WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JANUARY 23, 2017 “Dominican Republic academy re-opens with upgrades” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Moncada tops list again with Albies, Happ right behind” … Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com “As White Sox begin to rebuild, few of the faces have changed” …Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox announce SoxFest program” … Daryl Van Schouwen, CSN Chicago “White Sox Boast Three of MLB’s Top 10 RHP Prospects” … Matt Manetti, Fansided “Zack Collins Rated Fourth-Best Catching Prospect”…Matt Manetti, FanSided

Dominican Republic academy re-opens with upgrades White Sox add second building, more classrooms By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | January 20th, 2017

CHICAGO -- The White Sox re-opened their Dominican Republic academy this past Tuesday with great excitement concerning the upgrades made to the complex in Boca Chica.

Buddy Bell, the organization's assistant general manager, spoke of a second building being added to go along with the two baseball fields already in place, along with additional classrooms, lounges and computers. It now becomes somewhat of a selling point as the White Sox continue to establish themselves in the international market, but all of the changes are directed toward helping the kids.

"We just made some changes to kind of give it a new feel," Bell said. "First of all, the kids stay there every day. They eat there, they sleep there. Parents come in, and they see where their kid is staying and what kind of food they eat and things like that. It has just become more important.

"A lot of these kids don't ever get to get over here, so it's really important to us to give them an education regardless if they get over here or not. A lot of these kids just don't have the resources."

Ever Magallanes takes over as the supervisor of the academy, with Manuel Santana serving as the complex operations coordinator, Guillermo Reyes as the field coordinator and Julio Valdez as the manager of the team. Magallanes has viewed the changes in person and applauds the White Sox making things better for the players to truly focus on their talents once they get into baseball action.

"They can sleep better, and all the tension is on the field," Magallanes said. "Not that it was bad in the past. But we just want to upgrade a little bit more.

"I've been down there a lot, so I've seen the change and what it was before and now. We still have a ways to go, but it's awesome, and I'm happy for the kids. I'm happy that they are experiencing it and get to have a place, a complex that it's nice to go to. It's nice to go to work."

English classes become the most important thing for these players, and that education has always been solidly provided by the White Sox in Bell's estimation. But the changes also have the White Sox hiring a sport psychologist for the Academy, as well as a focus placed on nutrition and doing more work on computers.

"An unfortunate thing, and I hate this, is that some of these kids are judged that they aren't smart," Bell said of players who stop going to school when they focus on baseball. "But they've never been given an opportunity. How would you know if a guy is smart or not when they don't have the proper education? We are not going to do it just because everybody else is doing it. We feel it's the right thing.

"But it's a big part of our organization now. It needs to be. We need that to supplement our domestic Draft. We can't be more happy with what we've done here in the last three or four months."

Moncada tops list again with Albies, Happ right behind By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

For the second year in a row, Yoan Moncada is in that No. 1 slot. And why not? His impressive tools haven't changed just because he was sent from the Red Sox to the White Sox in the blockbuster Chris Sale deal. Beyond the stability at the top, however, is a lot of change. Only two second basemen -- Ian Happ of the Cubs and the Phllies' Scott Kingery -- are holdovers from a year ago. There were three graduations to the big leagues and four dropped off because of performance and/or others passing them on this hypothetical depth chart. • Scouting reports, grades, stats and video on Prospect Watch 1. Yoan Moncada, White Sox After the Red Sox broke the bank to sign Moncada -- a total of $63 million -- he made it to the big leagues in just two years, where he struggled, albeit in just 19 at-bats. He was at the top of the four prospects the White Sox got in that Sale deal and he should see time at second in Chicago at some point in 2017.

2. Ozzie Albies, Braves Albies could very easily sit near the top of a shortstop list, but he moved over to second so he could play alongside Dansby Swanson. Braves fans should get used to that dynamic duo as Albies should arrive in Atlanta in the very near future, at age 20.

