2025 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 75: Terrell Tatum
A prove-it 2024 did not work out as intended for this speedster — at least until September came around
Terrell Tatum
Center Fielder
5´11´´
167 pounds
Age: 25
2022 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 28
2023 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 62
2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 17
2022 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level -0.3 years
SSS rank among all center fielders in the system 5
Overall 2024 regular season stats 116 games ⚾️ 5 HR ⚾️ 43 RBI ⚾️ .219/.317/.302 ⚾️ 30-of-38 (78.9%) SB ⚾️ 59 BB ⚾️ 130 K ⚾️ 1.000 FLD%
Terrell Tatum was somewhat of a late bloomer, having a good career at the University of Arkansas until 2021, when he really put it all together during his senior season: .317/.419/.543 in 53 games with 12 homers, 36 RBIs, 16-of-18 stolen bases, 33 walks (14.73%) and 68 strikeouts (30.36%). Named First Team All-ACC for his efforts, Tatum was at his best in big games — as evidenced by hitting a game-winning homer versus Vanderbilt in the College World Series. When Tatum was still available in the 16th round of the 2021 MLB draft, the White Sox couldn’t resist selecting this athletic outfielder.
As a pro, not much differently than in his college years, it’s been an up-and-down career for the speedster.
After receiving his signing bonus, Tatum got off to a terrific start in the ACL, where he slashed .265/.444/.426 in 22 games with eight doubles, one homer, 10 RBIs, three stolen bases, 21 walks (23.3%), 28 strikeouts (31.1%) and an impressive 141 wRC+. While his hitting wasn’t quite as an impressive during a four-game cup of coffee with the Winston-Salem Dash to end the year (skipping Kannapolis entirely), Tatum still showed off his other skills, with four stolen bases and four walks. His combined 23.8% and 32.4% walk and strikeout rates respectively were better than his 19.0% and 37.9% in college.
The 2022 season, where a possible leap to Birmingham was not out of the question, ended on a sour note. After posting a .528 OBP in Kannapolis, Tatum was nonetheless promoted to Winston-Salem, where his peripherals normalized a bit but were still pretty good. Tatum posted a very respectable .255/.371/.418 slash line (118 wRC+) in High-A, with an increase in power offsetting the drop in his walk rate, which went from beyond elite to a more normal level of elite. With 16 stolen bases in 20 tries, Tatum logged an 80% success rate that has remained essentially his minimum SB efficiency throughout his time in the pros.
Tatum also battled injury in 2022, sitting out half of June and into July. Then, a week after being activated, Tatum was suspended for PED use (seems he didn’t get an exemption for his Adderall prescription) and was inactive for the remainder of the season. Plucked to play in Glendale in the Arizona Fall League to catch back up on some reps, Tatum only got into six games.
The 2023 season was a step back for Tatum, as he finally made it to Double-A but unearthed a terrible swing-and-miss habit that grounded his game: 100 walks are miraculous, but 149 Ks for a speedburner are not. In his even split of the season between Winston-Salem and Birmingham, Tatum’s .397 OBP (fueled by those delightful walks!) created some real buzz once again in the prospect rankings.
Sadly, as Tatum took the field in Birmingham to begin 2024 with a clear, early goal of seeing Charlotte, things took the worst turn of his career. Manning all three outfield positions (technically, he should just barely be listed as a RF this year but I’m just too lazy to correct my mistaken listing, sorry), Tatum bottomed out: .219/.317/.302. As you can see from that meager OBP, Tatum trimmed his strikeouts to 130 — but unfortunately forgot how to take a walk (59). Without getting on base to use his wheels, Tatum’s prospect value falls close to nil.
Tatum’s Baseball Cube player ratings
Speed 87 (unchanged from two seasons ago)
Durability 67 (+9)
Power 60 (-7)
Hitting 60 (-7)
Runs 55 (0)
XBH 45 (-3)
RBIs 44 (-7)
Contact 22 (+6)
Average 55.00 (-1.13)
If there is one bright spot in Tatum’s 2024, it’s that he was on fire in September, and that includes what would have been an MVP performance in Birmingham’s run to the Southern League title (if the SL had such an award). For the month, Tatum snapped out of his funk and slashed .313/.411/.333 with eight walks — and just 12 Ks! He also had his best month of the season on the basepaths, swiping 10-of-11 bags.
Based on that sample, it’s possible Tatum could draw an immediate assignment to Triple-A. If not, for the sake of his future in the Sox organization, he must break through quickly and decisively to the Knights in 2025.
2025 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox Prospects
100. Cole McConnell, CF
99. Drake Logan, LF
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
92. Eddie Park, CF
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
88. Pierce George, RHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
82. Braden Shewmake, SS
81. Caleb Freeman, RHRP
80. Michael Turner, C
79. Drew McDaniel, RHSP
78. Jurdrick Profar, SS
77. Reudis Diaz, RHSP
76. Phil Fox, RHRP
75 Terrell Tatum, CF