The 2024 season was bleak for the White Sox, but fans looking ahead may find hope in intriguing prospects the organization has collected in recent years. Further examination of the less-heralded prospects offers additional hope. In my last piece, I highlighted Aldrin Batista as a name to watch in 2025, and I want to add another promising prospect.
Juan Carela is a starting pitcher ranked 26th on MLB Pipeline’s top-30 White Sox prospect list. Acquired from the New York Yankees in 2023, Carela quietly impressed, showing growth and consistency across two levels. Chicago’s front office, led by Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams at the time, netted Carela in a trade with the Yankees for Keynan Middleton at the trade deadline.
Ascending Talent
Juan Carela made six starts with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash in 2023, tossing 32.1 innings, fanning 27, with a 3.34 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The right-hander began the 2024 campaign with the Dash, producing a 3.77 ERA in 74 innings spanning 16 starts. Most notably, the 22-year-old raised his K/9 rate from 7.5 with the Dash in 2023 to 9.5 this past season. The White Sox had seen enough in August and promoted the Dominican hurler to the Double-A Birmingham Barons.
Carela made seven starts with the Barons and continued improving, fanning 36 batters in 32.2 innings while maintaining a 3.58 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Although a smaller sample size, Carela improved in almost every statistical category after his promotion. The soon-to-be 23-year-old spent little time at the Double-A level and will likely begin the 2025 season with the Barons. The White Sox at the major- and minor-league levels boast a bevy of talented young pitchers.
What’s On Tap Next?
Juan Carela will likely slot alongside Noah Schultz, one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, to create another formidable starting rotation for the reigning Southern League champions. As a 22-year-old with a powerful slider, clean delivery, and director of pitching Brian Bannister in his corner, Carela could be a rising force in the White Sox system.
Though he’s still somewhat under the radar, Carela’s progress puts him on track to be a potential impact arm. If he continues on this trajectory, he could soon find himself in a vital role for the White Sox sooner rather than later. Keep an eye on Carela as he develops; he’s emerging as a name worth knowing in 2025.
