The Chicago White Sox haven’t been shy about the word “rebuild”, but MLB Pipeline’s latest Top 100 Prospects update basically grabbed a megaphone and screamed it from the upper deck at the Rate. Chicago has five Top 100 prospects right now. That’s tied for fourth-most in baseball, which is surprising, considering all the players they promoted last season to the big leagues as well.

Here are the five names you need to know – and the rankings that make this feel like more than just offseason optimism:

Braden Montgomery (No. 36)

He is the headliner, and the symbolism matters. He arrived in the Garrett Crochet trade as part of the return from Boston, and he’s already being framed as a potential Spring Training mover. He’s a switch-hitting outfielder with power, athleticism, and “plays like his cleats are on fire” energy – the type that makes the front office daydream about competitive lineups again.

Noah Schultz (No. 49)Feb 26, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Noah Schultz (76) throws the first pitches of his major league career during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

The next staff ace, hands down. A big lefty with a phenomenal repertoire (a heater that reaches 100, a “wicked” slider in the low 80’s, and a complementary change), Schultz is the arm people circle when they talk about the next competitive window. The White Sox desperately need a top-of-the-rotation future, and Schultz is it. He slipped a bit in 2025 (knee tendonitis), but expect him to bounce back quickly in 2026.

Caleb Bonemer (No. 61)

He gives them another legitimate shortstop prospect, and the résumé is real: Carolina League MVP in 2025, turned 20 in October, and room to grow at the plate. And friends, middle-infield talent that actually hits is basically baseball gold.

Hagen Smith (No. 72) and Billy Carlson (No. 73)

Here you get the more “incoming” layer: with Carlson already pegged as one of the better young defensive infielders around – and a reminder that premium defense up the middle still prints wins when the rest of your roster is under construction.

Former Top Prospects:Sep 27, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) celebrates with White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (8) after hitting a two run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The sneaky kicker? This is happening while the Sox have already started graduating names to the big leagues: Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Chase Meidroth, and Grant Taylor. Plus, sprinkle in the top pick (hello Roch Cholowsky), and the farm isn’t just stocked – it’s feeding the roster.

Is this a parade? No. It’s January. But five Top-100 prospects is how a rebuild starts becoming believable. The White Sox finally look like a franchise building a core instead of collecting coping mechanisms.

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