The System Gets a Major Shrink
The White Sox organization just made a massive change to its roster depth. With a fresh group of draft picks arriving, the team cut 24 players to make space. This includes 20 new draft picks and four undrafted free agents who joined right at the start of the month. To fit them all in, the club had to let go of an equal number of veterans. It is a harsh but necessary part of building a baseball team. The math is simple: you cannot add new blood without removing old skin. Per South Side Sox, the cuts hit every level of the minor leagues.
Some of these moves feel like a real shock to the system. The most surprising release was Jared Kelley. He was the second-round pick in 2020 who cost the team a big bonus to sign. Fans thought he was a future star in the system. But his numbers in Double-A Birmingham this year told a different story. He posted a 12.06 ERA, which is a very bad mark for any pitcher. The team decided they could not keep him around given those struggles. The loss of a high-profile player like Kelley shows how quickly things can turn in pro sports.
Clearing the Roster of Veterans
The list of cuts also includes some familiar names who simply ran out of time. Darren Baker, the son of the legendary Dusty Baker, was let go by the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. At 27 years old, his professional window is closing fast. He played only 13 games this season due to injuries. His career batting average sits at .500, which is a fun fact to carry forward. Then there is Lucas Sims, a 10-year veteran who the White Sox released and re-signed earlier this year. He was terrible in Charlotte with a 6.55 ERA. The team is just done with him for now.
Not every cut was about bad stats. Some were about fit and opportunity. The team released Javy Guerra after he pitched well for the Knights with a 3.09 ERA. This move seems to be about a contract detail or giving him a fresh start elsewhere. He might find a spot with another team for the rest of the season. Other players like Brenden Dixon and Adam Fogel were cut because the team has too many guys in those spots. The White Sox have enough players who fit the “eh, just keep him around” status. Fogel showed promise with five homers in just 91 plate appearances, but the draft class was heavy on outfielders. His pedigree was not strong enough to keep his spot.
A Brutal Reality Check
This roster shakeup sends a clear message to the rest of the organization. You have to perform every single day to stay on the roster. Eddie Park was another casualty. He was an eighth-round pick from Stanford who started strong but missed all of 2025 after knee surgery. He fell out of the top 100 prospects. The team is moving forward with new talent. The old guard is making way for the new kids. It is a tough time for those who got the axe, but it is the game of baseball. The White Sox are betting on the new draft class to be better than the 24 players they just let go.
The fans will be watching closely to see who steps up next. The new draft picks have a chance to prove they belong. The cuts show that no one is safe, not even a former second-round steal. The path to the majors is narrow and crowded. Only the best will survive this round of cuts. The White Sox are looking for a spark, and they are willing to cut the dead weight to find it. This is the cost of doing business in the minor leagues. It is time to see what the new roster can do. (more on that in Ryan Poles Draft Record Shows Clear Strength and One Big Flaw)
