The Winston-Salem Dash finished 56-74 in 2025, falling way short of a postseason berth. The Dash scored 580 runs (4.46 per game) and allowed 629 (4.84 per game). Among the 12 teams in the South Atlantic League, Winston-Salem ranked fifth in runs scored but just 11th in runs allowed.
With changes needed, Guillermo Quiroz (who managed Double-A Birmingham to a Southern League championship in 2025) will take over as manager. The Dash will open the season with far more high-upside prospects than they did last year, putting them in a strong position to take a sizable step forward.
Infielder Caleb Bonemer, 20, is the headliner of the group. The White Sox selected Bonemer in the second round of the 2024 draft, and he has made an immediate impact in the farm system. Across Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, Bonemer slashed .281/.401/.473 (151 wRC+) while providing solid defense at shortstop and third base. He is ranked No. 61 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list and No. 3 among White Sox prospects; at South Side Sox, we have Boenmer ranked at No. 2 overall. Last year, Bonemer was the king of our weekly and monthly Minor League awards. Bonemer’s development is way ahead of schedule, and he could be a strong candidate for a promotion to Double-A before the All-Star break.
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Kyle Lodise, 22, is another infielder with a chance to make an impact. The White Sox drafted Lodise in the third round in 2025 out of Georgia Tech, where he slashed .329/.429/.667 (135 wRC+) for the Yellow Jackets. He also appeared in 28 games for Winston-Salem, posting a .185/.319/.370 line (108 wRC+) in a small sample. Lodise primarily plays shortstop, and his overall profile was strong enough for MLB Pipeline to rank him No. 10 among White Sox prospects (SSS ranks him No. 13). Between Lodise and Bonemer, the Dash infield already projects as one of the better units in the South Atlantic League — and there is even more depth behind them.
Jeral Pérez, 21 and ranked No. 15 in the system (SSS’ No. 12), also has plenty of upside. Pérez played 125 games for the Dash in 2025 and showed significant power, slashing .244/.315/.448 (124 wRC+) with 22 home runs to lead the South Atlantic League. Most of his time came at second base, though he also saw action at shortstop. While Pérez’s power stands out, MLB Pipeline grades his hit, speed, and field tools at 45 (slightly below average). If Pérez can improve his on-base consistency and defensive reliability, he could make a significant impact in 2026.
Ryan Burrowes, 21, is another infielder capable of sparking the offense. He opened 2025 in Kannapolis, slashing .256/.343/.341 (103 wRC+) before earning a promotion to Winston-Salem, where he improved to .254/.338/.386 (117 wRC+). Burrowes went 47-for-53 (88.7%) in stolen base attempts, making him a major threat once on base. One caveat to his game is his lack of power, though his extra-base production trended upward late in the season. MLB Pipeline gives Burrowes a 60-grade run tool, which seems a bit low given how dangerous he is on the basepaths. Burrowes enters 2026 ranked No. 30 in the system, according to MLB Pipeline (at SSS, No. 42). Burrowes primarily plays second base but also has experience at third.
On the pitching side Christian Oppor, 21, is expected to lead the rotation. The lefthander, drafted in the fifth round in 2023, spent most of 2025 with Winston-Salem (65 1/3 innings) while also logging 22 1/3 innings in Kannapolis. Overall, Oppor posted a 3.08 ERA and 3.50 FIP while averaging 11.91 strikeouts per nine innings. His performance boosted him to No. 8 in the White Sox system (No. 9 at SSS). Oppor has an 60-grade fastball along with a 55-grade slider and a 55-grade changeup, giving him above-average marks across all three pitches. His primary area for improvement is control, as he posted a 4.31 BB/9 rate. If Oppor can reduce that, his ceiling will rise significantly.
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Mathias LaCombe, 23, a righthander, emerged as an intriguing prospect in his first season of affiliated ball. Ranked No. 17 in the system (No. 21 at SSS), LaCombe threw 35 2/3 innings in the Complex League and 17 2/3 in Kannapolis. He posted a 3.04 ERA and 4.15 FIP while holding opponents to a .188 average and striking out 12.32 per nine frames. The White Sox selected LaCombe in the 12th round of the 2023 draft, and his ability to generate swings and misses stands out. Like Oppor, however, LaCombe will need to reduce his walk rate (4.05 BB/9) as he advances throughout the system.
Aldrin Batista, 22, is ranked No. 23 in the system (SSS’ No. 17) and enters 2026 looking to bounce back from injury. A stress fracture in his right elbow limited Batista to just a handful of appearances in 2025. Before that injury, Batista was on a roll toward the South Side. In 2024, he posted a 2.93 ERA and 3.75 FIP between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem while allowing just 0.65 home runs per nine innings. Notably, across 40 innings with the Dash between 2024 and 2025, Batista has yet to allow a home run. Batista’s well-rounded profile helps him limit hard contact, making him an important arm to watch.
Finally, I cannot preview this team without discussing outfielder Samuel Zavala, 21. Acquired in the Dylan Cease trade in March 2024, Zavala was once among the Padres’ top prospects, and initially, he was near the top of the White Sox system. Although he has since fallen outside MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 (though still No. 27 at SSS), I am still a believer. After struggling in 2024, when he slashed .187/.340/.301 (97 wRC+), Zavala rebounded in 2025, slashing .254/.360/.372 (122 wRC+). He has also shown the ability to handle center field, adding defensive value and increasing error margins at the plate. Even during down years like 2024, Zavala found ways to reach base, which is a good sign.
In recent years, top prospects have largely bypassed Winston-Salem, contributing to the club’s lower win totals. However, the 2026 team seems ready to change that trend, and the Dash should have a solid chance to compete for a playoff spot.
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