Bryce Collins
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
2024 SSS Top Prospect Ranking N/R
Winston-Salem Dash

Bryce Collins, a 24-year-old relief pitcher, was drafted out of high school back in 2018, but he was not selected until the 38th round. Collins chose to play college ball instead, and last offseason, the White Sox signed him to a minor league contract. Collins started the season with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, and expectations were modest. However, Collins exceeded those expectations by a wide margin in 2024.

This season marked the first time that Collins played professional baseball, and he made it count. Collins was a strikeout machine for the Cannon Ballers, whiffing 24 in only 14 innings before being promoted to Winston-Salem. Collins had a 3.21 ERA with Kannapolis, but largely due to his sky-high strikeout rate (15.4 K/9), his FIP was only 2.36. Collins played the majority of the season with the Dash, with his promotion coming early (May 14). Collins pitched 31 innings with the Dash, posting a 2.03 ERA and a 3.40 FIP during that time, as he was very reliable there, too.

With Winston-Salem, opposing hitters only managed a .189/.295/.279 slash line against Collins, and he never went on any extended cold streak. Because the Dash bullpen posted a 5.18 ERA this season, which was worst in the International League, Collins made an even larger impact than he would have made with most other teams.

One of the only cons of Collins’ season was his walk rate, which was a bit higher than desired (4.4 BB/9). Such a rate is generally not sustainable at the higher levels of play, but in Kannapolis and Winston-Salem Collins managed to pitch around the walks most of the time. If Collins attacks the zone early and often, he will pave an easier path up from the High-A level, as his stuff was clearly effective at that level. Opposing hitters generally struggled to make sharp contact against anything he threw, so reducing walks would be very beneficial.

Very well done to Collins on making out All-Star team, and it will be interesting to follow his progress heading into 2025.

2024 Sox Populi White Sox Minor League All-Star Team
Ronny Hernandez (C)
Edgar Quero (C) (Player of the Year)
Caden Connor (1B)
Tim Elko (1B)
Ryan Galanie (1B)
Wilmer Difo (2B)
Brooks Baldwin (SS)
Zach DeLoach (LF)
Mason Adams (RHSP)
Aldrin Batista (RHSP)
Ky Bush (LHSP)
Lucas Gordon (LHSP)
Noah Schultz (LHSP) (Pitcher of the Year)
Drew Thorpe (RHSP)
Eric Adler (RHRP)
Adisyn Coffey (RHRP)
Bryce Collins (RHRP)

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Bryce Collins photo: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers