Edgar Quero, Ky Bush strengthen White Sox farm system
CHICAGO -- In Edgar Quero, the White Sox acquired their catcher of the future. And that future might not be as far away as expected for the 20-year-old switch-hitter. In Ky Bush, they got a potential rotation member who might not be all that much farther away.
The two came to Chicago from the Angels in a trade for right-handed starter Lucas Giolito and righty reliever Reynaldo López on Wednesday. In MLB Pipeline's rankings, Quero is the No. 65 prospect overall and he moved into the No. 2 spot of the White Sox Top 30.
Here's a closer look at the two new arrivals.
Edgar Quero, C, Double-A Birmingham
Pipeline scouting report: A regular on Cuban youth teams, Quero left the island in 2019 and signed with the Angels for $200,000 in February 2021. After a promising pro debut, he won MVP honors in the High-A California League in 2022, slashing .312/.435/.530 as a 19-year-old. He jumped to Double-A this season and was the third-youngest regular in the Southern League before being dealt to Chicago.
A switch-hitter with more power from the left side of the plate, Quero barrels up the ball consistently from both sides. He has an advanced approach with excellent plate discipline, drawing a ton of walks in the early stages of his pro career. He has the chance to be at least an above-average hitter when all is said and done, and his ability to tap into his raw pop took a nice step forward in 2022, with more over-the-fence ability to come as he continues to figure out when to attack pitches in the zone.
Quero moves well behind the plate and has a solid arm. There's still work to be done on other facets of his defensive game, from his receiving to his game calling, though he's still just 20 and has plenty of time to arrive. The White Sox acquired him with hopes that he'll be their starting catcher of the future.
Organizational fit: There are talented catchers in the White Sox organization, but the club really likes Quero’s overall mix offensively and defensively. He already has a good knowledge of the strike zone at a young age and is developing as a game caller. Catcher was a spot of need as the White Sox made this move approaching the Trade Deadline.
ETA: 2025, possibly late '24
Ky Bush, LHP, Double-A Birmingham
Pipeline scouting report: After turning down the Royals as a 40th-round pick in 2018 out of Fremont High School in Plain City, Utah, Bush bounced around from Washington State to Central Arizona College to Saint Mary's before signing with the Angels as a second-rounder in 2021. He jumped to Double-A and pitched in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in 2022, then returned to that level after missing the start of this season with a lat strain.
Bush hasn't thrown as hard in pro ball as he did at Saint Mary's, with his fastball now sitting at 91-93 mph and topping out at 97 mph, though it can be effective thanks to its arm-side run and carry. His best pitch is a plus low-80s slider with depth and his fading mid-80s changeup is a solid option. He also works in a decent mid-70s curveball to give hitters a different look.
Though his control wasn't as sharp as usual in his initial starts after the lat injury, Bush usually provides plenty of strikes from a high three-quarters arm slot. He doesn't have a huge ceiling, but he fills a hole in the White Sox system by giving the organization a polished left-hander in the upper levels.
Organizational fit: By the time the White Sox trade work is complete, Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech figure to be the only current starting pitchers still with the team moving into 2024. The club is also thin on Major League-close starters in its system, so with a good four-pitch mix, the White Sox see a healthy Bush as someone who could move quickly through the system. It’s a good return for the South Siders.
