Fansided

One prospect each MLB team should call up right now

By Joshua Sadlock

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 27: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the MLB preseason game at Olympic Stadium on March 27, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 27: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals during the MLB preseason game at Olympic Stadium on March 27, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 23: Eloy Jimenez
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 23: Eloy Jimenez /

Chicago White Sox: Eloy Jimenez

The Chicago White Sox have their answer to Ronald Acuna, Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 21-year-old outfielder Eloy Jimenez. He is the crown jewel for a rebuilding organization that has seven of MLB’s top-100 prospects and already has Yoan Moncada, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito in the big leagues. When this wave of talent hits, the White Sox will be set up to contend in the AL for years to come.

Jimenez was the key piece in last year’s trade that sent Jose Quintana across Chicago to the Cubs. Theo Epstein felt comfortable letting Jimenez go because his outfield is already loaded with Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Albert Almora and Jason Heyward. As good as Jimenez is, it was just a factor of having enough depth from which to deal. Quintana has not been great for the Cubs, but he is still an above-average starter signed for less than $10 million a year.

The raw power that Jimenez generates has already drawn comparisons to a young Giancarlo Stanton, but he should hit for a much higher average when he does reach the big leagues. He already keeps his strikeouts down to a manageable level, understands the strike zone and can use the whole field. Now in his fifth professional season, Jimenez is a career .304/.352/.508 hitter. He has not yet played a full season at Double-A after being shut down with an injury last year, but has hit .337/.379/.587 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI in 50 games at the most competitive level of the minors.

If Jimenez does blossom into the superstar he is projected to be, the Cubs will kick themselves even harder for signing Heyward to an eight-year deal. He was the one player truly blocking Jimenez from claiming an immediate spot in the big leagues.

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