Chicago White Sox top prospects among 26 non-roster invitees to spring training — plus extensions for their broadcasting duo
Fan favorite Billy Hamilton is among nine free agents the Chicago White Sox signed to minor-league contracts, the team announced Thursday. The outfielder is one of 26 players — including 17 from within the organization — to have received non-roster invites to spring training camp in Glendale, Ariz.
The Sox also signed right-handed pitchers Keynan Middleton and Jesse Scholtens, left-hander Nate Fisher, catcher Sebastián Rivero, infielders Hanser Alberto and Erik González and outfielders Jake Marisnick and Víctor Reyes to minor-league contracts. All are non-roster invitees.
The players to receive non-roster invites from within the organization are right-handed pitchers Sean Burke, Declan Cronin, Edgar Navarro, Lane Ramsey and Matthew Thompson; left-handers Fraser Ellard, Sammy Peralta and Andrew Perez; catchers Adam Hackenberg and Evan Skoug; infielders Moisés Castillo, Luis Mieses, Colson Montgomery and Zach Remillard; and outfielders Yoelqui Céspedes, Oscar Colás and Adam Haseley.
Montgomery (No. 1), Colás (No. 2), Burke (No. 5), Thompson (No. 12), Céspedes (No. 16), Mieses (No. 20) and Hackenberg (No. 30) are among the team’s top prospects, according to Baseball America. Montgomery (No. 39) and Colás (No. 89) were ranked in the Top 100 prospects in baseball by Baseball America.
Colás is expected to be a candidate for right field after finishing with a combined .314/.371/.524 slash line with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs in 117 games for Class A Winston-Salem (59 games), Double-A Birmingham (51) and Triple-A Charlotte last season.
The 32-year-old Hamilton, a 10-year veteran, played in 71 games for the Sox in 2021, providing a jolt to the division-winning team with his defense. He stole 10 bases in 37 combined games last season for the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins.
Marisnick, 31, could be in the mix for outfield depth. He slashed .234/.272/.390 with two homers and six RBIs in 31 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. Marisnick hit a career-high 16 home runs in 2017 with the Houston Astros.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 15. Position players report Feb. 20, which also is the date for the first full-squad workout.
White Sox announce extensions for Jason Benetti and Steve Stone
Benetti and Stone will be back in the TV booth for the White Sox, the team announced Thursday.
The Sox picked up the multiyear option for Benetti, who is entering his eighth season with the club, and announced a multiyear extension with analyst Stone, who is entering his 16th season on the South Side.
Sox announce more international signings
The Sox came to terms with 11 additional international free agents.
The group includes catchers Angelo Hernández ($500,000 signing bonus), Stiven Flores ($250,000) and Elías Riera ($35,000), infielders Javier Mogollón ($75,000), Eyke Ugueto ($60,000) and Adrián Gil ($40,000), outfielder Marcelo Alcalá ($50,000), and right-handed pitchers Óscar Hernández ($75,000), José Malavé ($50,000), Jordany Chirinos ($50,000) and Fabián Ysalla ($50,000).
All are from Venezuela, and Ysalla is the oldest at 18.
The Sox last week announced seven international free-agent signees, including Juan Uribe Jr., the son of the team’s former shortstop.
