Rick Hahn meets with media for first time post-lockout

For the first time this spring, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn met with the media on Friday morning.

The press conference covered a variety of topics from roster construction to player-specific updates as we now snowball towards Opening Day. In case you missed any of it, the full video can be viewed below along with a rolling thread of the key points:

Players Report to Spring Training

Rick Hahn says he expects the White Sox to have just about everyone in camp by Sunday, but said there could be a visa issue or two. He will probably be here by Sunday too pic.twitter.com/2MKHYTRie4
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 11, 2022

Note: Major League Baseball is calling Sunday, March 13th as a mandatory spring training report date. Any players who may experience visa issues are essentially exempt from this, and will have additional time.

About 8 to 10 players here in camp today
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 11, 2022

TA in the house. pic.twitter.com/ZU6BekQPZ9
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) March 11, 2022

Fielding drills about to begin with Tim Anderson, Andrew Vaughn and Danny Mendick who’s speaking with Tony La Russa. pic.twitter.com/MVSa8ltjs6
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) March 11, 2022

I think you need this. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/D1fUGOWxly
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) March 11, 2022

Asked Andrew Vaughn how he's doing. "We're back," he said with a smile. Well said
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 11, 2022

Andrew Vaughn taking BP, shot on a phone from behind multiple cages, like the days of yore pic.twitter.com/aCs1DyqcJp
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 11, 2022

Roster Construction

Per usual, Rick Hahn said quite little about the roster. If you were looking for him to lay out some plans for now until Opening Day, the best you got was a quick tidbit on priorities: he feels that pitching depth will be the priority for the White Sox right now. The rotations projects to have an innings-limited Michael Kopech and a question mark in Dallas Keuchel, so his concerns with pitching are warranted.

Rick Hahn says that pitching depth will be a priority this season.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) March 11, 2022

“Pitching concerns are a little bit heavier on our minds than position players,” said Hahn.

Said the opening month will likely feature more conservative pitch counts, have had a little internal discussion on a six-man rotation or other non-standard pitching alignments
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 11, 2022

Hahn said it's a little premature to talk about creative rotation approaches at least at the start of Spring Training, but there has been some broader talk with Tony La Russa and Ethan Katz about such a situation.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 11, 2022

Hahn says that in addition to the business of welcoming Sox players to spring training, it's like the Winter Meetings are going on at the same time, with all the conversations being had with agents and other teams.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) March 11, 2022

Hahn: "We are prepared to go forward with the roster we have right now." But he said they are well aware there are areas they can improve the club and will exhaust those options in the coming weeks. He added pitching is a bit more of a priority right now.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 11, 2022

Rick Hahn likes #WhiteSox roster but: “If there’s a way to improve the club, we’re going to exhaust those opportunities.” Right field and second base on radar.
— Scot Gregor (@scotgregor) March 11, 2022

Hahn happy with Sox roster but adamant that his front office will pursue opportunities for upgrades not only right now but all the way up to and beyond Opening Day.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) March 11, 2022

White Sox GM Rick Hahn said MLB has a plan to 'revisit April rosters' for the early part of the season due to the shortened spring training. (2020 began with 30 man rosters)
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) March 11, 2022

Hahn on 2022 expectations:

"I don't think any of us would be doing our jobs properly … if our aspirations weren't to win a championship and feeling we need to do everything in our power to win the World Series in 2022."
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) March 11, 2022

Player Updates

Beyond the players that may or may not be added to the White Sox roster, Rick Hahn did give updates on Oscar Colas and the role for Garrett Crochet heading into 2022.

Quick take from Rick Hahn on Oscar Colas: "Glad we got him. Glad we got him … I'm glad he's one of ours."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 11, 2022

Hahn says Garrett Crochet is likely to be used primarily in the big league bullpen, compares his probable usage to Michael Kopech's in 2021 (maybe a spot start here and there). But Sox want to evaluate Crochet in camp before committing 100 percent to what his exact role will be.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) March 11, 2022

Liam Hendriks walked past Tim Anderson’s media availability and told him to “tell them how you really feel”

Anderson said his goal facing Hendriks in live BP is to “crush his confidence”

Also said he’s going to take Hendriks shopping because “his wardrobe is pretty terrible”
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) March 11, 2022

Spring is finally in the air. As a reminder, today is the official start of Spring Training. Games are scheduled to begin on March 19 vs. the Guardians, with Opening Day scheduled for April 8 vs. the Tigers, and the home opener on April 12 vs. the Mariners.

Make sure to stay tuned for more updates @SoxOn35th!

Featured Image: White Sox / Twitter

Rick Hahn meets with media for first time post-lockout

Players Report to Spring Training

Roster Construction

Player Updates

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