White Sox DFA Former Top Prospect — 'The Cuban Ohtani'

The Chicago White Sox designated former top prospect Oscar Colas for assignment on Wednesday, bringing a disappointing chapter to a close just three years after signing him to a $2.7 million bonus out of Cuba. 

Once billed as a potential star with elite raw power, Colas struggled to translate his early success in the minors into big league production. After hitting .314 with 23 homers across three levels in 2022, Colas floundered in his 2023 MLB debut, slashing just .216/.257/.314 with a 27.6% strikeout rate and only five home runs in 75 games. 

His power continued to fade in 2024, and despite modest Triple-A success, the White Sox gave him just 38 MLB plate appearances that year. “He just didn’t force the issue,” one team source said of Colas’ lack of development.

I remember the hype around Oscar “Cuban Ohtani” Colas.

He absolutely demolished AAA and then just floundered as a 24-year-old rookie.

Then, despite hitting .273 in 13 sophomore games, the Sox buried on the bench on the worst team is MLB history instead of letting him develop.

— All Things Chicago Sports (@things_sox) March 20, 2025

With his poor spring—seven strikeouts in 18 plate appearances—Colas failed to make an impression heading into 2025. 

Once viewed as the organization’s No. 2 prospect, he now finds himself in DFA limbo, with the club having seven days to trade him or expose him to waivers. Given his limited versatility and declining offensive output, there’s a good chance Colas could pass through unclaimed.

Oscar Colas went from being Cuban Ohtani to getting DFAed by the 2025 White Sox. pic.twitter.com/i84A1UAdi5

— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) March 26, 2025

In Colas' place, the White Sox claimed 27-year-old Greg Jones off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. 

A former first-round pick of the Rays in 2019, Jones is regarded as one of baseball’s fastest players and offers more positional versatility than Colas. 

In Triple-A last season, he slashed .267/.344/.453 with 46 stolen bases in 89 games and played all over the field — including center, shortstop, second base, and right. Jones was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte and remains on the 40-man roster. 

The Rockies acquired him just last year in exchange for lefty prospect Joe Rock, who’s since emerged as a near-ready arm for Tampa Bay, making the deal a lopsided win for the Rays in hindsight.

Photo Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images