The White Sox minor league system kicked off the 2026 season with a bang, and no team shined brighter than the Winston-Salem Dash, who posted a stellar 15-9 record in April. Leading the charge were two standout performers: Colby Shelton and Caleb Bonemer. Let's dive into the month's highlights from across the organization.
Charlotte Knights (Triple-A)
The Knights had a solid start to their campaign, finishing April at 14-16 with a +13 run differential. While the record might not jump off the page, the offensive production certainly does. Charlotte ranks third in the International League in OPS (.800), though their pitching sits at 13th in ERA (5.05).
The story of the month was shortstop Jacob Gonzalez, who earned March-April Player of the Month honors. The 23-year-old posted a blistering .976 OPS with eight home runs and 26 RBIs in just 103 at-bats. To put that in perspective: Gonzalez matched his entire 2025 home run total in just one month. After struggling to an OPS in the mid-.600s over the past two seasons, this breakout is a massive development for a player who was the White Sox first-round pick in 2023. MLB Pipeline had him ranked as the No. 24 prospect in the system entering this season, but with this kind of production in Triple-A, a call-up to Chicago might come sooner than expected.
Other notable performers for Charlotte included Rikuu Nishida (.347/.407/.408), who earned a promotion from Birmingham on April 17, and Drew Romo (.298/.385/.561), who was called up to the majors on April 25. On the mound, Noah Schultz was dominant with a 1.29 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 14 innings before earning his own promotion to Chicago on April 14. Keep an eye on Tanner McDougal, who posted a solid 3.00 ERA but landed on the injured list on April 30 with a flexor strain—he'll be shut down from throwing for a few weeks.
Birmingham Barons (Double-A)
The Barons had their own bright spots in April, with several players making strong cases for future promotions. The pitching staff showed promise, though consistency will be key as the season progresses.
Winston-Salem Dash (High-A)
The Dash were the organization's standout team in April, and much of that success can be attributed to Colby Shelton and Caleb Bonemer. Their leadership on both sides of the ball helped Winston-Salem post the best record in the system. With this kind of momentum, the Dash are a team to watch as the season heats up.
Looking Ahead
April set the stage for what promises to be an exciting season in the White Sox minor league system. From Gonzalez's resurgence to Shelton's breakout, there's no shortage of talent making its way through the ranks. Whether you're tracking future call-ups or just enjoying the journey, these young stars are giving fans plenty of reasons to stay tuned.