Chicago White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer went to the Arizona Fall League with a mission.
Bonemer, who turned 21 on Oct. 5, spent most of his season at third base or shortstop with High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. He got a taste of the outfield late in the year, playing nine games in center field for the Barons.
That training continued in the AFL with the Glendale Desert Dogs.
“Coming into the fall league, the main intention was just to get outfield reps, get as many games out there as I can,” Bonemer said during a video conference. “As I’ve started to play more outfield, I’ve definitely started to get more comfortable.”
During his recently completed stint with the Desert Dogs, Bonemer mostly appeared in center field (eight games). He also saw action in left field (three games) and right field (one game).
Along the way, MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 prospect in the Sox system kept in mind sound advice.
“Honestly, the best tips I’ve gotten is just be an athlete,” Bonemer said. “When I was working with (Sox special assistant) Doug Sisson a lot back in Birmingham, that was the thing he kept harping on me is that I’m athletic, I’m quick, just let that play. Just be an athlete, trust your instincts.
“He gave me the whole breakdown, the whole fundamentals of everything too. But at the end of the day, it comes down to just getting a good jump and being an athlete on the ball. Try not to overthink it too much and just go out there and play.”
Bonemer made the defensive strides while still producing at the plate. In 13 games with the Desert Dogs, he slashed .286/.364/.633 with four doubles, two triples, three home runs and 12 RBIs.
He displayed plenty of power during the minor-league season, finishing with a combined .251/.380/.550 slash line with 29 doubles, 37 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 132 games for the Dash and Barons.
Bonemer, a second-round draft pick in 2024 out of high school in Michigan, became the first Sox prospect to hit at least 37 home runs in a season since Rondal Rollin had 39 in 1987 at Birmingham.
“My game this year was definitely a lot of power, extra-base hits, and with that did come a little bit of strikeouts,” said Bonemer, who had 161 strikeouts and 84 walks. “One thing that I would like to continue to get better at (is) my swing decisions — not chase, swing at the right pitches — and then hopefully turning some of those strikeouts into more walks.”
After the AFL, Bonemer planned to rest for a couple of weeks and then head to Nashville, Tenn., for offseason training sessions.
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“It’ll probably be similar to what I did last year, just continuing to try to get my body healthy, trying to get stronger and faster,” Bonemer said. “That’s the big thing in the game now, so continuing to try to get bigger, faster and stronger.
“Hitting-wise, not really trying to change a whole lot mechanically. Just trying to build off what I was doing before. I’d say another thing would be a lot of defensive work, obviously with the new outfield stuff. Just trying to build off what I did and add some things with defense.”
The Sox had success in 2026 converting Sam Antonacci from the infield to the outfield. Could Bonemer find a similar path to the big leagues, aiding an area of need for the team?
“Looking at the big-league roster, the success they’ve had, they have a lot of great infielders and a lot of great outfielders,” Bonemer said. “Being able to play as many positions as possible can only accelerate the process and help me out. But wherever they want to put me, next year, opening day, that’s up to them.
“I just try to stick to my routine, play every game, and wherever they decide to put me is where they decide. I do think having the tool set and the ability to play outfield could only help me in accelerating that process.”
Roster moves
The Sox claimed infielder Graham Pauley off waivers from the Miami Marlins and outrighted left-handed pitcher Ky Bush and outfielder Junior Pérez to Charlotte on Monday.
Pauley, 26, had a .211/.257/.373 slash line with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, 25 RBIs and 15 runs in 62 games with the Marlins in 2026. He also slashed .236/.332/.436/.768 with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 23 RBIs, 24 walks and 22 runs in 46 games with Triple-A Jacksonville.
Pauley has a career .209/.272/.364 slash line with 18 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, 29 walks and 37 runs in 137 games over three major-league seasons with the San Diego Padres (2024) and Marlins (2025-26).
The team’s 40-man roster decreases to 39 with Monday’s moves.