Written by Sam Phalen

Kyle Kubat on the mound for the Winston-Salem Dash

Every rebuild has its ups and downs and the Chicago White Sox are no different. Now two and a half years removed from sending Chris Sale to Boston and knocking over the first of many dominos to catalyze the rebuild process, fans want results. After failing to convert on a major free-agent this past winter, it has looked rather grim for Sox fans to open the 2019 season. Add on to that the injuries to Michael Kopech, Dane Dunning, and Carlos Rodon, and it feels like nothing has gone to plan. It seems healthy and quality pitchers have been a luxury the organization has not had.

However, there is reason for optimism. While most fans know about the highly touted Dylan Cease and the progress of Lucas Giolito, a few lesser-known arms in the system have been turning heads week after week as well. They might not be household names, but they’ve certainly been rays of light in what has been an otherwise dark time on the South Side. When we all need it most, here’s a look at some break out pitching prospects and potential future White Sox hurlers.

Kyle Kubat – LHP, Birmingham Barons

Kubat is definitely the biggest underdog who has garnered some attention this year, and although he is not ranked among the top 30 prospects in the system, he may still be the most deserving of all the hype. Kubat signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2015 after going undrafted out of Nebraska, and spent the next two seasons working out of a minor-league bullpen. Kubat was acquired by the White Sox in a trade for cash in March of 2017, which is when his emergence really began.

After posting an impressive 1.69 ERA between three levels in 2017 and earning Organization All-Star honors, the Sox began to stretch him out during the 2018 season. Kubat pitched in 32 games (starting 9 of them) for the Dash in 2018 and maintained a steady 3.55 ERA over a career high 91.1 innings. To begin his 2019 campaign, Kubat has started a total of 8 games in Winston-Salem and Birmingham, and he has not dissapointed his supporters. He sits with a 4-1 record and 1.31 ERA, finely complimented by 40 strikeouts and just 7 walks. He has seemed dominant just about every time out.

With this being his age 26 season, Kubat is not your typical up-and-comer. However, with four years of college ball and five years in the pros under his belt, the southpaw is the most major league ready arm the White Sox have after Dylan Cease. Should he continue on his current trajectory, we should see him reach AAA Charlotte sooner rather than later. He may even get a shot in the big leagues this September as a fifth starter or long reliever where he could provide much needed stability to a lackluster pitching staff.

Jimmy Lambert – RHP, Birmingham Barons

Lambert was the White Sox fifth round pick back in 2016 out of Fresno State and currently ranks 19th among White Sox prospects by MLB Pipeline. Since signing with the club, Lambert has made 65 starts with a 3.87 ERA and 24-22 record. He has shown steady improvement in his ERA and strikeout rates through the years, but has never reached higher than AA.

At 6 feet 2 inches and 190 pounds, Lambert has incredible athleticism that allows him to repeat his delivery with ease and throw strikes on a nightly basis. His arsenal includes four average-solid pitches that are enhanced by his phenomenal location. His fastball sits 93-94 on a good day with some late riding action due to his recent increase in spin rate. His curveball tends to be his go to off-speed pitch when ahead in counts. It features a sharp 12-6 break and has proven to be more reliable than his slider or his fading change-up that is utilized against lefties.

Much like Kubat, Lambert is big league ready. At 24, he seems to be the next man up should the current rotation not last and if the team feels Dylan Cease needs to throw more innings. Innings is not a problem regarding Lambert. He has already thrown 150 innings in a season back in 2017, and had more strikeouts (110) than baserunners allowed (106) in 2018 before an oblique injury cut it all short in July. It’s quite clear that he would probably make the most seamless transition to a major league rotation of any of the current pitching prospects. He allows very few home runs and fly balls, something that would benefit him pitching in the hitter friendly Guaranteed Rate Field. Lambert has potential to not only make the big club this season, but stick on the roster for years to come.

Konnor Pilkington – LHP, Winston-Salem Dash

To the delight of many Sox fans and the front office, Konnor Pilkington fell to the White Sox in the third round of last years MLB First Year Player Draft. Since his selection out of Mississippi State, the lanky left-hander has sky rocketed to the 20th position among the organization’s farm system and has more improvement in his near future.

Once a projected first round pick, Pilkington saw his velocity take a drop throughout 2018 in both college and pro-ball, ultimately causing him to fall in the draft and effect his minor-league numbers. His 7.07 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, and 87 mph fastball were disappointing to say the least. However, for the beginning of 2019, he has been the dangerous pitcher he once was in college.

Pilkington is finally getting on top of his 12-6 curve from his high-three-quarters arm slot and taking a direct path to the plate to add life to his fastball. Using all of his 6 feet 3 inches and 225 pound frame, his delivery is both deceptive and efficient with his fastball velocity rising back up to the low-mid 90s and occasionally touching 96. His fading change-up is graded as his best pitch and allows him to miss bats at ridiculous rates.

To begin 2019, Pilkington has an ERA of 2.32 in 8 starts and was recently promoted to Winston-Salem. While still 21 years of age and relatively far from the big leagues, Pilkington has the tools and body to be among the elite pitching prospects in the game in a few years should he use them correctly and be a fast riser in the White Sox farm system.