White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer adds center field to his defensive toolkit

The Chicago White Sox announced that Caleb Bonemer will begin getting looks at center field, a notable step for the organization’s highly regarded bats-and-athletics prospect. The move reframes how the club is thinking about his future value, not only as a run producer, but also as a player who can widen his defensive path in the outfield.

The development is built on a season that has kept attention on Bonemer’s power. MLB Pipeline has highlighted his 33 home runs across his stops at High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham during 2026, a production level that has earned him broader notice within the White Sox system and among prospect watchers nationally.

Bonemer’s profile has been elevated by the way the organization has described his competitiveness and approach. In the team’s release tied to the center-field plan, White Sox and MLB Pipeline framing emphasizes that he is “a gamer” and “a dog,” language that indicates how they view his day-to-day engagement and willingness to attack each rep, even as his defensive responsibilities expand.

MLB Pipeline also provides the ranking context for why this kind of role development matters. Bonemer is listed as the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox system and No. 30 prospect overall, which places him in the group of names the organization and the wider industry expect to influence the club’s near- to mid-term roster picture.

Center field, of course, asks for more than arm strength. It generally requires strong routes, comfort on reads and gaps, and the ability to handle longer angles and variable depth. The White Sox decision to start using Bonemer there suggests they believe his skill set can support those demands, or at least that they want to stress-test the fit to see how it translates as he continues climbing.

For Bonemer, the next phase is about translating batting momentum and raw athletic promise into a repeatable defensive skill set at a premium position. The White Sox will likely view early center-field work as part evaluation and part development plan, especially as it affects his versatility, roster flexibility, and the options available when the team needs to balance outfield depth.

What to watch next is how quickly he adjusts to the mental and physical requirements of center, including his routes and how he handles in-game situations where the ball can come on different planes and speeds. His offensive output has already drawn attention, but this center-field assignment is the clearest indication yet that Chicago wants to see whether he can convert that promise into two-way roster value rather than a one-skill projection.