Caleb Bonemer is having an impressive 2026 season.
The top-ranked prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, according to MLB.com, already has eclipsed his home run total of last year. He recently made the leap from Class A to Double A and is continuing to produce.
And last week, the shortstop was selected to represent the Sox in Sunday’s MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The event brings together many of baseball’s top prospects.
“It’s just a cool stage, especially in Philly, a cool ballpark,” Bonemer said during a videoconference call Wednesday. “I’ve watched in the past growing up, so to be a part of it is pretty cool.
“Luckily I’ve been able to play some pretty good ball the last couple years. It definitely feels good to be able to represent the White Sox.”
Bonemer, 20, entered Wednesday slashing .243/.382/.528 with 17 doubles, 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, 60 runs, 51 walks and a .910 OPS over 79 games with High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham this season.
He was named White Sox minor league player of the month in April after slashing .284/.396/.750 with eight doubles, 11 home runs, 27 RBIs, 22 runs and a 1.146 OPS in 23 games with Winston-Salem. He earned South Atlantic League player of the week honors for the period of April 28-May 3.
Bonemer has a .262/.385/.431 slash line with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs, eight runs and 13 walks in 18 games since being promoted to Birmingham on June 16.
“I started off hot that first month,” he said. “Then kind of had some ups and downs. I feel with where I’m at now, just trying to make sure my swing is in a good spot. At least right now, been making sure I’ve got my approach down for whatever pitcher I’m facing.
“Just keep hammering the routine every day. Making sure I’m taking care of the important things and at the end of the year hopefully it will all work out.”
Bonemer said the promotion to Double A has “gone pretty good so far.”
“Honestly just trying to repeat what I’ve been doing, what I was doing,” he said. “Not trying to change a whole lot, even if I have a rough game. Still trying to go out there and do what I know works. Just know my approach, know what the pitcher’s got. And then off that build a plan and just try to keep doing it every day.
“It’s a long season, you’re going to have ups and downs. Just try to be consistent every day.”
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Bonemer listed “pulling the baseball, pulling it in the air,” among his strengths at the plate.
“This year I’ve been able to hit a few homers,” Bonemer said. “That’s definitely been my strong suit this year. When I’m going well, I can hit for average, I can hit for power. My strength, obviously this year, has been the slugging, homers, extra-base hits.
“I focused on getting stronger, definitely. But it’s not like I changed my swing or approach or anything. This year, I just got a little bit bigger. Some of my homers, I kind of mishit balls and I’m stronger so they’re able to go out. Honestly, I just try to be a complete hitter and then the homers will come. With that being said, it is a big part of my game. Just pulling the ball in the air.”
Last year, he hit 12 home runs in 107 games between Class A Kannapolis — where he earned Carolina League Most Valuable Player honors — and Winston-Salem.
His home run total this year includes one on May 5 against 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, who was on an injury rehab assignment for the New York Yankees.
“That was a pretty cool experience,” Bonemer said. “Luckily we were able to put up a few runs off of him and luckily I got a few hits. That day was pretty cool. It was just a cool moment, being able to face a Cy Young Award winner, a probable Hall of Famer. You don’t really get those opportunities that often in the minor leagues. Luckily we took advantage of it.
“That was an awesome day.”
The Sox selected Bonemer in the second round of the 2024 draft. His attention remains on the present, not the future.
“Everybody wants to play in the show, have a big-league career, that would be great if I was able to do that,” Bonemer said. “Right now I’m just trying to focus on where I’m at.”
Sunday, that will mean being in Philadelphia for the Futures Game.
“Just a special opportunity,” Bonemer said. “Just the opportunity as a whole is pretty awesome.”