With Spring Training past the halfway point and just 10 days until Opening Day for the White Sox, news has been rolling in from Glendale over the past few days – including more roster cuts, the announcement of the team’s Opening Day starter, and much more.
Here’s everything you may have missed over the weekend before their game begins today!
White Sox make 11 roster moves, cut Spring Training roster to 42
The White Sox continued to get closer to their 26-man roster today, optioning and re-assigning 11 players to minor-league camp or their affiliates:
- Optioned to Class AAA Charlotte: OF Dominic Fletcher
- Reassigned to minor-league camp: RHP Mason Adams, RHP Justin Dunn, RHP Jonathan Heasley, RHP Peyton Pallette, C Kyle Teel, C Edgar Quero, INF Andre Lipcius, INF Cal Mitchell, OF Zach DeLoach, OF Corey Julks
None of these moves are particularly surprising, given that many of these moves include re-assigning veterans who signed minor-league deals over the offseason. This did solidify the White Sox’ catching situation, however, with two spots belonging to Korey Lee, Matt Thaiss, or Omar Narvaez – with Teel and/or Quero likely to join the team sometime during the 2025 season.
Joey Gallo released, Mason Adams with right flexor strain in elbow
The White Sox have had no shortage of arm injuries throughout Spring Training – though, no team has avoided them, to be fair. Mason Adams was the latest pitcher to experience some discomfort, being diagnosed with a right elbow flexor strain. There is no immediate timeline for his return, though he was re-assigned to minor-league camp today. Adams has had a strong Spring overall outside of one outing
Far more surprisingly, Joey Gallo has been released by the White Sox to pursue a second career as a pitcher. Gallo struggled mightily with the White Sox, registering just two hits in 20 plate appearances and striking out 11 times. White Sox Assistant GM Josh Barfield stated that Gallo requested his release and the White Sox granted it, and that there are currently no plans for the White Sox to bring him back into the fold as a pitcher: “Where we are right now, it’s tough to give him that opportunity.”
White Sox name Sean Burke Opening Day Starter
In a surprise decision to many, the White Sox named Sean Burke their Opening Day Starter for the 2025 season. Burke has had a strong Spring and was one of four starters named by Will Venable earlier this Spring, joining Martin Perez, Davis Martin, and Jonathan Cannon. Burke posted a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings thus far in the Spring, though the White Sox were clearly impressed by his work ethic enough to give him the honor.
His 19 career innings at the major league level are the fewest by an Opening Day SP in White Sox history, beating the previous record of 61, held for nearly 122 years by Patsy Flaherty (1903). In case you’re wondering, Flaherty’s final line that day was the following: 9 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. The White Sox won 14-4 over the St. Louis Browns.
White Sox future stars shine in Spring Breakout loss
The final score of 3-1 in this year’s Spring Breakout game is pretty representative of how the White Sox’ future is built right now: dominated by pitching. And while the White Sox weren’t on the winning end, there were plenty of positives to take from the game.
Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz were the leaders on the mound, and both showed why the White Sox are so high on them. Smith started Sunday, working two hitless innings and striking out one, while Schultz went hitless through the third and fourth with two strikeouts. Riley Gowens (part of the Aaron Bummer trade) struggled in his outing, giving up two runs in 1.2 innings. The offense, largely, had little to offer, with Rockies’ pitchers striking out 10 White Sox hitters while walking just two. Edgar Quero, George Wolkow, and William Bergolla shared the White Sox’ three hits with one apiece.
Some other highlights from the game include:
- Jake Eder: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
- Eric Adler, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
- Edgar Quero: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
- Kyle Teel: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
- Colson Montgomery: 0-for-3, 2 K
- George Wolkow: 1-for-2
You can find the full box score and recap HERE.
Other News, Notes, and Highlights
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Featured Image: Allan Henry-Imagn Images
