Sox have hope down on the farm
There are still 41 games left on the current schedule, but it's all but certain the White Sox are going to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
It's time to look ahead, and the Sox' future is actually promising thanks to a beefed up farm system.
Let's review some names White Sox fans should plan on seeing in 2015 and beyond:
Carlos Rodon
There was plenty of skepticism when the Sox selected the talented North Carolina State left-handed starter with the No. 3 overall pick in the June draft.
Could the White Sox negotiate an acceptable signing bonus with Scott Boras, who is Rodon's agent?
They could, and they did, locking up Rodon for $6.58 million, far and away the highest amount the Sox have ever spent on a draft pick.
Looking back at the draft, the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins were supposed to the draft's big winners as owners of the top two picks.
But the Astros were not able to even sign No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken, a decorated high school starter.
Houston initially offered the lefty $6.5 million, but they slashed the amount to $3.1 million when a physical revealed possible problems with Aiken's elbow.
Aiken spurned the reduced signing bonus and is expected to be pitching in junior college next year.
As for the Marlins, they drafted another high school starter - Tyler Kolek - and signed the big right-hander for $6 million.
That was nearly $1 million under slot, and Kolek has been struggling in rookie ball with the Gulf Coast League Marlins, allowing 8 runs on 11 hits and 7 walks in 11.1 innings. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder did have 13 strikeouts over the stretch.
Rodon has very impressive after signing with the White Sox on July 11.
Idle for nearly two months before making his professional debut with the Arizona League White Sox, Rodon scuffled in rookie ball and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 3 innings.
But he has been electric since being bumped up to high Class A Winston-Salem, allowing 4 earned runs on 11 hits in 12.2 innings while striking out 20.
Rodon is likely to be in the White Sox' bullpen when rosters expand in September. At some point next season, look for him in the Sox' rotation.
Tyler Danish
After Rodon, Danish is the White Sox' No. 2 pitching prospect.
Only 19 years old, Danish pitched 6 no-hit innings for low A Kannapolis Saturday and has not allowed an earned run over his last three starts (17 innings).
A right-hander who has drawn comparisons to a young Jake Peavy, Danish could be with the Sox next September or early in 2016.
Trey Michalczewski
Matt Davidson might still be the White Sox' top prospect at third base, but Michalczewski is closing ground fast.
The 19-year-old from Jenks, Okla., a seventh-round draft pick in 2013, started the season at Kannapolis and batted .273 with 10 home runs and 70 RBI in 116 games before his recent promotion to Winston-Salem.
A 6-foot-3, 210-pound switch-hitter, Michalczewski is still in need of defensive polish, but the Sox have been raving about his offensive prowess and makeup.