The Arizona Fall League may come after the official minor league season, but for a group of White Sox prospects, it’s still very much a working month. Chicago sent Caleb Bonemer, Mathias LaCombe, Pierce George, Anthony DePino and Colby Shelton - all top-30 prospects in the organization - to keep building toward the next level.
For Bonemer, the assignment is as much about comfort as it is development. Ranked No. 2 in the system, he’s adjusting to a brand-new spot after being moved to the outfield several weeks ago. He hasn’t played there before, but he’s embracing the change.
"Growing up, in high school, I never played outfield at all," Bonemer said this month. "But I've had a lot of fun so far. I think it's honestly the best thing for me in my career."
That switch makes Arizona especially valuable for him, even after a huge season in which he hit 37 home runs and posted a .930 OPS in 2026. The White Sox want him getting comfortable defensively now so there’s no first-time learning curve later.
"If next year something comes up, like a big league promotion or something, I don't want that to be my first ever time playing in the outfield," Bonemer said. "So, yeah, I think this is a great opportunity for me. And that's kind of the mindset I'm having going into it."
Shelton, the system’s No. 23 prospect, has a different focus. His work is about sharpening the approach at the plate and building the kind of consistency that tends to separate prospects from big leaguers.
"Trying to be just as consistent as possible," Shelton said. "I feel like that's just hard; the best people in the game are the most consistent people. So just trying to swing at some better pitches over the plate, eliminate some chase and just see how consistent I can be while I'm out here."
DePino, ranked No. 21, is chasing that same kind of steady progress, but he’s also trying to round out his game across the board. He hit 25 home runs in 2026, yet he still sees room to grow.
"Just continuing to get better over there at first base and become a more complete hitter," DePino said. "Being able to hit for average and power and being a five-tool player is really important in this game.
You don't see it that often. So I think doing that would definitely make that next step a lot easier"
LaCombe, the No. 17 prospect, is using the Fall League as a place to sharpen the details that matter when the competition gets tougher.
"Looking to get good at bats, face good competition, learn how to sequence my pitches better and how to pitch more than throw," LaCombe said.
George, ranked No. 18, is taking a broader approach as well, with an eye on adding more polish to everything in his game.
"Just continue to develop everything," George said. "Command, stuff, maybe even add a fourth pitch. I haven't really been able to talk to the pitching coaches as much in the White Sox organization about what the plan is, but I just want to use this to elevate my game and give myself a boost into the next season."
The common thread across the group is simple: each player has a clear area to attack, and each seems intent on using Arizona for exactly what it’s meant to be - a place to keep moving forward. The White Sox have already shown a willingness to lean on their young talent this season, and this group looks ready to keep pushing.
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