One of the White Sox top prospects could soon have a new defensive home. Caleb Bonemer, the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox organization, will begin getting reps in center field with the Double-A Birmingham Barons and is expected to continue playing the position in the Arizona Fall League, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. The position change is a significant development for Bonemer’s individual trajectory and could have major implications for the White Sox moving forward.
Bonemer, 20, had a promising professional debut season in 2025 and has taken his game to a whole new level this year. In 114 games across High-A and Double-A, the former second-round pick has hit 33 home runs, driven in 83, and recorded a .936 OPS. He has also chipped in 24 doubles and stolen 16 bases, a unique blend of speed and power despite being several years younger than the competition. His strikeout rate has also decreased by nearly 5% since getting to Double-A in mid June, another positive development in his already impressive campaign.
Loaded White Sox Infield
The no. 42 prospect in baseball per ESPN and the no. 30 per MLB.com, the biggest obstacle Bonemer faces in making it to the big leagues is not of his own doing. A lifetime infielder who has played shortstop and third base in the minors, he finds himself blocked at those positions in Chicago. With Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery currently occupying the left side of the infield at the MLB level and fellow top prospect Roch Cholowsky also being a shortstop, spots on the dirt are scarce. Sam Antonacci moved to left field earlier this season for the same reason and it appears the organization could have a similar vision for Bonemer.
Historical Precedence
Lifetime infielders moving to center field is not unheard of. In fact, several current center fielders initially began their careers as infielders. Jackson Merrill, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Oneil Cruz all fall into this category. Trea Turner played center field early in his career, and Mookie Betts also has experience in both the infield and outfield.
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It remains to be seen how well Bonemer will acclimate to the position change, but his 55-grade arm and field and 50-grade run per his MLB.com scouting report suggest he has enough speed and athleticism to give the position a try. “We brought it up to him last week and he was super open about it. By no means is he no longer an infielder. We see this as adding another tool in his bag and he’s super athletic. He’s capable of doing it,” White Sox Assistant General Manager Josh Barfield told Merkin.
Possible Outfield Opening
The White Sox current outfield situation is also a factor in this scenario. Sam Antonacci and Braden Montgomery are likely entrenched in the outfield corners moving forward, and while Tristan Peters has been arguably the biggest surprise in all of MLB this season, center field is likely the biggest question mark on the position player side of the team moving forward. As such, getting Bonemer experience and reps at the position increases his versatility and offers another potential avenue to get his bat in the lineup.
Caleb Bonemer’s arrival at the MLB level with the White Sox is quickly becoming a matter of when, not if. Exploring a position change is further proof of that. Center field is the quickest and most stable avenue for him to get consistent at-bats in a White Sox lineup that is looking more loaded by the day. His progress in learning the position is a storyline worth paying attention to as the season winds down.
