The White Sox are planning to pick the contract of infielder Brooks Baldwin earlier than the season resumes tomorrow, reviews Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Solar-Instances. He’s not on the 40-man roster, however the South Siders have a emptiness there after lately designating catcher Martin Maldonado for task.
Baldwin, 23, is a 2022 Twelfth-round choose who usually hasn’t been thought of to be among the many system’s greatest prospects. He’s dramatically improved his inventory this season, nonetheless, tearing by means of the Double-A degree with a .322/.386/.441 slash in 319 plate appearances. That prompted a bump as much as the Triple-A degree, and whereas Baldwin’s keep there’ll solely final eight video games, nothing throughout that transient run with Charlotte derailed the momentum he’d established in Birmingham. In 35 journeys to the plate with the Knights, Baldwin hit .345/.441/.655 with a pair of homers and extra walks (5) than strikeouts (simply two). General, the switch-hitter boasts a .324/.391/.460 slash with a 16.4% strikeout charge and 9.3% stroll charge between the Sox’ prime two minor league associates this season.
Whereas he’s bounced everywhere in the diamond in 2024, logging time in any respect three infield positions left of first base and in left subject, Baldwin has been primarily a shortstop. The Sox have been going with veteran Paul DeJong there within the huge leagues, and whereas he hasn’t precisely been a standout performer, the longtime Cardinal has belted 16 homers and turned in a satisfactory .226/.274/.423 slash in 329 plate appearances. DeJong, nonetheless, is a transparent commerce candidate within the subsequent 12 days as a fairly productive veteran enjoying for a last-place staff on a one-year, $1.75MM deal.
Baldwin may ultimately get a run at shortstop or at second base. Chicago lately optioned Lenyn Sosa to Triple-A, and defensive-minded Nicky Lopez isn’t going to function a roadblock to enjoying time for a possible long-term piece like Baldwin. Lopez has performed effective protection at second however batted .240/.297/.287 in 285 plate appearances. He’s a commerce candidate himself, because of his plus glove at a number of positions, however the Sox may additionally simply transfer Lopez right into a utility function. Lopez is managed into subsequent 12 months however will likely be a non-tender candidate, as he’ll be owed a elevate on this 12 months’s $4.3MM wage in his ultimate journey by means of the arbitration course of. The Sox additionally simply signed Nick Senzel to play third base, hoping one other change of surroundings can result in higher manufacturing for the previous No. 2 general choose.
No matter alignment the Sox choose, Baldwin ought to get substantial run within the season’s ultimate two and a half months. It’s potential, if unlikely, that this will likely be simply one in all many auditions in that point. The Sox are certain to commerce a number of gamers on the roster over the subsequent 12 days, and people will largely get replaced by in-house prospects (the Senzel signing however). Colson Montgomery, extensively thought of the ChiSox’ prime prospect (and one of many prime general prospects in baseball) may need been thought of for a promotion at this level had he not struggled to a .212/.328/.373 slash in 346 Triple-A plate appearances this season. Third base prospect Bryan Ramos has additionally struggled of late within the minors. Each rank amongst Chicago’s greatest prospects and each may very well be up ultimately within the second half, however Baldwin’s manufacturing has apparently been too loud for Sox brass to disregard.
