White Sox prospect Billy Carlson ready to begin minor-league career

Carlson, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, projects to be one of the best defensive shortstops in the minors.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:48am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

White Sox shortstop prospect Billy Carlson, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, is set to begin his minor-league career at Single-A Kannapolis. Carlson, ranked the 73rd-best prospect by MLB.com, is part of a deep pool of shortstop prospects in the White Sox system and is known for his exceptional defensive skills. He is looking forward to the challenge of competing at the next level as he continues to develop his offensive game.

Why it matters

The White Sox have a talented group of shortstop prospects, including Carlson, that could provide the team with long-term stability at the position. Carlson's development will be closely watched as the organization hopes he can eventually make the jump to the major leagues.

The details

Carlson, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, is set to begin his minor-league career with the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators. He is ranked the 73rd-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and is part of a deep group of shortstop prospects in the White Sox system, including William Bergolla Jr., Kyle Lodise, and Caleb Bonemer. Carlson is known for his exceptional defensive skills and will look to continue developing his offensive game as he progresses through the minors.

  • Carlson was the 10th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
  • Carlson will begin his minor-league career at Single-A Kannapolis.

The players

Billy Carlson

A shortstop prospect in the White Sox organization, Carlson was the 10th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and is ranked the 73rd-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com.

Colson Montgomery

The White Sox's starting shortstop, Montgomery played defense at a Gold Glove level last season and has also taken some reps at third base this spring.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Just getting that exposure and feeling that adrenaline was pretty cool. The guys were awesome; the big-leaguers did a good job of helping us through it and walking us through it.”

— Billy Carlson

“We push each other every day. It's super cool to be a part of a super talented group. I'm excited to compete for a spot.”

— Billy Carlson

What’s next

Carlson will begin the 2026 season at Single-A Kannapolis as he looks to continue developing his skills and work his way up the White Sox's minor-league system.

The takeaway

The White Sox have built an impressive pipeline of shortstop prospects, led by Carlson, that could provide the team with long-term stability at the position. Carlson's exceptional defensive skills and continued offensive development will be key as he looks to eventually reach the major leagues.