The White Sox are taking a low-risk, potentially high-reward swing by signing outfielder Dustin Harris to a minor league deal. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter will head to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, looking to crack a roster that’s still very much in flux.
Harris is a name some fans might remember from prospect lists not too long ago. Originally drafted by the A’s, he was traded to Texas early in his career and quickly climbed the ranks in the Rangers’ system.
From 2022 through 2024, he consistently landed among the organization’s top 10 prospects, thanks to a blend of power and speed that made evaluators take notice. The Rangers even added him to their 40-man roster, a sign they believed he had a shot to contribute at the big league level.
But like a lot of prospects, Harris hit a plateau. His 2024 season at Triple-A told the story of a player still trying to put it all together.
A .272/.358/.391 slash line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League isn’t bad, but it also didn’t move the needle the way the Rangers had hoped. That performance, while respectable, was a step below league average in a league where the ball tends to fly.
By the time he got a brief call-up in September, his prospect shine had dulled.
Harris bounced between Triple-A and the majors throughout the early part of the 2025 season. Texas designated him for assignment at the trade deadline, and after clearing waivers, he was outrighted to the minors.
He got another look in September when Adolis García landed on the IL, but once again found himself off the roster by the offseason. This time, Harris opted for free agency.
His major league experience is limited - just 21 games - and the results weren’t eye-popping: a .217 average and a .280 on-base percentage. But in nearly 1,300 Triple-A plate appearances, Harris has shown a solid approach at the plate.
He owns a .276/.367/.420 line, with good walk and strikeout rates. The red flag?
His exit velocities at Triple-A have been on the lower end, which suggests he’s not consistently driving the ball with authority. That could limit his upside at the highest level.
Defensively, Harris brings some versatility. He’s logged time at all three outfield spots, though left field is likely his best fit.
That’s worth noting given the current state of the White Sox outfield picture. Andrew Benintendi is locked into left, and Luis Robert Jr. - assuming he’s not moved in a trade - is the centerpiece in center.
Right field is more of a question mark, with out-of-options Everson Pereira currently penciled in despite hitting just .146/.227/.215 in 50 big league games.
Behind that trio, the Sox have Derek Hill, Brooks Baldwin, and Tristan Peters on the 40-man roster. All of them will enter camp ahead of Harris on the depth chart, but that doesn’t mean there’s no path for him. On a team that’s clearly in a transitional phase, there’s room for a non-roster invitee to make an impression - especially one with Harris’ pedigree and plate discipline.
The White Sox aren’t banking on Harris to be a game-changer, but they’re giving him a shot to earn a role. And for a team still figuring out its identity, that’s exactly the kind of move that could quietly pay off if Harris can tap back into the potential that once made him a top-10 prospect.