Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we\u2019re identifying White Sox prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.<\/p>\n
To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization\u2019s preseason Top 10 prospects.\u00a0All scouting reports are from Baseball America\u2019s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can find Top 30 prospect rankings\u00a0for all teams here<\/a>\u00a0and all breakout candidates here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Breakout Prospects<\/p>\n Aldrin Batista<\/a>, RHP<\/p>\n BA Grade\/Risk: 45\/High Track Record: The White Sox acquired Batista from the Dodgers in August 2023 in a deal involving international slot money that Los Angeles used to sign South Korean pitcher Hyun-Seok Jang. After a strong 2024 season split between Low-A Kannapolis and High-A Winston-Salem, Batista positioned himself as a potential breakout arm entering 2025. He appeared in just one game in his return to Winston-Salem before a stress fracture in his right elbow sidelined him. Batista did not incur ligament damage and returned to action in August to pitch in six more games. <\/p>\n Scouting Report: Batista leans heavily on a 92-95 mph two-seam fastball that plays up because of plus sink and extension from a low release height. The pitch has 16 inches of horizontal break and bores in on righthanded batters. Batista infrequently uses a 92-96 mph four-seamer that is less effective because of his low release point. His plus, darting 84-87 mph changeup is even nastier than his sinker and tunnels well off the pitch. His 81-83 mph sweeper is still a work in progress but could get to average. Batista is a plus athlete with good body control who operates from a low, rock-step delivery that borders on sidearm. He has room to add strength to his thin, narrow frame. <\/p>\n The Future: Fully healthy again, Batista enters 2026 as a \u201cpick to click\u201d in the White Sox system. He could develop into a back-of-the-rotation arm if he adds more strength to his frame with a fallback as a mid- to high-leverage reliever who relies on his sinker\/changeup combination.<\/p>\n Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Sweeper: 45 | Control: 50<\/p>\n
Adjusted Grade: 30<\/p>\n