The Chicago White Sox are hoping for more out of 24-year old right swinging 3B Brent Morel in 2012. Morel played in 126 games for the Pale Hose last year and he was 101 of 413 (.245 avg, .653 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 10 homers, 41 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 147 games in his first two years with the White Sox and he is 116 of 478 (.243 avg, .657 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 13 homers, 48 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Morel had 14 errors in 125 games for the White Sox last year and he showed below average range. The White Sox are hoping for improvement out of Morel both at bat and in the field in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012: C-

30-year old righty swinging Alexei Ramirez has been very consistent for the White Sox so far in his career. He has good power for a SS despite looking like he needs to eat a little more as he is rail thin. Ramirez played in 158 games for the White Sox last year and he was 165 of 614 (.269 avg, .727 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Ramirez has now played in 598 games in his first four years with the White Sox and he is 619 of 2,221 (.279 avg, .745 OPS) with 300 runs scored, 69 homers, 285 RBIs and 47 stolen bases. Ramirez had 16 errors in 155 games at SS last year for the White Sox while showing below average range. Look for him to have another rock solid year in 2012 for the White Sox.

23-year old switch-hitting Eduardo Escobar comes into this season as the White Sox’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America. Escobar played in 9 games for the White Sox last year and he was 2 for 7 (.286 avg, .571 OPS). He also played in 137 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 130 of 489 (.266 avg, .657 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 4 homers, 49 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Escobar played in 3 error-free games at SS for the White Sox last year while showing outstanding range. He is going to get to battle for the backup infielder job in 2012 this spring.

30-year old switch-hitting Ray Olmedo is trying to get back to the majors with the White Sox. He played in 124 games in AAA-ball for the Rays last year and he was 119 of 457 (.260 avg, .625 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 0 homers, 27 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Olmedo last played in the majors way back in 2007. Olmedo has played in 198 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 92 for 403 (.228 avg, .569 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.

23-year old Osvaldo Martinez played in 6 games for the Marlins at SS last year and he made 1 error while showing pretty awful range. He is a natural shortstop who has a nice upside.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: A-

25-year old righty swinging 2B Gordon Beckham had a year to forget in 2011. Beckham played in 150 games for the White Sox last year and he was 115 of 499 (.230 avg, .633 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 10 homers, 44 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 384 games in his first three years with the Pale Hose and he is 329 for 1,321 (.268 avg, .704 OPS) with 176 runs scored, 33 homers, 156 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Beckham didn’t take his hitting woes into the field as he only had 8 errors in 149 games while showing off good range. Beckham will need to step up in the batter’s box if he wants to keep his full time job in 2012.

28-year old righty swinging Brent Lillibridge could push Beckham for P.T. if he struggles again this year. He played in 97 games for the White Sox last year and he was 48 for 186 (.258 avg, .845 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 13 homers, 29 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Lillibridge has now played in 207 games in his first three years with the White Sox and he is 85 for 379 (.224 avg, .691 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 15 homers, 48 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He has now played in 236 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 101 of 459 (.220 avg, .671 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 16 homers, 56 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Lillibridge played in six error-free games at 2B last year for the Pale Hose while showing awful range there. He will likely get most of his P.T. at other positions in 2012 unless Gordon Beckham face plants again.

23-year old righty swinging Osvaldo Martinez comes into this season as the White Sox’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. He was part of the return the White Sox got from the Marlins for manager Ozzie Guillen. Martinez played in 20 games for the Marlins last year and he was 3 for 23 (.130 avg, .261 OPS) with 1 RBI. He also played in 88 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 83 for 339 (.245 avg, .618 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 3 homers, 26 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Martinez has now played in 34 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 17 for 66 (.258 avg, .648 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Martinez didn’t play in any games at 2B for the Marlins last year. He is a natural shortstop, and he’s trying to win a job as a utility man this spring.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: C+

The White Sox are in a semi-rebuilding process right now, but they are going to have no worries at 1B in 2012. 35-year old righty swinging Paul Konerko played in 149 games for the Pale Hose last year and he was 163 for 543 (.300 avg, .906 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 31 homers, 105 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,917 games in his first 13 years with the White Sox and he is 1,976 of 6,961 (.284 avg, .866 OPS) with 1,019 runs scored, 389 homers, 1,232 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Konerko has now played in 1,998 games in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 2,024 of 7,185 (.282 avg, .858 OPS) with 1,040 runs scored, 396 homers, 1,261 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Konerko played in 111 games at 1B for the White Sox last year and he made 5 errors. He’s an average defensive 1B. The White Sox pay him to hit and I think he’s going to have another good year in 2012.

32-year old lefty swinging Dan Johnson is going to have a decent shot of making the team this year. Johnson played in 31 games for the Rays last year and he was 10 for 84 (.119 avg, .389 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. He has now played in 399 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 305 for 1,298 (.235 avg, .739 OPS) with 162 runs scored, 53 homers, 188 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Johnson only made 1 error in 21 games at 1B for the Rays last year but he’s a very average defensive player.

Adam Dunn played in 35 games at 1B last year for the White Sox and he made 4 errors. Dunn is one of the worst defensive players in baseball, but he could get more P.T. in the field if it helps him start to hit like he used to.

35-year old lefty swinging A.J. Pierzynski and 26-year old righty swinging Tyler Flowers are going to have to hit well to make up for their much less than stellar defensive prowess. Pierzynski played in 129 games for the White Sox last year and he was 133 of 464 (.287 avg, .728 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 8 homers and 48 RBIs. He has now played in 933 games in his first seven years with the Pale Hose and he is 954 of 3,417 (.279 avg, .730 OPS) with 384 runs scored, 91 homers, 383 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Pierzynski has now played in 1,494 games in his first 14 years in the majors and he is 1,512 of 5,316 (.284 avg, .746 OPS) with 613 runs scored, 128 homers, 653 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Pierzynski played in 120 games behind the plate for the White Sox last year and he had 4 errors and 4 passed balls. He only threw out 14 of 118 (11.9%) base stealers last year and White Sox’ pitchers had a 4.04 ERA with him behind the plate. Pierzynski is going to have to keep hitting the ball to make up for his weak throwing arm.

26-year old righty Tyler Flowers played in 38 games for the White Sox last year and he was 23 for 110 (.209 avg, .719 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. He has now played in 56 games in his first three years in the majors and he is 27 for 137 (.197 avg, .682 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 5 homers and 16 RBIs. Flowers played in 31 games behind the plate for the White Sox last year and he had 2 errors and 3 passed balls. Flowers threw out 6 of 33 (18.2%) base stealers and White Sox’ pitchers had a 3.96 ERA with him behind the plate. Flowers could earn his way into a platoon with Pierzynski if he could just start hitting the ball a little better.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: C-