South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 30: Franklin German
Future closer? Perhaps. Able to help the Chicago pen soon? Absolutely
Franklin German
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
6´2´´
195 pounds
Age: 25
2022 High Level Boston (MLB)
Age relative to high level -4.4 years
SSS rank among all right-handed relief pitchers in the system 3
Overall 2022 MiLB stats 5-2 ⚾️ 43 games (31 finishes) ⚾️ 7 SV ⚾️ 49 2⁄3 IP ⚾️ 2.72 ERA ⚾️ 0.906 WHIP ⚾️ 64 K ⚾️ 19 BB
Back on February 3, the White Sox proved adept dumpster divers, pulling Franklin German out of the DFA detritus outside of Fenway Park, in a waiver deal for Double-A reliever Theo Denlinger. The trade took a rough turn, as the White Sox also ended up losing right-handed reliever Jason Bilous (who was slated as our No. 32 prospect this year) to Cleveland after he was DFA’d off of the 40-man roster to make room for German.
From a couple of months ago, here is the full, copyedited White Sox release on the trade:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 3, 2023
WHITE SOX ACQUIRE FRANKLIN GERMAN FROM BOSTON IN EXCHANGE FOR THEO DENLINGER; DESIGNATE JASON BILOUS FOR ASSIGNMENT
CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed reliever Franklin German [“JUR-min”] from Boston in exchange for righthander Theo Denlinger. To make room for German on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated righthander Jason Bilous for assignment.
German, 25, was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022 after going 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA, seven saves, 64 strikeouts (11.6 per 9.0 IP) and a 0.906 WHIP in 43 relief appearances with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He limited opponents to a .155 (26-168) opponents average between the two stops.
German, 6´2´´ and 195 pounds, also made five appearances with the Red Sox after his contract was selected from Worcester on September 17. He was designated for assignment by Boston on January 30.
German, a native of Queens, N.Y., has gone 13-19 with a 3.93 ERA and 264 strikeouts in 97 games (41 starts) over five minor-league seasons. He originally was selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2018 draft out of the University of North Florida. German was traded by the Yankees to Boston on Jan. 25, 2021 with righthander Adam Ottavino in exchange for cash considerations.
Denlinger, 26, combined to go 2-2 with a 4.47 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 40 appearances last season with High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. He was selected by the White Sox in the seventh round of the 2021 draft out of Bradley University.
Bilous, 25, split the 2022 season between Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, going 6-11 with a 7.15 ERA and 131 strikeouts (11.2 per 9.0 IP) over 31 games (21 starts).
The White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.
The down side of this deal was less losing Denlinger — who, amazingly, is older than German — than Bilous.
The Cube seems to indicate this was a sweet move for Chicago:
German’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Durability 82
K/BB 68
Walks 68
Power 64
Hittable 64
Strikeouts 60
Team Winning Percentage .515
There is some debate about how much German can bring to the White Sox. He seemingly has less upside than recent acquisition Gregory Santos, and in fact failed to break camp with the White Sox (Santos, in a mild surprise, did). But German possesses the command and power arm to contribute out of the South Side pen as soon as this spring, when reinforcements may already be needed. His 2022 numbers in Double-A and Triple-A are unimpeachably divine; if it translates to the majors (it didn’t in his cup of coffee last fall), Rick Hahn has himself a steal.
2023 South Side Sox Top 101 White Sox Prospects
30. Franklin German, RHRP
31. Tommy Sommer, LHSP
32. DJ Gladney, 1B
33. Drew Dalquist, RHSP
34. Adam Hackenberg, C
35. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
36. Andrew Pérez, LHRP
37. Duke Ellis, LF
38. Nicholas Padilla, RHRP
39. Dylan Burns, RHSP
40. Gil Luna Jr., LHRP
41. Eric Adler, RHRP
42. Garrett Schoenle, LHSP
43. Lane Ramsey, RHRP
44. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
45. Hunter Dollander, RHSP
46. Chase Solesky, RHSP
47. Godwin Bennett, RF
48. Wilber Sánchez, SS
49. Tyler Neslony, LF
50. Mario Camilletti, 2B
51. Sammy Peralta, LHRP
52. Jacob Burke, CF
53. Moisés Castillo, SS
54. Victor Quezada, 3B
55. Edgar Navarro, RHRP
56. Craig Dedelow, RF
57. Darío Borrero, 1B
58. Michael Turner, C
59. Tyler Osik, 1B
60. Haylen Green, LHRP
61. Mark McLaughlin, RHRP
62. Terrell Tatum, LF
63. Shawn Goosenberg, 2B
64. Randel Mondesí, LF
65. Emerson Talavera, RHRP
66. Declan Cronin, RHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Colby Smelley, C
69. Ethan Hammerberg, RHRP
70. Lincoln Henzman, RHRP
71. Vince Vannelle, RHRP
72. Brooks Baldwin, 3B-2B
73. James Beard, CF
74. Gabriel Rodríguez, RHSP
75. Ronny Hernandez, C
76. Troy Claunch, C
77. Brooks Gosswein, LHSP
78. Tim Elko, 1B
79. Yoelvín Silven, RHRP
80. Trey Jeans, LHRP
81. Jerry Burke, RHSP
82. Carlos Jiménez, 1B
83. Mason Adams, RHSP
84. Frankeli Arias, LHSP
85. Ernesto Jaquez, RHSP
86. Laz Rivera, 3B
87. Xavier Fernández, C
88. Álvaro Agüero, CF
89. Ben Norman, RF
90. Erick Bello, RHRP
91. Adisyn Coffey, RHRP
92. Arnold Prado, RF
93. Alsander Womack, 2B
94. Johan Domínguez, RHSP
95. Evan Skoug, C
96. Noah Owen, RHSP
97. Javier Mora, 2B
98. Will Kincanon, RHRP
99. Yohemy Nolasco, RHSP
100. Billy Seidl, RHRP
101. José Rodulfo, RHRP