken in second round in June has low-to-mid-90s fastball and sharp slider.

7. Andrew Dalquist, RHP. Another 2019 high school pick (third round) is a strike thrower with above average fastball, three-pitch mix, smooth delivery.

8. Blake Rutherford, OF. Acquired from Yankees in 2017, he’s having a strong second half in AA, where he batted .262/.303/.369 with six homers in first 85 games.

9. Steele Walker, OF. Second-round pick in 2018 was a highly touted hitter at Oklahoma. Hit.261/.337.402 and six homers in first 65 games at advanced A Winston-Salem.

10. Luis Gonzalez, OF. Like Rutherford and Walker above him, a left-handed hitting corner outfielder. Line drive hitter is batting .234 in AA after putting up better numbers in Class A last season.

Thompson and Dalquist underscore the Sox’ push toward more high school players in the 2019 draft as Sox “try to put ourselves in the best position to have layers of talent and reinforcement” coming in waves, general manager Rick Hahn said.

BY THE NUMBERS

5

Number of times second base prospect Nick Madrigal struck out in his first 154 plate appearances while batting .367 at Class AA Birmingham.

26

Number of strikes thrown on first 28 pitches (93%) from Reynaldo Lopez against the Marlins Wednesday, the highest rate through three innings by any starter in last five seasons, per ESPN Stats & Info.

41%

Increase in Sox average ratings on NBC Sports Network this year, per Sports Business Journal, which is tied for the second-highest improvement of any MLB club. Sox TV ratings are still 27th among U.S.-based MLB franchises, ahead of only the Marlins and Athletics.

THAT’S WHAT HE SAID

“I’m ready to get back out there and give those people a show.”

—Shortstop Tim Anderson, who is expected to come off the injured list next week. Anderson has been out since July 26 with a high ankle sprain.

‘‘I owe so much to my father, Linwood, who through his words and through his deeds told me how to approach life: You work at it, you put your head down, you keep your mouth shut and work at your craft day in and day out.”

—White Sox great Harold Baines, at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday

DID YOU KNOW?

The Sox’ top ten prospects per Baseball America are noted above. The second tier, No.’s 11-20 are (in order) RHP Dane Dunning, C Zack Collins, OF Micker Adolfo, 1B Gavin Sheets, RHP Jonathan Stiever, OF James Beard, LHP Konnor Pilkington, OF Bryce Bush, OF Anderson Comas, OF Luis Mieses.

Reynaldo Lopez is among baseball’s leaders with 23 homers allowed but did not serve one up in three excellent starts after the All-Star break. Lopez allowed at least one in 10 starts leading to the break. The last Sox pitcher with such a streak was lefty Greg Hibbard in 1991.