White Sox getting up-close look at top talent
This browser does not support the video element.
CHICAGO -- Every rebuild has growing pains. They also, however, feature back-to-back nights like the White Sox will have Thursday and Friday.
Yoán Moncada -- MLBPipeline.com's top prospect -- knocked the game-tying homer and recorded a walk-off single in a 3-2, 11-inning win over the Houston Astros. Less than 24 hours later, right-hander Reynaldo López -- the White Sox No. 6 prospect and the No. 59 prospect in baseball -- will make his debut against the Royals.
Then there's Nicky Delmonico, who only briefly touched the White Sox Top 30 Prospect list but has become the first White Sox player since Joe Gates in 1978-79 to reach base in each of his first nine career games.
Is there more talent on the way? Here are some names who have stood out in the White Sox farm system, including some who could find themselves in the big leagues before long.
Lucas Giolito, Triple-A Charlotte
Giolito, who was acquired alongside Lopez and others in exchange for Adam Eaton this past offseason, is the White Sox No. 7 prospect and the No. 60 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com. The right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his past four starts. He was strong on Thursday, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings while picking up the wins. Giolito is an obvious candidate for a September callup, if not sooner than that.
Micker Adolfo, Class A Kannapolis
Adolfo continues to flex the power numbers and is starting to do so for average as well. He's hit four homers -- including a grand slam on Thursday -- and hit .316 over his past 10 games to bring his season totals to 16 homers with a .279 average and an .824 OPS for the season. Adolfo is currently the No. 17 prospect in the White Sox system.
Eloy Jiménez, Class A Advanced Winston-Salem
What started as a hot streak for the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 7 prospect in baseball may be becoming just the new norm. In the first 25 games since Jimenez was acquired from the Cubs' organization in the José Quintana deal, he has posted a whopping 1.143 OPS with six homers and a .370 batting average. By comparison, he hit eight homers and hit .271 with a .841 OPS in 42 games before the trade. Jimenez could warrant a promotion soon, particularly if he keeps up his numbers from over the past 10 games (14-for-40 with a pair of homers).
Worth noting
The White Sox added yet another power arm into their system by acquiring right-handed reliever Ryan Burr from the D-backs in exchange for international signing bonus pool money on Friday. Burr had reached as high as No. 22 on Arizona's Top 30 Prospect list in 2016, and had posted a 1.89 ERA with a ratio of 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings between Class A and Class A Advanced this season. Burr provides a possibility to have another power arm in the system with White Sox No. 15 prospect Zack Burdi out after undergoing Tommy John surgery.