The Chicago White Sox may not be playoff-bound just yet, but that doesn’t mean 2026 won’t be a crucial step forward. After a rough overall showing in 2025 - even with some encouraging signs in the second half - the Sox find themselves in a familiar position: rebuilding, recalibrating, and looking for upside wherever it can be found. And with the No. 1 overall pick secured in the upcoming draft, they’re in prime position to add a cornerstone piece for the future.
But while the long game is clearly in focus, the White Sox still have a chance to make meaningful short-term moves - especially when it comes to taking flyers on high-upside talent. That’s exactly the kind of opportunity that just presented itself with Jhonkensy Noel.
The Cleveland Guardians recently designated Noel for assignment, putting the 24-year-old slugger on waivers and opening the door for another team to scoop him up. For the White Sox, this is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that fits perfectly with where they are right now.
White Sox fans have already seen what Noel can do - and what he can do is hit baseballs a very long way. He’s shown flashes of his prodigious power against Chicago before, and while his 2025 season didn’t go as planned, the raw tools remain tantalizing.
Let’s break it down: in 69 games last season, Noel slashed just .162/.183/.323 with six home runs and 13 RBIs. Not exactly eye-popping numbers, and certainly not enough to keep his spot on a contending Guardians roster.
But it’s worth remembering that just a year earlier, in his 2024 rookie campaign, Noel showed real promise. He hit .218 with a .288 OBP, clubbing 13 home runs and driving in 28 runs over 67 games.
That’s not elite production, but it’s the kind of power profile that turns heads - especially for a player still adjusting to big-league pitching.
The story gets even more compelling when you look at his minor league track record. Over 579 games in the minors, Noel has launched 124 home runs and posted a strong .825 OPS.
He mashed 32 homers in 2022 and followed that up with 27 more in 2023. That’s not just power - that’s sustained, system-wide thunder in the bat.
Yes, there are real concerns. Noel’s swing-and-miss tendencies are well-documented, and his ability to make consistent contact at the MLB level remains a work in progress. But he’s also shown more plate discipline in the minors than he has in the majors, and he brings a plus arm with serviceable defense in the corner outfield spots.
Here’s the thing: the White Sox aren’t in a position where they need every player to be polished and playoff-ready. They’re in a spot where they can afford to take chances on upside. They’ve already begun doing just that, acquiring outfielders Everson Pereira and Tristian Peters from the Rays - moves that reflect a strategy of giving young, unproven talent a longer runway to develop.
Noel fits that mold perfectly. He’s out of minor league options, so whoever claims him will need to keep him on the big-league roster.
But for a team like the White Sox, that’s not a deal-breaker - it’s an opportunity. They have the roster flexibility to give Noel a real shot, and if he finds his groove, they could wind up with a 30+ home run bat in the middle of the lineup at a bargain price.
There’s no guarantee it works out. But in a season where the White Sox are still laying the foundation for future success, it’s exactly the kind of swing worth taking.