I am doing a series where I offer up three fantasy baseball thoughts for every MLB team. I’ll take a look at under-the-radar stats, playing time projections, projected roles, and off-season news to try and highlight the nuggets that might help you in your 2025 fantasy baseball drafts. We’ll do this thing in alphabetical order, and next up are three thoughts for the 2025 Chicago White Sox… This one might be mostly for you AL-only leaguers.
3 Fantasy Baseball Thoughts for the 2025 Chicago White Sox
Drew Thorpe Is One to Watch
As far as fantasy-relevant players go, the Chicago White Sox likely won’t have many of them. One of those players though is Drew Thorpe. Last year, the rookie made nine starts with the White Sox and his 5.81 ERA didn’t generate much optimism. The other issue is that Thorpe only struck out 25 batters in 44.1 innings.
We didn’t see Thorpe at the big league level after July 31st, but it’s clear the White Sox don’t have any other options. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he is more talented than his competition. Over those nine starts, Thorpe allowed 21 runs in three starts and then just six runs in his other six starts. In two starts, Thorpe didn’t allow a run.
In 60 innings in Triple-A, Thorpe was an entirely different pitcher, with a 1.35 ERA and close to a strikeout per inning. Thorpe’s 4.68 xERA contrasts with that 5.81 ERA, and we need to give a young pitcher more time to develop.
Give Miguel Vargas Another Chance
When it comes to finding playing time, the Chicago White Sox are the land of opportunity. There is little locked down from a roster perspective, and just about every roster spot is available. That means Miguel Vargas has a clear path to playing time as we begin 2025.
Vargas came to the White Sox with a prospect pedigree, but we have yet to see him produce at the major league level. In 81 games in 2023, Vargas hit just .195 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. It’s worth noting though that his BABIP was .224. The problem is that last year in 72 games last year, Vargas didn’t look much better. He only hit .150 with five home runs and 16 RBI but his BABIP was only .177.
In 41 games at Triple-A though, Vargas hit .290 with eight home runs, eight stolen bases, 38 RBI, and 35 runs scored. While Vargas’ power isn’t off the charts, he has shown some pop. The minor league production, consistently around a .300 average, hasn’t matched his time in the major leagues.
Once Vargas works on reducing his propensity for fly balls and finds his groove, he can be a productive Major League hitter. There won’t be a cost on draft day, and the opportunity will be there for Vargas.
Andrew Vaughn Might Have a Little More in Him
To this point, Andrew Vaughn has been a disappointment. The top draft pick has been a regular contributor for the White Sox, but he has yet to really take a step forward. Vaughn has been a solid option for Chicago, but there hasn’t been any progression either.
Last year, Vaughn hit .246 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI while playing in 149 games. While he has four years under his belt, Vaughn is still just about to enter his age 27 season. If you are looking for optimism, Vaughn boosted his barrel rate up to 9.3% last year while his average launch angle jumped to 16.6 degrees. Another cause for optimism is the gap between Vaughn’s .402 SLG and his .449 xSLG.
At the very least, Vaughn can contribute another season of 20 home runs and 80 RBI, but there is room for a little more. The unfortunate thing is that the Chicago lineup likely won’t generate any more RBI or run-scoring opportunities, but Vaughn is still an RBI threat.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
