Fan favorite Billy Hamilton is among nine free agents the Chicago White Sox signed to minor-league contracts, the team announced Thursday. The outfielder is one of 26 players — including 17 from within the organization — to have received non-roster invites to spring training camp in Glendale, Ariz.
The Sox also signed right-handed pitchers Keynan Middleton and Jesse Scholtens, left-hander Nate Fisher, catcher Sebastián Rivero, infielders Hanser Alberto and Erik González and outfielders Jake Marisnick and Víctor Reyes to minor-league contracts. All are non-roster invitees.
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The players to receive non-roster invites from within the organization are right-handed pitchers Sean Burke, Declan Cronin, Edgar Navarro, Lane Ramsey and Matthew Thompson; left-handers Fraser Ellard, Sammy Peralta and Andrew Perez; catchers Adam Hackenberg and Evan Skoug; infielders Moisés Castillo, Luis Mieses, Colson Montgomery and Zach Remillard; and outfielders Yoelqui Céspedes, Oscar Colás and Adam Haseley.
Montgomery (No. 1), Colás (No. 2), Burke (No. 5), Thompson (No. 12), Céspedes (No. 16), Mieses (No. 20) and Hackenberg (No. 30) are among the team’s top prospects, according to Baseball America. Montgomery (No. 39) and Colás (No. 89) were ranked in the Top 100 prospects in baseball by Baseball America.
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Colás is expected to be a candidate for right field after finishing with a combined .314/.371/.524 slash line with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs in 117 games for Class A Winston-Salem (59 games), Double-A Birmingham (51) and Triple-A Charlotte last season.
The 32-year-old Hamilton, a 10-year veteran, played in 71 games for the Sox in 2021, providing a jolt to the division-winning team with his defense. He stole 10 bases in 37 combined games last season for the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins.
Marisnick, 31, could be in the mix for outfield depth. He slashed .234/.272/.390 with two homers and six RBIs in 31 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. Marisnick hit a career-high 16 home runs in 2017 with the Houston Astros.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 15. Position players report Feb. 20, which also is the date for the first full-squad workout.
