Future looking bright for 3 Chicago White Sox prospects

The All-Star Game is on July 11, for all Chicago White Sox fans interested in watching Avisail Garcia make his first appearance in the Midsummer Classic.

The more astute Sox fan is likely to be tuned in to the All-Star Futures Game, which will be played two days earlier at Marlins Park in Miami.

Three of the White Sox's top prospects - Class AAA Charlotte second baseman Yoan Moncada, AA Birmingham starting pitcher Michael Kopech and high A Winston-Salem catcher Zack Collins - are schedule to play in the Futures Game.

Moncada is on the World Team and Kopech and Collins are on the U.S. Team.

"It's a really talented roster this year, both on the World and the U.S. side," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "So the fact that we were able to get three players in that game is a nice testament to, I think, where we are as an organization, and more importantly, how accomplished those kids have been over the last few months."

Acquired from the Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade, Moncada was the MVP in last year's All-Star Futures Game after hitting putting the World Team ahead with a 2-run homer in the eighth inning.

This season, Moncada is batting .281 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI in 66 games for Charlotte and he ranks among International League leaders in runs (50), walks (44) and stolen bases (15).

"Moncada is unbelievable, a good athlete," said starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, who spent two weeks with Charlotte on a rehab assignment before coming off the disabled list and rejoining the White Sox Wednesday.

Kopech was also acquired in the Sale trade.

The 21-year-old righty is 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 14 starts for Birmingham. In 72 innings, Kopech has 94 strikeouts, which ties him for the Southern League lead.

Collins is batting just .206 for Winston-Salem, but the White Sox's first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) in 2016 has 10 home runs in 70 games and he leads the Carolina League with 56 walks.

"Obviously, Moncada has been there before and a lot of people are familiar with Kopech based on the headlines and all that," Hahn said. "But it's also nice to get Zack Collins recognized. A lot of people look at the low batting average he has this year and stop their analysis at that. But the fact of the matter is the kid's getting on base, he's hitting for power and he's made great strides defensively.

"It's good to see him get the opportunity to showcase all of that on a big stage."

Sox manager Rick Renteria has his hands full with the major-league club, but he does keep a close eye on the farm system.

"That's pretty cool," Renteria said of the Futures Game. "Having all three of those guys selected and to be a part of that is special for them and special for us as an organization, obviously. Some of the top kids in baseball are there so for us to have them as White Sox is a positive thing and indicative of things the organization is trying to do."