2027 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 93: Jackson Appel

South Side Sox ranked catcher Jackson Appel as the No. 93 prospect in the Chicago White Sox system for 2027. Drafted in the sixth round in 2024 out of Texas A&M, the 25-year-old switch-hitter previously ranked at No. 77 in 2026 and No. 60 in 2025. Melissa Sage-Bollenbach notes that an injury-shortened 2026 campaign has left Appel playing catch-up in his development.

Appel missed significant time in 2026 after landing on the injured list in April, appearing in just 21 total games across rehab and High-A Winston-Salem. Across 58 at-bats for the Dash, he posted a .190/.329/.259 slash line while retaining his trademark plate discipline with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts. Sage-Bollenbach emphasizes that Appel requires a healthy stretch behind the plate in 2027 to reach Double-A Birmingham.