One of the first prospects on this list who has gotten some sort of playing time in the major leagues, Rodriguez is one of the more toolsy players in the organization. Unfortunately, the White Sox did not give Rodriguez an at-bat in his limited major-league debut, which is pretty insane, but that is a rant for another time.
Regardless, Jose had a very good 2023 season. He would play mainly in AA before getting called up to the pros, then eventually would make his way to AAA to end the season. Depending on the moves the White Sox make in the offseason, Rodriguez could break camp with the team.
In 87 games in Birmingham, Jose hit .264 with a .297 OBP. He would hit 18 home runs and steal 28 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to be a 20/20 threat at the major league level, which for a middle infielder would be very nice. He doesn’t walk much, as in 382 at-bats, he walked just 18 times. This is something that the White Sox have struggled with as a team and organization, and if he wants to be a successful all-around hitter, this is a point of emphasis he should work on.
Regardless, his AA performance was a reason why he was called up to the MLB, but also the promotion to AAA Charlotte. In 87 at-bats, Jose hit .253 with a .270 OBP. He would add three home runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases. A small sample size, but he showed he was not overmatched.
Overall, he had a very solid 2023 season, which I would grade a B. As stated earlier, he is a very toolsy prospect who can easily be a star if he works on some things. His raw power mixed with his speed aren’t common and he could be one of the better second basemen in the league, assuming that Colson Montgomery takes the job at SS.
If the White Sox do not make any moves at second base in the offseason, Jose could see competition at second base with Lenyn Sosa. Sosa has not done enough to be given the job out of Spring Training, so a camp competition could be the best thing for both of them.
Both Sosa and Jose have the potential to hit 20 home runs which would be plus power at second base. Where Jose has the leg up on Sosa is speed, as Jose is significantly faster. They both are similar in terms of fielding, but if I had to give the starting spot to someone at this point, I would want Jose to have it.
Jose has one of the highest ceilings out of any hitter in the White Sox system, so they should have him getting consistent MLB at-bats. If he can play near his ceiling, he would be one of the best second basemen for the Sox in recent memory. The Sox lose nothing by giving him the chance, so they should definitely consider it, especially if the second-base free-agent market doesn’t entice them.
