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Keep an eye on White Sox prospects Collins, Hawkins in Arizona Fall League

The Chicago White Sox were officially eliminated from the postseason after losing to the Cleveland Indians Friday night, but let's be honest. The Sox were basically out of the playoff race since they stumbled out of the all-star break with 5 losses in 6 roads games against the Angels and Mariners.

It's been another nondescript season for the White Sox, and big changes are on the horizon. At least we think they are.

While we wait to see what happens with manager Robin Ventura, top starting pitchers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana and others, let's take a look at the Sox prospects heading for the Arizona Fall League.

The AFL features promising young players from all 30 major-league teams, and the first game is Oct. 11.

White Sox prospects play for the Glendale Desert Dogs, and Aaron Rowand is going to be manager.

Rowand was a popular outfielder for the Sox from 2001-05, and he recently completed his first season as the organization's minor-league outfield/baserunning coordinator.

Here are the White Sox prospects Rowand is going to manage in Glendale:

Zack Collins

The 21-year-old catcher was the Sox's first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) in June.

Collins has an advanced bat, and he posted a .258/.418/.467 hitting line with 6 homers and 18 RBI in 36 games for high Class A Winston-Salem.

The left-hander has had some defensive issues and could be the future designated hitter, but the White Sox insist Collins is going to arrive in the majors as a catcher.

Courtney Hawkins

Is this the last shot for the 22-year-old outfielder, who had another disappointing minor-league season?

The Sox drafted Hawkins on the first round in 2012 (No. 13 overall), and he has shown some of the big power they were anticipating.

But Hawkins slashed .203/.255/.349 and struck out 137 times in 418 at-bats with Class AA Birmingham this season while continuing to have trouble staying healthy.

Trey Michalczewski

Like Hawkins, Michalczewski struggled with the bat at Birmimgham this season, slashing .226/.314/.363.

At 21 years of age, the third baseman has shown enough defensively and offensively to still be rated one of the White Sox's top prospects.

Danny Hayes

The first baseman got off to a promising start with Charlotte this season before missing the final two months with an injury.

When healthy, Hayes has some pop from the left side. In 55 games at Triple-A, he had 10 home runs and 42 RBI.

Brian Clark

He was a combined 0-5 with AAA Charlotte and AA Birmingham this season, but the 23-year-old lefty had a combined 2.70 ERA and 4 saves in 37 relief appearances.

Brad Goldberg

Like Clark, he split the season between Birmingham and Charlotte and was a combined 3-5 with a 2.70 ERA and 10 saves in 47 relief appearances.

Nolan Sanburn

Acquired from Oakland in an Aug. 31, 2014 trade for Adam Dunn, the right-hander split time as a reliever and starter with Winston-Salem and Birmingham this season and was 2-5 with a 3.53 ERA.

Connor Walsh

Yet another young relief pitcher heading for the Arizona Fall League, the 23-year-old right-hander was a combined 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA and 5 saves with the Arizona League White Sox, Winston-Salem and Birmingham.

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