2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 84: Mathias LaCombe

This French product puts a twist on the usual international player profile

Mathias LaCombe

Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
6´2´´
185 pounds
Age: 21
2022 High Level Cochise (JUCO)
Age relative to high level N/A
SSS rank among all right-handed relievers in the system 12
Overall 2023 stats 5-3 ⚾️ 19 games (8 starts) ⚾️ 67 1⁄3 IP ⚾️ 1.74 ERA ⚾️ 0.906 WHIP ⚾️ 97 K ⚾️ 14 BB

With the 359th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, the White Sox continued what was a bit of international flavor by selecting right-handed pitcher Mathias LaCombe, from Arizona via Libourne, France.

With the selection, LaCombe became just the second-ever French native to be drafted. He had 19 total appearances in his second year for Cochise College in Sierra Vista, Ariz. and made eight starts in 2023, going 5-3 with a 1.74 ERA over 67 1⁄3 innings. The righty owns an impressive 12.97 K/9 and pitched four complete games, including one with 11 strikeouts.

Lacombe came over to the USA to specifically play junior college ball. He throws a fastball, changeup, and breaking ball. The 21-year-old stands in at 6´2´´ and 185 lbs and will most likely slot in for a bullpen role.

He was also selected for several awards this spring, including First Team All-Conference and All-Region I.

“I definitely need to work on some things, like my slider, the movement on my pitches, and overall consistency,” LaCombe told writer Carter Cromwell back in August. “But I’ve always had the dream of playing pro ball in the U.S., and I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of this opportunity.”

Both his manager at Cochise, Todd Inglehart, and legendary White Sox scout John Kazanas, are confident in LaCombe’s quick learning curve and ability to move up in the White Sox system. is extremely determined to become the first Frenchman to make it into the majors and has shown a fast learning curve.

LaCombe’s numbers in juco ball certainly warrant a full-season assignment beginning at Kannapolis; however given he’s still fairly fresh in terms of U.S. instruction, LaCombe seems a fair bet to see extended instructional time at Camelback Ranch and an ACL assignment later this summer.

2024 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects

84. Mathias LaCombe, RHRP
85. Godwin Bennett, RF
86. Rikuu Nishida, LF
87. Caden Connor, LF
88. Zach Franklin, RHRP
89. Jeremy González, LHSP
90. Jerry Burke, RHRP
91. Frankeli Arias, LHSP
92. Mikey Kane, 3B
93. Carlton Perkins, RHSP
94. Tyler Neslony, LF
95. Drew Dalquist, RHSP
96. Jason Matthews, SS
97. Jonathan Stiever, RHSP
98. Tommy Sommer, LHSP
99. Daniel González, LHRP
100. Elier Gil, C