3. Ian Happ, Cubs He hasn't moved quite as quickly as (Triple-A his first full year) or Kyle Schwarber (Chicago in his), but Happ did make it to Double-A as yet another Cubs college position player who can flat-out hit. He has 20-20 potential if it all clicks.

4. Willie Calhoun, Dodgers In a word, Calhoun can hit. He hit 31 homers in junior college his Draft year in 2015, then showed that was no fluke by going straight to Double-A for his first full season and hitting 27 more long balls, all while not swinging and missing all that much. His defensive home might be in question, but that bat is going to play.

5. Travis Demeritte, Braves Demeritte hit 25 homers in High Desert, an extreme hitter's park, before getting dealt from the Rangers to the Braves. He needs to cut down his strikeouts some -- though he does draw walks -- something he improved in the Arizona Fall League. He looked strong at second in the AFL as well, but with Albies there, he might be looking at a move to third.

6. Andy Ibanez, Rangers The Cuban defector had a long layoff, yet managed to play his way from the Class A South Atlantic League up to Double-A, jumping over the California League. He makes hard, consistent contact with extra-base ability, doesn't strike out a ton and draws some walks. There's a lot of talent ahead of him, but he should hit his way to Texas.

7. Scott Kingery, Phillies The 2015 second-rounder made it to Double-A in his first full season, though he struggled some once he got there. The main culprit for Kingery was getting away from his typically advanced approach at the plate. He'll get back to making hard contact, drawing walks and using his speed to be a threat on the bases.

8. Luis Urias, Padres All Urias has done since signing with the Padres is hit to the tune of a .317 career batting average. He's also got on-base skills, to the tune of a .395 on-base percentage, having drawn more walks in his career than strikeouts. He won't turn 20 until June and he's ready to bring his strong offensive skillset to the upper levels of the system.

9. Carlos Asuaje, Padres Speaking of Padres second basemen who can hit, Asauje brushed aside a disappointing 2015 to have a strong first year in his new organization after coming over in the trade. He hit .321 in his first taste of Triple-A with solid extra-base pop. He could be an everyday second baseman or a very valuable offensive-minded utility man starting in 2017.

10. Eliezer Alvarez, Cardinals Of all the players on this list, Alvarez has jumped on prospect radars the most. In his full-season debut, he hit .323 to lead the organization and also topped all Cardinals farmhands with 36 stolen bases. The Cards often skip talented offensive players over Palm Beach and up to Double-A, which could put Alvarez on a faster track to St. Louis.

Next up Max Schrock experienced many things in his first full season of pro ball. He got promoted after 67 games in the South Atlantic League up to the Carolina League, then he got traded and ended up getting time in Double-A after joining the A's from the Nationals. He hit a combined .341 along the way with 22 steals, then showed well in the Arizona Fall League. With one of the best bat and speed combinations in the 2014 Draft, Forrest Wall has held his own, but hasn't taken off, in his two-plus years as a pro. He'll be just 21 for all of 2017 and should be in Double-A. He still has every chance to be a left-handed hitter who hits for average with a bit of pop and steals bases at, or near, the top of a big league lineup.

As White Sox begin to rebuild, few of the faces have changed Paul Sullivan/Chicago Tribune| Jan. 20th, 2017

As the White Sox prepare for their annual SoxFest fan convention, beginning Friday at the Hilton Chicago, it's a good time to check in on the rebuild, reboot or re-whatever they prefer to call it.

So far they've successfully "de-LaRoched" the clubhouse, trading Chris Sale and , the two most vociferous critics of Sox management in the Adam LaRoche saga, while receiving several quality prospects in return.

The Sox added veteran starting pitcher Derek Holland to replace Sale but otherwise kept the status quo, despite rumors all winter they would deal Jose Quintana. That still might happen, but three weeks before camp opens, Quintana is the ace and the only lineup addition is Charles Tilson in center field.

There's plenty of time for changes, but for now Omar Narvaez has kept the starting catching job, with Geovany Soto brought back on a minor-league deal to tutor Narvaez and provide the pitchers with a veteran backup. Perennial third-base prospect looks like the primary designated hitter for now, with Jose Abreu likely to get more at-bats there.

Tyler Saladino will try to wrest playing time from Brett Lawrie at second base, and right fielder Avisail Garcia will get another chance to live up to his potential.

The leader in the clubhouse, unless he's dealt, is still third baseman Todd Frazier, who was part of the Reds' rebuild and knows the drill. Frazier is smart enough to know he will be mentioned in trade talk all season and will be counted on to deal with the media, a responsibility he handled deftly in 2016.

Some observers feel the Sox will benefit from having no pressure on them. That includes my former Tribune colleague Phil Rogers, who suggested on MLB Network on Thursday that 90 wins is feasible.

I asked him if he had been hacked on-air, but Phil confirmed the number.

I wouldn't go that far. But if they keep Quintana and Frazier, at least until the trade deadline, the Sox could be an interesting team this spring. Of course, after the 23-10 start in 2016 quickly unraveled, they won't get the benefit of the doubt even if they do win early on.

As bad as 2016 was for the Sox — from the LaRoche situation to James Shields' struggles to Sale's uniform-slicing incident — it felt even worse thanks to the inflated hopes from the hot start.

Now there's at least some talent on the horizon, and hopefully it won't take too long to develop. Who knows? Having Moncada join the team after some at-bats at Triple-A Charlotte might provide a boost similar to the one the 2015 Cubs received when Kris Bryant came up in April.

New manager Rick Renteria is here, in case you forgot. Renteria won't sell tickets like Joe Maddon did upon his arrival on the North Side, but he should be motivated to prove himself after the Cubs fired him one year into a three-year deal to bring in Maddon. He has handled it well, but the firing had to scar Renteria, who did whatever the Cubs asked during their rebuilding effort, to no avail.

Renteria inherits Robin Ventura's staff, including pitching coach Don Cooper, who apparently serves as a co-manager of sorts. Curt Hasler replaces Bobby Thigpen as the bullpen coach.

Despite receiving national praise for bamboozling the Nationals in the Eaton deal, general manager Rick Hahn is not planning to rush Giolito, the Nats' former top prospect, into the rotation.

Hahn also said more development is needed for Carson Fulmer, the top draft pick in 2015 who came up briefly last year and posted an 8.49 ERA in eight relief appearances. Fulmer went 6-10 with a 4.63 ERA in the minors.

"The last three starts at Charlotte, he and (Triple-A pitching coach) Rich Dotson really clicked, and there were a few delivery things we were trying to get him to (change)," Hahn said. "For whatever reason, when Dot laid it out for him, Carson responded well. We still absolutely view him as a starter. ... We think he has the ability to potentially contribute, and we'll find out once we come to camp."

A future rotation that includes first-round picks Fulmer, Giolito, Kopech and Carlos Rodon could conjure memories of the young foursome of Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez and Jason Bere from the 1993 division champs.

Maybe that's asking too much. But what's the use of spring training if you can't dream?

White Sox announce SoxFest program Daryl Van Schouwen/ Chicago Sun Times| Jan. 20th, 2017

The White Sox announced the schedule for activities and appearances at SoxFest 2017, their three-day annual fan gathering at the Hilton Chicago on January 27-29.

The event features autograph, photo and question-and-answer sessions with current Sox players, former greats, prospects, broadcasters and front office staff. A limited number of upgrade packages are available at whitesox.com/SoxFest. The last day to purchase a SoxFest hotel package is Monday.

White Sox Boast Three of MLB’s Top 10 RHP Prospects

Matt Manetti/FanSided via Southside Showdown Fansided |Jan 20, 2017 Three White Sox hurlers appear on MLB Pipeline’s list of the top 10 right-handed pitching prospects. The future of the organization looks bright if these three live up to the hype.

