*OFFICIAL* 2019 Minor League Thread

[Frater Perdurabo]

It’s a new year, a new spring training is coming, and with that new minor league seasons, an amateur draft, and international signings.

This is an outstanding article from FutureSox, based on an in-depth interview with Rick Hahn.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Here are some takeaways from the FutureSox interview with Rick Hahn:

Marco Paddy and his scouting operation in Latin America have continued to follow prospects, some as young as 13 and 14, despite the fact that the Sox have been in the “penalty box” (unable to sign any one player for more than 300K after going over the limit to sign Luis Robert), and are ready to be out of that “penalty box” later this year.

The Sox have discussed adding a seventh minor league affiliate; right now with their college-heavy drafts, they don’t see an immediate need, but this could change.

The Sox - like many organizations - have been making major improvements to housing and nutrition for minor league players.

The Sox continue to expand their use of advanced analytics to better inform and complement their scouting and player development efforts.

There have been discussions with other teams on prospect-for-prospect trades, but they aren’t worried yet about a glut at some positions or a dearth at others.

They continue to be most interested in acquiring middle-of-the-diamond position players (who can move to corner spots if necessary) and pitchers who project as front-line starters (who could move to the back of the rotation or the bullpen).

The entire interview with Hahn soon will be posted as a podcast.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Here is the link to the podcast of the FutureSox interview with Rick Hahn.

[Scots-Sox]

Thank you for summarising the FutureSox podcast Frater.

Those of us outside the USA can't get anything from the Tribune website at all so this was very helpful. I believe that FutureSox are in the process of looking for alternative hosting so hopefully this will soon be a thing of the past for me.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by Scots-Sox

Thank you for summarising the FutureSox podcast Frater.

Those of us outside the USA can't get anything from the Tribune website at all so this was very helpful. I believe that FutureSox are in the process of looking for alternative hosting so hopefully this will soon be a thing of the past for me.

I’m not sure if you have access to a smart phone, or what apps you have available, but the FutureSox podcast, the SoxMachine podcast, the WhiteSoxTalk podcast (NBCSN/Chuck Garfien), and the White Sox Weekly (WGN) podcasts are available for download/listening through numerous podcast apps. I listen to the FutureSox podcast (and the others) through Apple’s iPhone Podcsst app.

[Heffalump]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

I’m not sure if you have access to a smart phone, or what apps you have available, but the FutureSox podcast, the SoxMachine podcast, the WhiteSoxTalk podcast (NBCSN/Chuck Garfien), and the White Sox Weekly (WGN) podcasts are available for download/listening through numerous podcast apps. I listen to the FutureSox podcast (and the others) through Apple’s iPhone Podcsst app.

+1 And the Tribune is garbage anyway, IMO.

[TomBradley72]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

I’m not sure if you have access to a smart phone, or what apps you have available, but the FutureSox podcast, the SoxMachine podcast, the WhiteSoxTalk podcast (NBCSN/Chuck Garfien), and the White Sox Weekly (WGN) podcasts are available for download/listening through numerous podcast apps. I listen to the FutureSox podcast (and the others) through Apple’s iPhone Podcsst app.

This.

Plus a subscription to The Athletic- and you are golden- and will never, ever miss the Tribune.

[Frater Perdurabo]

MLBPipeline has begun introducing their 2019 prospect rankings. They began by listing the top 10 at each position. Today is RHP. The Sox have two: Kopech at #3 and Cease at #5. No other club has two among the top 10 RHP, other than Atlanta (6 and 9).

[Frater Perdurabo]

MLBPipeline’s Top 10 LHP are up today. Of note are that 8 of these Top 10 are in the Oakland, San Diego, and Tampa Bay systems.

While RHP is an area of strength for the Sox, LHP comparatively is a weakness, as our best LHP are all in the back half of of organizational Top 30.

As such, if it gets to the point where we are making prospect for prospect deals (something Hahn told FutureSox had been discussed on several occasions but not in an immediate or concrete way), it’s fair to speculate that Oakland, San Diego, and Tampa Bay might be good trading partners, particularly if any of them have organizational weaknesses where we have depth (outfield, RHP), particularly after the 2019 draft.

[rdivaldi]

Top 10 Catchers out today, Collins is on the outside looking in. Not a bad looking group for once...

[ChiTownTrojan]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

MLBPipeline’s Top 10 LHP are up today. Of note are that 8 of these Top 10 are in the Oakland, San Diego, and Tampa Bay systems.

While RHP is an area of strength for the Sox, LHP comparatively is a weakness, as our best LHP are all in the back half of of organizational Top 30.

As such, if it gets to the point where we are making prospect for prospect deals (something Hahn told FutureSox had been discussed on several occasions but not in an immediate or concrete way), it’s fair to speculate that Oakland, San Diego, and Tampa Bay might be good trading partners, particularly if any of them have organizational weaknesses where we have depth (outfield, RHP), particularly after the 2019 draft.

4 of the top 10 are in San Diego, so they'd seem to be best option. And it looks like they're light on OF prospects.

[blurry]

Remaining positions are 2B, 3B, SS, and OF. I assume we'll see Madrigal on the 2B list and maybe 2 prospects on the OF list. I can't see anyone in the minors making the SS or 3B list.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by ChiTownTrojan

4 of the top 10 are in San Diego, so they'd seem to be best option. And it looks like they're light on OF prospects.

Agreed. I haven’t seen MLBPipeline’s updated team prospect ratings (I think they are due in February), but if the are still light on OF prospects, then there could be a good match between the Sox and Padres.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

Agreed. I haven’t seen MLBPipeline’s updated team prospect ratings (I think they are due in February), but if the are still light on OF prospects, then there could be a good match between the Sox and Padres.

I was basing the assessment that they are light on OF prospects on last year's rankings. Their top OF prospect is #13 in their top 30.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

MLBPipeline has begun introducing their 2019 prospect rankings. They began by listing the top 10 at each position. Today is RHP. The Sox have two: Kopech at #3 and Cease at #5. No other club has two among the top 10 RHP, other than Atlanta (6 and 9).

I didn't see that they also have a writeup about the top 10 lists. Here's what they said about SPs:

https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-top-10...?tid=151437456

They give Kopech the award for best slider (and discuss him in the best fastball section), and Cease the award for best curve. Also list Cease as "most improved".