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November 7, 2007

Future Shock

White Sox Top 11 Prospects

by Kevin Goldstein

Five-Star Prospects
1. Fautino de los Santos, RHP
Four-Star Prospects
2. Gio Gonzalez, LHP
3. Aaron Poreda, LHP
Three-Star Prospects
4. Chris Carter, 1B
5. John Shelby, CF
6. Jose Martinez, OF
Two-Star Prospects
7. Jack Egbert, RHP
8. Ryan Sweeney, OF
9. Lance Broadway, RHP
One-Star Prospects
10. Brian Omogrosso, RHP
11. Kyle McCulloch, RHP

Just Missing: John Ely, RHP; Christian Marrero, 1B; Jerry Owens, OF

1. Fautino de los Santos, RHP
DOB: 2/15/86
Height/Weight: 6-0/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
Acquired: NDFA, 2005, Dominican Republic
2007 Stats: 2.40 ERA at Low-A (97.2-49-36-121); 3.65 ERA at High-A (24.2-20-7-32)

Year In Review: Beginning the year as an obscure Dominican arm in a weak system, de los Santos first blew away the coaching staff in spring training and then was almost literally unhittable in the Sally League, allowing one hit for every two innings pitched.
The Good: Built like a tree trunk, de los Santos gets tremendous drive. His fastball sits at 91-95 mph, touching 98 at times; it also has late movement, and he commands it very well. His breaking pitch is a power curve with hard late bite, and it's a true out pitch when he’s on. He understands the importance of developing an offspeed pitch, and he improved his changeup over the course of the year.
The Bad: De los Santos gets into bad habits at times, and can overthrow all of his pitches, costing him life on his fastball, break on his curve, and decreasing the velocity gap between the heat and his changeup. Some worry that his aggressiveness might work against him when facing more advanced hitters, and that he needs to learn how to set up batters and be more aware of the count, as opposed to challenging hitters with every pitch. If his changeup doesn’t continue to improve, some fear he’ll be limited to a relief role.
Fun Fact: In 18 fifth innings, de los Santos allowed just three hits while striking out 26.
Perfect World Projection: Star-level starter or closer.
Timetable: De los Santos has the highest ceiling of any player in the system, but he’s still at least two years away. He’ll likely begin 2008 at High-A, with an expectation than he could be ready for a look at some point in 2009.

2. Gio Gonzalez, LHP
DOB: 9/19/85
Height/Weight: 5-11/185
Bats/Throws: R/L
Draft: 1^st round, 2004, Monsignor Pace HS (FL)
2007 Stats: 3.18 ERA at Double-A (150-116-57-185)