A former Kansas City top prospect has joined the organization.
The White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to a minor league contract, the team announced on January 14. The deal includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
Heasley, 27, played three seasons for the Royals after being selected in the 13th round of the 2018 draft. He made 24 starts out of 36 major-league appearances from 2021-23, recording a 5.45 ERA over 133.2 innings thrown. Despite the lack of success in Kansas City, Heasley was once ranked as the Royals’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America after posting a 3.33 ERA, 27.7% strikeout rate, and 7.9% walk rate with the team’s Double-A affiliate in 2021.
The Orioles acquired the right-hander last offseason with hopes of unlocking Heasley’s potential, though it didn’t work out in their favor. The reliever only threw 5.1 innings over four games, giving up 10 earned runs while striking out four and walking three. He made just 10 additional appearances with the team’s Triple-A Norfolk affiliate, posting a better 2.64 ERA over 30.2 innings before right shoulder inflammation ended his season prematurely and led to his July release.
Though his major league track record leaves much to be desired, Heasley at least provides the White Sox with some versatility heading into camp. Should he make the roster, Heasley’s experience out of the bullpen and rotation could allow him to serve in either role on the South Side. The main downside is that despite possessing barely a year of service time, the pitcher is out of options. With the White Sox making many similar signings over the offseason, Heasley will be one of several intriguing arms fighting for an opportunity to appear with the rebuilding team.
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