The White Sox introduced that outfielder Oscar Colás has cleared waivers and been despatched outright to Triple-A Charlotte. He had been designated for project a few days in the past when the membership was making its closing roster strikes forward of Opening Day.
Seeing this transaction would have been stunning a number of years in the past however is way extra comprehensible given the best way issues have performed out just lately. Colás was a high-profile participant even earlier than becoming a member of the affiliated ranks. A local of Cuba, he had performed each in that nation and in Japan, constructing a repute together with his robust offensive stats. He additionally dabbled in pitching, resulting in some “Cuban Shohei Ohtani” chatter, however his official monitor document on the mound consists of simply 3 1/3 innings in Cuba.
He finally signed with the White Sox early in 2022, getting a comparatively excessive $2.7MM signing bonus. His first season in affiliated ball went fairly effectively. In that 2022 season, he went from Excessive-A to Double-A and Triple-A. Throughout these three ranges, he hit 23 residence runs in 117 video games, producing a mixed .314/.371/.524 batting line and 137 wRC+.
Going into 2023, he was thought of one of many high 100 prospects within the league, however his inventory has been falling since then. He has 301 huge league plate appearances to date with a 5.3% stroll charge and 26.9% strikeout charge. His .223/.271/.309 line interprets to a wRC+ of simply 58. His minor league manufacturing has additionally fallen off. His .255/.336/.423 line at Triple-A over the previous two years is best than his main league work however quantities to a wRC+ of 93, or 7% under league common. His protection hasn’t been effectively regarded, making that declining offense all of the extra troubling.
Coming into 2025, the Sox didn’t appear eager on conserving a job open for him. They already had Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi within the outfield combine after which added Austin Slater, Michael A. Taylor, Mike Tauchman and Travis Jankowski. Accidents to Tauchman and Benintendi in spring maybe opened a path for Colás however he struck out in 38.9% of his plate appearances in Cactus League motion.
He has an choice remaining, so the Sox might have merely despatched him to the minors. However they bumped him off the 40-man and put him on the wire, taking the danger that they’d lose him fully. Any of the opposite 29 golf equipment might have grabbed him and stashed him in Triple-A however none of them have been keen to provide him a roster spot, a sign of the place his worth is correct now.
Since he has lower than three years of service time and that is his first profession outright, he doesn’t have the proper to elect free company. He’ll follow the White Sox as a depth piece however with out taking over a roster spot. The Sox gained’t be competing this 12 months and it appears possible that outfield taking part in time can be open within the second half. Robert ought to be one of many high commerce candidates of the approaching months so long as he stays wholesome and the opposite outfielders ought to be on the block as effectively. If Colás can flip issues round in Charlotte, he might maybe get one other shot on the majors later in the summertime.
Picture courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Photos
