The South Side is different. Honestly, if you've followed this team through the lean years, you know that a depth chart White Sox fans have to look at lately isn't just a list of names; it’s a survival guide. It’s about who’s actually going to stay healthy for more than three weeks and which prospects are finally ready to stop being "potential" and start being "production." We aren't talking about the 2005 glory days anymore. This is a gritty, high-variance roster that could either surprise the AL Central or leave us all checking mock drafts by July.
Usually, when people look at a depth chart, they just see the starters. That’s a mistake. In 2026, the real story for Chicago is the lack of a safety net at specific spots and the absolute logjam at others. It’s weird. You’ve got a rotation that looks solid on paper, yet the bullpen feels like a social experiment some days.
The Rotation: High Ceiling, Low Floor
The top of the rotation is where the hope lives. It has to. If the front three don't pitch 180 innings each, this team is in massive trouble. Garrett Crochet is the anchor, assuming his arm is still attached and the trade rumors have finally died down. He’s the kind of guy who makes hitters look silly when he’s on, but the workload concerns never really go away, do they? Behind him, you’re looking at a mix of veteran stability and "please let this guy develop a third pitch" energy.
The back end of the depth chart White Sox rotation is basically a revolving door of arms like Jonathan Cannon or whatever high-upside arm they managed to keep in the system through the last wave of trades. It’s risky. One oblique strain and suddenly you’re starting a Triple-A guy who isn't ready for MLB exit velocities.
Starting Pitching Hierarchy
- Garrett Crochet (The Ace)
- Veteran placeholder (Think a bounce-back candidate on a one-year deal)
- Jonathan Cannon (The steady riser)
- Nick Nastrini or Sean Burke (The "stuff" guys who need command)
- Drew Thorpe (If the changeup is still disappearing)
Infield Uncertainty and the Luis Robert Factor
Center field is Luis Robert Jr.’s world. We just live in it. When he’s healthy, he’s a Top 10 talent in the league, period. But "when he's healthy" is the phrase that haunts every South Side fan’s dreams. If he plays 140 games, the White Sox are a different animal. If he plays 70, the depth chart falls apart because there isn't another true five-tool player waiting in Charlotte.
The infield is a bit more of a puzzle. You’ve got guys like Colson Montgomery finally getting his feet wet at shortstop. It’s about time. Everyone has been calling him the "Corey Seager-lite" for years. Now we actually get to see if he can handle the daily grind of Big League shifts and the speed of the game. He’s tall, he’s got pop, but the range is the question mark.
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At the corners, it’s a mix. Andrew Vaughn is what he is at this point—a professional hitter who will give you 20 homers and a decent average, but he’s not going to carry the franchise on his back. Third base remains a bit of a "choose your own adventure" situation. Is it a veteran stopgap? A utility man playing up a spot? It’s arguably the weakest link in the current organizational structure.
The Bullpen: A Total Wildcard
Relief pitching is volatile. That’s the golden rule of baseball. One year a guy is the next Liam Hendriks, the next he’s got an ERA of 6.50 and can’t find the strike zone with a map. The current White Sox relief corps is built on "low-risk, high-reward" flyers.
Basically, the front office is betting on their pitching coaches to fix guys. It works sometimes. Other times, you're watching a three-run lead evaporate in the 8th inning because your setup man's slider stopped sliding. You really have to keep an eye on the waiver wire here. This part of the depth chart changes more often than the Chicago weather.
Catching Depth: The Unsung Grind
People forget how much the catcher affects the ERA. The depth chart White Sox fans see at catcher is actually pretty interesting right now. It's not about offensive superstars. It's about framing, blocking, and not letting the young pitchers lose their minds when they fall behind 2-0.
Edgar Quero is the name everyone is circling. He’s the future. But catching is a hard position to learn on the fly. You need a veteran backstop to eat those innings and mentor the kids. If Quero hits like scouts think he can, he’s the most valuable piece on the diamond besides Robert Jr.
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What the Numbers Actually Tell Us
If you look at the projections—and let's be real, projections are just guesses with spreadsheets—the Sox are hovering in that middle-of-the-pack zone. They aren't the Dodgers. They aren't the 1962 Mets either.
The variance is wild.
If three prospects hit their stride simultaneously, this team wins 85 games. If they don't, and the injury bug bites, 65 wins is a scary possibility. It's a team built on "ifs."
- If the rotation stays healthy.
- If Montgomery is the real deal.
- If the bullpen finds a closer.
Why This Specific Depth Chart Matters Now
The AL Central is weirdly winnable. It always is. You don't need 100 wins to stay relevant in this division. You just need to be better than the Guardians, Twins, and Tigers on a weekly basis. That means the depth at the bottom of the roster—the 25th and 26th men—matters more for the White Sox than for teams in the AL East.
When you have a thin margin for error, your utility infielder being able to hit .240 instead of .190 is the difference between a winning streak and a season-ending slump.
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Critical Depth Positions to Watch
The middle infield backup spot is huge. You need someone who can play second and short without being a defensive liability.
The "Swingman" in the pen. A guy who can give you four innings when the starter gets chased early. Without this, the bullpen gets fried by May.
Left-handed bench bat. The Sox have historically been right-handed heavy. Finding a guy who can pinch-hit and scare a righty reliever is vital.
Addressing the Misconceptions
A lot of national media likes to say the White Sox are in a "perpetual rebuild." That's kinda lazy. They aren't rebuilding; they are retooling with a focus on athleticism over raw power. The shift from the "swing for the fences" mentality of a few years ago to a more balanced approach is evident if you look at the Triple-A roster. They are valuing contact more. They are valuing speed.
It's not just about home runs anymore. It's about putting pressure on the defense.
Actionable Steps for Following the Season
If you're trying to track this team and stay ahead of the curve, don't just check the box scores. You have to look at the transactions.
- Watch the 15-day IL: This team lives and dies by health. If the injuries start piling up in the outfield, look for who they call up from Charlotte. That tells you who the FO actually trusts.
- Monitor Pitch Counts: Garrett Crochet’s usage is the canary in the coal mine. If they start babying him, they might be prepping for a late-season trade or protecting a lingering issue.
- Follow the High-A Stats: The next wave of talent is coming from the lower levels. The 2026 depth chart is influenced heavily by the guys pushing for promotions from Winston-Salem.
- Check Defensive Runs Saved (DRS): The Sox have struggled with defense. If the DRS numbers improve at shortstop and third, the pitchers will suddenly look a lot better.
The depth chart White Sox management has assembled is a gamble. It’s a bet on youth and a bet on health. For a fan base that has seen it all, this season represents a pivot point. Either the new core solidifies, or the cycle of "wait until next year" starts all over again. Keep your eyes on the waiver wire and the recovery reports; that's where the real season is won or lost.
Check the official MLB transaction logs every Tuesday and Friday. That’s usually when the roster shuffling happens. Pay attention to the "Optioned to Triple-A" list. Often, the most talented players are sent down not because they failed, but because the team is manipulating service time or waiting for a veteran's contract to expire. If you see a top prospect dominating in Charlotte, his arrival in Chicago is usually imminent—usually right after the Super Two deadline in June. This is the most effective way to predict the next version of the South Side roster before it actually hits the field.