For better or worse, they’re back.
White Sox pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s facility on Wednesday, marking the start of the franchise’s hallmark 125th campaign. Amidst the shadow of a historically bad 2024 season, smiles still abounded for a young group embracing a fresh start.
Yet full of hope as players may be, the franchise faces many questions. Which highly-touted prospects will impress in camp? What will the rotation look like? Can new manager Will Venable bring life to an exhausted fanbase? Sure, the squad won’t be competitive in 2025, but there are nonetheless many fun storylines to watch unfold over the next several weeks. Be sure to check out our new podcast episode to hear more on all these topics.
The Logistics
As usual, the South Siders call Glendale home for the spring, sharing lovely Camelback Ranch with the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Chicago will bolster a full roster starting on Monday, February 17th. They will travel to Mesa for their first exhibition match, a dessert cross-town showdown vs the Cubs on the 22nd.
Following that game, ten days pass before the Sox’s first day off. That March 4 rest day is one of only two, the other being March 18. The White Sox conclude the spring campaign against the Athletics in Glendale on March 24. Yes, that is a bit earlier than usual. That’s because MLB will host Opening Day on the 27th of March, the earliest in the league’s history, with The Angels coming to the visit Rate Field that day.
The Storylines
1) Will Luis Robert Jr. end camp with Chicago?
All offseason, Luis Robert Jr.’s name has popped up in trade rumors. The oft-injured, uber-talented 27-year-old suffered a down year last year with an OPS of just .657, yet managed a 1.4 bWAR through elite defense and baserunning. With multiple solid seasons under his belt, he’s an enticing buy-low opportunity for other teams.
Robert Jr. was apparently close to being dealt to the Reds a couple of weeks ago, but the deal fell through. Time will tell if Chris Getz and Co. find an appropriate price to deal their best position player.
2) Who will round out the rotation?
Right now, the most likely starting rotation for the White Sox looks something like this:
- Jonathan Cannon (RHP)
- Martin Perez (LHP)
- Davis Martin (RHP)
- Drew Thorpe (RHP)
- Sean Burke (RHP)
Everyone here has a lot to prove except Perez. Sean Burke looked great in the majors last year, but it was only three starts. The other three youngsters all looked sterling in some games and abysmal in others. In addition, Thorpe has suffered setbacks recovering from bone spur surgery last September and may start the season on the IL, so he’ll want to prove his health.
Bryse Wilson and Jairo Iriarte are the two most likely contenders to nab a spot from one of these five. Wilson is a veteran arm signed from the Brewers, who posted a 4.09 ERA last season split between relief appearances and starts. Iriarte, a high-ranking 23-year-old prospect, notched a 3.71 ERA in Double-A and relieved in six MLB contests in 2024.
Regardless of who makes the cut, fans are aching to see a couple of these guys be serviceable in the bigs. A stellar spring training would go a long way toward building that credibility.
3) Will Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, or Edgar Quero make the Opening Day roster?
Veteran Sox beat reporter Scott Merkin opined Tuesday that shortstop Colson Montgomery is likely to break camp as a major leaguer, and various sites’ projections seem to agree. Drafted out of high school in 2021, the lanky outfielder broke out in 2022 before returning to Earth with a mixed 2023 showing in Triple-A. We’ll see what he shows in Glendale.
Meanwhile, a catcher battle is shaping up. Garrett Crochet netted the Sox a pair of top prospects and then some back in December, and Kyle Teel was the cream of the crop. The 22-year-old earned a month’s worth of Triple-A experience to end 2024 after registering an .852 OPS with Double-A Portland.
Cuban backstop Edgar Quero followed an eerily similar path, impressing in Double-A and limited action in Triple-A. Quero is probably fighting an uphill battle. He is younger and slightly lower-ranked than Teel by prospect evaluators, seemingly due to defensive prowess. However, time will tell if either guy takes a spot on March 27 from Korey Lee or Matt Thaiss.
4) What will the clubhouse look like under Venable?
It’s no secret Will Venable is walking into uncharted territory in his first big-league managerial gig. Some may say that the White Sox “can’t possibly get any worse”. They did lose an MLB-record 121 games, after all. But consider that their best pitcher was dealt this offseason and their best hitter could be following suit imminently. Yes, the South Siders have amassed an impressive array of prospects, but the closest of the best three farmhands are still second-half arrivals at best.
Accordingly, Venable has a tricky task at hand. First, he has to motivate a team of historic losers to believe in themselves and go out and play their best ball. In addition, he’ll be victim to the classic conundrum of wanting to up the win total, but needing to prioritize young player development.
Pre-2023 optimism for Pedro Grifol has likely hardened Sox fans’ hearts towards putting any stock in spring outcomes. Venable, though, must lay the groundwork for a hard-working and inspired group of players, and that starts now.
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Featured Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
