White Sox rebuild shows both bright spots and growing pains as Kyle Teel homers in the opener and Chase Meidroth pushes a 12-game hitting streak, lifting September to .408. Shane Smith’s stumble bumps his ERA to 4.06 but he remains the ace-in-wuture for 2026, while Colson Montgomery endures a cold stretch (.129 last 10). Calibrated optimism rises with Caleb Bonemer’s Carolina League MVP bid and top Sox prospects Braden Montgomery, Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz showing big-time potential as the organization eyes 2026 spring training. The path to avoided 100 losses remains steep as a five-game skid underlines the rebuild.

Meanwhile, the Orioles’ slide from preseason hype—accompanied by a midseason managerial change and missed playoffs—frames the challenge for the Sox to stay on course. A few weeks of meaningful development in Chicago contrast with the daily grind of trying to convert prospects into a sustainable contender, a theme that will define the South Side’s narrative through the winter.