The White Sox have been on a rollercoaster journey with their farm system, but it seems like they're finally on the upswing. After a rocky period where their minor league talent took a nosedive, they've managed to climb back into the top half of the league's rankings. This resurgence began during the latter part of Rick Hahn’s tenure and has continued under Chris Getz, with a clear focus on rebuilding their talent pool.
What's exciting about this new wave of prospects is the depth beyond the top names. While previous rebuilds left the farm system barren once the main players graduated, this time around, the White Sox have a more robust lineup of promising talent waiting in the wings.
As the season kicks off, we're diving into the White Sox's top prospects, starting from the 20th spot and working our way up. We've just highlighted Mason Adams at number 16, and now we're turning our attention to the 15th-ranked prospect, Mathias LaCombe.
LaCombe's journey is as unique as it is promising. Hailing from France, he was picked by the White Sox in the 12th round of the 2023 draft out of Cochise College in Arizona.
Before that, he showcased his potential on the international stage, pitching for Team France in the 2022 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Though his outing was brief, it was enough to display his knack for striking batters out.
Unfortunately, an injury sidelined LaCombe shortly after the draft, wiping out his initial post-draft play and the entire 2024 season. But he made a strong comeback in the Arizona Complex League last year.
Over 35.2 innings, he posted a stellar 2.25 ERA, striking out 50 and walking just 11. Opponents struggled to hit against him, managing a mere .184 batting average, and his WHIP was an elite .95.
These numbers earned him a promotion to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
In Kannapolis, LaCombe continued to impress with his swing-and-miss ability. Over 17.2 innings, he notched a solid 4.08 ERA and struck out 23 batters, though his control wavered a bit with 13 walks. Still, hitters found him tough to crack, batting just .197 against him.
Looking ahead, LaCombe is set to start the season with the Winston-Salem Dash and will turn 24 during the year. If he keeps up his momentum, a jump to AA or even AAA could be on the horizon.
With his elite swing-and-miss stuff, LaCombe is a prospect to watch. The White Sox have a strong track record of developing pitchers, and there's every reason to hope LaCombe will be their next success story.