2025 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 54: Shawn Goosenberg
This versatile performer will need to rediscover his stroke on offense against the challenge of Double-A pitching
Shawn Goosenberg
First Baseman
6´0´´
195 pounds
Age: 25
2022 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 71
2023 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 64
2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 42
2024 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level +0.3 years
SSS rank among all first basemen in the system 4
Overall 2024 regular season stats 104 games ⚾️ 11 HR ⚾️ 62 RBI ⚾️ .251/.324/.416 ⚾️ 38 BB ⚾️ 118 K ⚾️ 19-of-27 (70.4%) SB ⚾️ .980 FLD%
Shawn Goosenberg was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB draft, as the 575th pick overall, out of Northwestern University. Goosenberg was an impressive player for the Wildcats who continued to improve year over year, ending his final season in 2021 topping his club in OPS (1.143), home runs (14) and slugging percentage (.717). The key to playing his way into the draft was Goosenberg’s power surge: Prior to 2021, he had clubbed just one career homer in 230 combined plate appearances for the Wildcats. That all changed in final NU season, however, as he swatted 14 homers in 169 plate appearances. For the year, Goosenberg also mashed 12 doubles and stole 10 bases while producing an impressive .362/.426/.717 slash line.
As a pro, Goosenberg gradually has worked his way up the ladder, battling injury in 2022 and overall spending a significant amount of time with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash. At the very end of 2023, Goosenberg moved up to the Double-A Birmingham Barons for three games, but returned to Winston-Salem to start 2024.
In 2024 over 71 games this year with the Dash, Goosenberg slashed .272/.348/.460 with an .808 OPS in 272 at-bats. He finished second in OPS for the club overall, and first among those that spent a decent amount of time with the team. His 51 RBIs were also second on the team, just behind Wes Kath (who had 58, in 120 more at-bats).
Goosenberg’s strong performance in High-A earned a promotion to Birmingham, where he spent the remainder of the 2024 season. In 33 games and 115 at-bats, Goosenberg’s performance didn’t measure up: .200/.268/.313 with a .581 OPS — a 28% decrease in OPS compared to his time with the Dash. In all fairness, 33 games is a very small sample size, and he has the whole offseason to prepare for 2025 in hopes to improve. He was able to flip the switch at Northwestern, and his pro ceiling is definitely higher than what it might have looked like back in 2021.
On the defensive side, Goosenberg has proven to be a very versatile player who can play majority of the infield positions, as well as the outfield. As a pro, Shawn has played most (104) at first base, and has a .987 fielding percentage in 887 total innings. In 2024 specifically, Goosenberg played the majority of his innings with the Dash in left and right field prior to shifting over to first base upon joining the Barons, where he posted a .980 FLD%. Goosenberg is SO versatile he even pitched an inning with the Dash, giving up two hits but keeping an exceptional 0.00 ERA.
For his versatility and overall game, Sox Populi named Goosenberg to its White Sox minors All-Star team for 2024.
Goosenberg’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Speed 78 (-1 from last season)
Power 77 (+1)
XBH 71 (+2)
Hitting 70 (-1)
Durability 67 (+2)
RBIs 62 (+3)
Runs 55 (+1)
Contact 48 (-2)
Average 66.00 (+0.62)
Goosenberg, as a player a bit old for each level, has had the benefit of playing against less seasoned competition at most of his Sox org stops. That will continue in 2025, as he spends time in Birmingham for a third season, hopefully securing some footing in pursuit of a promotion to Charlotte by summer’s end.
2025 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects
54. Shawn Goosenberg, 1B
55. Caden Connor, 1B
56. Mario Camilletti, 2B
57. Jake Peppers, RHSP
58. Ryan Burrowes, SS
59. Garrett Schoenle, LHRP
60. Jackson Appel, C
61. Tommy Vail, LHSP
62. Bryce Collins, RHRP
63. Tanner McDougal, RHSP
64. Stiven Flores, C
65. T.J. McCants, CF
66. Gil Luna, LHRP
67. Fraser Ellard, LHRP
68. Zach Franklin, RHRP
69. Drew Dalquist, RHRP
70. Nick Altermatt, RHRP
71. Carson Jacobs, RHRP
72. Alec Makarewicz, 1B
73. Jacob Burke, CF
74. Calvin Harris, C
75. Terrell Tatum, CF
76. Phil Fox, RHRP
77. Reudis Diaz, RHSP
78. Jurdrick Profar, SS
79. Drew McDaniel, RHSP
80. Michael Turner, C
81. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
82. Braden Shewmake, SS (since designated for assignment and lost to Kansas City)
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
88. Pierce George, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
92. Eddie Park, CF
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
99. Drake Logan, LF
100. Cole McConnell, CF