Report: '16 top pick Collins headed to White Sox

June 17th, 2019

CHICAGO -- told MLB.com in October that his goal was to break camp with the White Sox out of Spring Training.

The No. 11 White Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline didn’t hit that target. But based on a Sunday report, it looks as if the team’s top pick in the 2016 Draft is on his way to Chicago.

Andy Slater, a sports radio talk show host out of Miami, tweeted Sunday evening that Collins was being called up from Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox. Collins played collegiately for the Miami Hurricanes.

Collins played in Charlotte’s second game Sunday, following the completion of Saturday’s contest, and finished 0-for-3. He grounded out in the top of the seventh but was replaced in the bottom half by catcher Daniel Gonzalez.

Through 50 games with the Knights, Collins is hitting .250 with an .855 OPS, nine homers, nine doubles and 39 RBIs. He has 399 strikeouts and 257 walks over parts of four Minor League seasons with the White Sox, while also producing a .378 career on-base percentage.

Right-handed reliever Thyago Vieira was optioned to Charlotte following Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Yankees, and the White Sox announced a corresponding move would be made prior to Tuesday’s contest at Wrigley Field. Even without Vieira, the White Sox would enter the two-game series against the Cubs with eight relievers, so they probably won’t need another pitcher.

Welington Castillo, one of the team’s current catchers with James McCann (who started at designated hitter on Sunday), left Sunday's game in the fourth inning with lower back tightness and was pinch-hit for by Yonder Alonso. Castillo singled off the right-center-field wall in the second and looked as if he didn’t get much of a break leaving the box. Manager Rick Renteria said postgame that Castillo injured his back on the swing.

A move to the injured list for Castillo could be the roster opening for Collins. The 24-year-old left-handed hitter figures to play regularly as the White Sox first major prospect callup of the season and could see time at catcher, first base and designated hitter. That reported promotion also would likely cut into Alonso's playing time.