While James Fegan's scouting ridealong with White Sox crosschecker J.J. Lally chronicled work that applies to the 2025 MLB draft and beyond, it also lent some insight into the process that might've led to the White Sox drafting Caleb Bonemer in the second round of this year's draft.
Bonemer, a shortstop out of Okemos High School in the Lansing area of Michigan, was a member of last year's White Sox Area Code team, whose roster construction Lally oversees. He had a very loud showcase circuit last year, and followed it up by repeating as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Michigan, but there's a decent chance he slides over to third, after which it becomes a matter of whether his hit tool can be refined against advanced pitching. Projecting that sounds more difficult than the typical high-end prep prospect, because his mechanics are subject to change, and often. He's committed to the University of Virginia.
What's Caleb Bonemer's game?
He's listed at 6'1" and 195 pounds, although he looks sturdier than that. His frame packs a lot of power, and the kind of exit velocities that make it easier to transcend the typical lack of data from a cold-weather state. The power is the product of an extreme Lifter Puller approach. All of the outlets mention big swings and pull-field power that raises questions about the hit tool, but there's some disagreement on the visual descriptions, and Law mentions an "ever-changing swing" in his write-up:
He has tried a no-stride, no-tap approach, and he’s tried a longer lift-and-pull approach that gets to the power but at the cost of greater swing length and less contact. With everything he’s tried, though, he’s remained a dead-pull hitter who doesn’t try to go the other way in any situation.
He has a lot of potential with the bat if someone gets him to a single, consistent approach and plan at the plate, one that uses his lower half and also has him go to the opposite field when appropriate, but that’s no small task and he could be better off at Virginia, where they’ve typically taught hitters to work towards more all-fields contact even at the cost of power.
Defensively, he reportedly plays shortstop well enough right now to start his pro career there, but should have the movements and arm for third if he grows out of the position.
Where did Caleb Bonemer rank?
What does Caleb Bonemer look like?
Any good anagrams?
ENEMA COBBLER is a good name for a performance-art punk band.
