White Sox Prospects Projected to Debut in 2026

The most exciting part of the 2025 season for Chicago White Sox fans was the infusion of young talent that arrived at the major-league level and contributed to the team’s success.

The White Sox were able to establish a promising core by developing top prospects and giving them real runway in the big leagues.

While 2026 will be about taking another step forward toward contention, there should also be another wave of prospects on the way.

Chicago has a number of minor leaguers on the cusp of the majors, ready to break through at the MLB level. The hit rate on these players will obviously be far less than 100 percent. But the more names the organization cycles through and gives opportunities to, the better chance it has of finding additional contributors to the established core.

FanGraphs recently released its list of the top 37 prospects in the White Sox organization entering the 2026 season. Each prospect was also given an estimated time of arrival — the year they are projected to make their MLB debut.

Naturally, that allows us to take a closer look at which players could be next in line for a call-up, highlighting 14 White Sox prospects projected to debut during the 2026 season.

Once again, I don’t expect to see all of these names in a White Sox uniform next year. But as the season wears on and depth inevitably gets tested, it wouldn’t be surprising to see at least a handful receive a brief stint in Chicago.

Here are the contenders, according to FanGraphs.

Noah Schultz

The 22-year-old left-hander ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the organization on this list. He struggled with his control at times in 2025, something the White Sox have attributed to an ongoing knee issue.

Even so, Schultz reached Triple-A and could be only a few months away from breaking into the MLB rotation.

The former first-round pick has a ridiculously high ceiling. If he bounces back healthy to start the season, he could quickly reassert himself as one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in baseball.

Tanner McDougal

McDougal was added to the 40-man roster and protected from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, which says a lot about how highly the White Sox think of him.

He reached Double-A during a breakout 2025 season and finally appears to have put everything together.

His fastball-slider combination is legit, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him debut at some point in 2026 — even if it initially comes in a relief role.

Jedixson Paez

Paez will be a fascinating case study. He’s a talented arm with quality breaking stuff and elite control, and the White Sox clearly view him as a long-term starter.

That said, he’ll be just 22 years old on Opening Day and has never pitched above High-A.

Because Paez was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft, he must remain on the active roster for the entire 2026 season or be offered back to the Boston Red Sox.

Chicago clearly wants to keep him. The question is whether they can find a role where he won’t be overmatched.

Sam Antonacci

Antonacci feels like one of the safer bets to debut next season. If he continues to produce, he could even push for the starting second base job, potentially leapfrogging Chase Meidroth.

He hit at every stop and began gaining national attention after dominating in 49 games with Double-A Birmingham in 2025.

Antonacci also impressed in the Arizona Fall League. The White Sox are crowded in the middle infield, but this is the type of bat that forces its way into the conversation.

Juan Carela

Carela is a 24-year-old right-hander with explosive stuff that could play either as a starter or out of the bullpen. He last pitched in 2024, when he found success with Double-A Birmingham.

After missing the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, his return to the system will be a welcome sight for White Sox player development.

Tanner Murray

Murray was acquired in an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and is currently on the 40-man roster, despite never having appeared in an MLB game.

He spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, where he was average offensively. Still, his defensive versatility could make him a useful utility option if injuries pile up.

Zach Franklin

Franklin is now 27 years old and was a dominant minor-league closer in Double-A before earning a promotion to Triple-A late in the season.

He’ll be competing for a roster spot in spring training. Even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, he feels like a strong candidate to be called up once bullpen depth gets tested.

Duncan Davitt

Davitt was one of two pitchers acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Adrian Houser trade at the 2025 deadline. He finished the season in Triple-A Charlotte and was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

Like McDougal, that protection speaks volumes about how the White Sox view his readiness.

He’s unlikely to make the team out of camp, but he could certainly pitch his way onto the roster.

Tyler Schweitzer

Schweitzer feels more like a long shot, largely because he has struggled at the Triple-A level throughout his minor-league career.

However, he is a left-hander who was recently moved into a bullpen role.

For that reason alone, he could become a viable option if Sean Newcomb — the projected left-handed long-relief option — goes down with an injury or is moved at the trade deadline.

Samuel Zavala

I disagree with FanGraphs’ ETA on Zavala. I don’t see a realistic path for him to debut in 2026.

He spent all of 2025 in Winston-Salem and made real strides toward becoming a more mature hitter, but he remains a developmental project. He still needs more time before facing major-league pitching.

Ben Peoples

Peoples was the other pitcher acquired in the Adrian Houser trade.

He was productive in Triple-A last season, posting a 3.33 ERA, and feels like a natural bullpen candidate.

I’d be surprised if we don’t see him in Chicago at some point.

Tyler Davis

Davis had a strong season in Double-A Birmingham’s bullpen but struggled in the Arizona Fall League.

It’s difficult to see him getting the call ahead of several other viable pitchers already in the system, but there may be something in his profile that appeals to White Sox pitching development.

Jacob Gonzalez

Gonzalez benefits from being a former first-round pick, and players with that pedigree usually get an opportunity eventually. He has reached Triple-A, meaning a call-up could come at any time.

The hesitation comes from roster construction. With Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth already in the majors — and Sam Antonacci knocking on the door — Gonzalez may be further down the pecking order.

Shane Murphy

Murphy was one of the most dominant pitchers in all of minor-league baseball last season. He was unhittable with Double-A Birmingham before moving up to the Charlotte Knights and looking just as composed.

The White Sox left him unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft, and he went unclaimed. That may suggest the industry isn’t quite as high on him as White Sox fans are.

Still, production is hard to ignore. Murphy has excellent control, generates a ton of soft contact, and understands how to pitch.

If the White Sox have room for another left-hander, I’d love to see him get a look in the rotation at some point in 2026.

White Sox Prospects Projected to Debut in 2026

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