The find themselves in the position of having a surplus of young talent. Rick Hahn remade the farm system by trading away Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. And that looks like it will payoff big in the future. MLB Pipeline released its list of the top 10 right-handed pitching prospects and three of those guys now reside within this organization.

Lucas Giolito was No. 3 and the highest rated White Sox on the list. He was followed by Michael Kopech (No.4) and Reynaldo Lopez rounded out the list at No. 10. Remember, Kopech came to this team in the Sale trade. Giolito and Lopez were part of the Eaton package. If these guys live up to their full potential, this team could have a really scary rotation when you pair this trio with Carlos Rodon. And it might not end there.

We have heard constant rumors of Jose Quintana’s possible trade. And it may happen before spring training. That means the White Sox could potentially get three or four more elite prospects. The and are potential suitors and both have guys on this list. Tyler Glasnow (Pittsburgh) is ranked No. 2 and Francis Martes (Houston) is No. 5. A trade could potentially give this team three of the top five right-handed pitching prospects and four in the top 10. That would be a very impressive feat and could set this team up for future success.

It’s impressive just to have one top pitching prospect, but three and possibly four is just insane. The White Sox are somewhere they haven’t been in years. They are starting to build a team the proper way and it could pay off huge in just a few seasons. Hahn has changed the culture of the organization and set this team up for years of success. What’s most exciting is Giolito, Kopech and Lopez are all only about two seasons away from making the majors. That means in just a few seasons this pitching staff has the potential to be dynamic.

Zack Collins Rated Fourth-Best Catching Prospect Matt Manetti/FanSided via Southside Showdown Fansided |Jan 20, 2017

MLB Pipeline rated Zack Collins as the fourth-best catching prospect. The White Sox hope the talented 21 year old can live up to expectations.

The Chicago White Sox farm system underwent a massive overhaul this offseason. Suddenly, this team has a plethora of young talent that bodes well for the future. The White Sox drafted Zack Collins 10th overall in 2016. Now, he’s a top prospect and MLB Pipeline recently rated the 21 year old as the fourth- best catching prospect in baseball.

Collins has an immense 6’3″ frame and was one of the best hitters available in the 2016 draft. This team has issues with offense, so the hope is he can turn into a threat at the plate. In 39 games in the minors, the lefty hit .244 with six home runs and 18 RBIs. The organization hopes he can continue to build off that. Some scouts believe he has the tools to hit 25 home runs a season. This is huge because it would give the White Sox the left-handed bat they need.

The scouting report on Collins is pretty simple. He has a lot of power and does a great job drawing walks. He’s patient at the plate and can work the count. The biggest knock on his game will be whether or not he can stick as a . Some scouts believe he would be better off at first base. However, the White Sox believe they can continue his development so he can stick behind the plate.

That would be important for this organization because they need a catcher. It’s been an area of need and they really haven’t done anything to address it during the offseason. Unless you count the addition of Geovany Soto. However, if Collins can develop into a catcher, this team will have filled another area of need.

It may not be the worst thing if Collins doesn’t stick as a catcher. The benefit of him playing first base or another position would be he could play 158-160 games a season. Typically your catcher doesn’t play that many games. And that could hurt this team if one of their best offensive weapons isn’t in the lineup everyday. In fact, was the only catcher to play over 130 games last season. He appeared in 146 and started 142 in 2016. However, they could use him at both catcher and designated hitter, so they ensure they have his bat available on a regular basis.

Collins obviously has a bright future ahead of him. It’s just going to be a matter of where he will play. The White Sox definitely have a need at catcher. But if they need to move him to first base, we already know teams have shown interest in Jose Abreu. It may not be the worst thing to happen but I think everyone agrees Collins should be given a shot at catcher. This team is definitely more dangerous if both he and Abreu are in the lineup.