The struggling White Sox face the Pirates on July 18, 2025, with their offense at a historic low. See how GM Chris Getz's draft strategy aims to rebuild.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
As the White Sox rolled into PNC Park on Friday, staring down another series as heavy underdogs, the story of the 2025 season came into sharp focus. On one hand, you have the major league club, a team languishing at the bottom of nearly every offensive category. On the other, you have a front office executing a clear, deliberate strategy to fix that very problem, betting the franchise's future on a massive influx of position-player talent from the 2025 MLB Draft.
Primarily, we’re focused on bats in the draft… The best way to get that talent into your system is likely drafting them.
The matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates feels like a painful reflection of the Sox's season. Entering the game with a 32-65 record and an abysmal 11-36 showing on the road, Chicago's offense ranks dead last in the league in batting average (.222), on-base percentage (.295), and slugging (.342). With the Pirates favored at -160 despite their own struggles, the odds underscore a harsh reality: wins are not the primary concern for this team right now. It's a tough pill to swallow for fans watching the current product.
While the big-league club struggles to generate runs, GM Chris Getz and the front office are making their priorities crystal clear. The 2025 draft class was overwhelmingly tilted towards offense, with 11 of the 20 selections being position players, including four shortstops. Getz's public comments confirm the strategy is no accident. 'Primarily, we’re focused on bats in the draft,' he stated, highlighting the difficulty of acquiring everyday infield talent through other means. This is a direct, long-term response to the offensive black hole we're witnessing at the major league level.
The plan is already taking shape as the draft picks begin to sign. First-round pick Billy Carlson, a shortstop, has officially debuted at No. 6 in the team's updated prospect rankings, according to ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. Second-rounder Jaden Fauske follows at No. 11. These aren't just names on a list; they represent the first wave of reinforcements in the organization's new hitting-focused philosophy. The team also added depth by signing undrafted free agents Jackson Nove (LHP) and James Taussig (OF).
Further down the ladder, the system saw mixed results. In the Arizona Complex League, Christian Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and Jurdrick Profar added a 2-for-5 day with a double, showing promising signs. Meanwhile, Noah Syndergaard's rehab assignment continues to be a struggle, as he gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in just 3.1 innings. The brightest spot came from the Dominican Summer League, where Alejandro Cruz showcased his dynamic potential with two singles, two walks, and three stolen bases.
While the immediate outlook in Pittsburgh seems grim, the real action for the White Sox isn't happening on an MLB field right now. The story of this franchise for the rest of 2025 and beyond will be written in Kannapolis, Winston-Salem, Birmingham, and Charlotte. Keep an eye on the box scores from the farm, because that's where the hope for a competitive future on the South Side is being cultivated, one at-bat at a time.
