White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Moving back to rotation
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Clevinger will stretch out at the White Sox's complex in Arizona before returning to Triple-A Charlotte as a starter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Clevinger made eight appearances out of the bullpen for the White Sox, giving up five earned runs in 5.2 innings while turning in a 3:8 K:BB. He was designated for assignment following his poor showing in relief and will now attempt to convert back into a starter, which is what his role has been for the vast majority of his career. If he returns to form after reporting to Charlotte, the 34-year-old righty may have a shot at returning to Chicago later this summer.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Passes through waivers
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The White Sox outrighted Clevinger to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Clevinger passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the 40-man roster earlier this week. He has the ability to elect free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors, but it's unclear whether Clevinger will choose that route.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Cast off 40-man roster
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The White Sox designated Clevinger for assignment Wednesday.
Clevinger came into the season seemingly in line for a high-leverage role in the Chicago bullpen, perhaps even as the team's closer. However, he yielded five runs with an ugly 3:8 K:BB over 5.2 innings and had appeared to lose the trust of manager Will Venable. With Clevinger out of the picture and Fraser Ellard (hamstring) on the injured list, Jordan Leasure might be the best bet for saves in a shaky White Sox bullpen.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Gives up three runs
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Clevinger allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk across one inning Tuesday against the A's.
Clevinger entered the game in the ninth inning with the White Sox down by six runs. The effort continued what has been an uninspiring start to the campaign, as he's now allowed at least one earned run in three of his eight appearances and has an ugly 3:8 K:BB. The White Sox have yet to record a save this season, but Clevinger appears to be the top candidate for the closer role when required.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Stuck with loss Saturday
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Clevinger (0-1) took the loss Saturday, giving up a run on a hit and a walk in an inning of relief as the White Sox fell 1-0 to the Angels.
The 34-year-old was viewed at the potential closer for Chicago this season, but each of his first two appearances this season have come before the ninth inning. Clevinger got the call Saturday in the top of the eighth of a scoreless tie, and after retiring the first two batters he walked Jorge Soler, only to see him move him up to third base on a wild pitch that Matt Thaiss couldn't find right away. Yoan Moncada then got some revenge on his former team with an RBI infield single that deflected off Clevinger's leg. The right-hander came into 2025 with zero career saves, and given his usage so far and the inability of the White Sox to build leads that need protecting, it could be a while before Clevinger records his first.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Joins 40-man, active roster
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The White Sox selected Clevinger's contract Thursday.
Clevinger attended spring training as a non-roster invitee but quickly solidified his spot in the White Sox's Opening Day bullpen after excelling in camp as he made the transition from starting to relieving. Over his six Cactus League outings, Clevinger didn't allow a run while striking out eight and allowing three hits and one walk over six innings. The veteran righty looks to be a strong candidate to open the season as Chicago's closer, though manager Will Venable has previously suggested that he could use multiple relievers in save situations.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Strikes out two in spring debut
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Clevinger (neck) struck out two batters over a perfect inning of relief Sunday in the White Sox's 1-0 loss to the Guardians in Cactus League play.
Clevinger re-signed with the White Sox on a minor-league deal Feb. 21, but he didn't make his spring debut until Sunday while he completed his recovery from the disc replacement surgery he required for his neck back on Aug. 1. The 34-year-old righty retired the side in efficient fashion Sunday, needing just 11 pitches to complete a 1-2-3 inning. Clevinger has worked almost exclusively as a starter over parts of eight seasons in the big leagues, but he'll be vying for a late-inning relief role with Chicago while the organization prioritizes younger arms in the rotation.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Set for spring debut
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Clevinger (neck) is expected to make his spring debut Sunday, Lamond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Clevinger is competing for a bullpen role with the White Sox this spring after signing in late February. A neck injury ended his 2024 season, though he's been throwing live batting practice and will now be set for his spring debut.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Under consideration for relief role
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The White Sox are considering using Clevinger (neck) in a late-inning relief role, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
It's just one of the roles the team is mulling, as it first wants to see what Clevinger looks like in camp after the hurler was inked to a minor-league contract Thursday. More than 90 percent of Clevinger's 156 career appearances in the majors have come as a starter, but he's had injury difficulties in recent years -- including being limited to just four starts in 2024 due to neck and elbow issues -- so it's possible a bullpen role gives him a better chance to stay healthy. The White Sox do have an opening at closer, should he prove to be effective in relief. The 34-year-old had neck surgery last July and it's not clear whether he'll have any restrictions this spring.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Back with ChiSox
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Clevinger (neck) signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox that includes an invitation to spring training Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Clevinger had an injury-marred 2024 season for the White Sox, as he was able to make only four starts due to neck and elbow injuries. When he was last fully healthy in 2023, Clevinger managed a 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 131.1 innings. If he can stay on the mound throughout spring training, he would seemingly have a decent chance of cracking the Opening Day roster and securing a spot in the rotation.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Transferred to 60-day IL
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The White Sox transferred Clevinger (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.
Clevinger underwent season-ending disc replacement surgery Aug. 1. His move to the 60-day IL opened a spot on the 40-man roster, which will go to waiver pickup Enyel De Los Santos.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Undergoing season-ending surgery
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Clevinger (elbow) will undergo disc replacement surgery on his neck Aug. 1 and miss the remainder of the 2024 season, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Clevinger paused his rehab assignment temporarily in June while recovering from elbow inflammation due to neck pain and logged two starts before being pulled off his assignment again July 23. After being returned, further testing revealed that the neck issue would require surgery. The 33-year-old will finish the 2024 season having made merely four MLB starts, logging a 6.75 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 16 innings. It's unclear if Clevinger's recovery will linger into spring training.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Pulled off rehab assignment
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The White Sox returned Clevinger (elbow/neck) from his rehab assignment Monday, and he's no longer scheduled to start for Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday as originally planned, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "We'll reevaluate as we go," Grifol said of Clevinger's status.
Grifol's comments don't offer much clarity regarding why Clevinger's rehab assignment was halted, but the right-hander presumably didn't bounce back well from his latest start with Charlotte on July 14, when he struck out three and allowed one earned run over four innings. Clevinger had already stretched out to 71 pitches over the course of his four rehab starts, so if he's not dealing with a major setback and is able to resume ramping up quickly, he could still have a chance at making it back from the 15-day injured list before the end of the month or early August. Clevinger was placed on the IL on May 28 with right elbow inflammation and also had his rehab program slowed down in late June due to a stiff neck.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Hits four innings in rehab start
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Clevinger (elbow/neck) struck out three over four innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte, giving up one earned run on three hits and one walk.
Clevinger tossed 51 pitches (35 strikes) in his fourth rehab outing with Charlotte and his second since he resumed his assignment after he was briefly shut down with neck stiffness. The White Sox will reassess Clevinger on Monday before determining what's next for him. Considering that manager Pedro Grifol told MLB.com on Friday that the right-hander was "a ways away from taking the ball and going six innings," it's possible the White Sox will want Clevinger to increase his pitch count in one more rehab start with Charlotte before he returns from the 15-day injured list. Clevinger was initially placed on the shelf May 28 with right elbow inflammation.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Set for another rehab outing
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Clevinger (elbow) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
The White Sox had considered bringing Clevinger back before he was fully built up, though they'll opt to give him a second start on his most recent rehab assignment. He'll remain on the injured list through the All-Star break at least, and the team has not committed to immediately activating him when games start back up.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Could be built back up in majors
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Clevinger (elbow) could return from the 15-day injured list for his next outing, even though he's not fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Clevinger needed 61 pitches to cover 2.2 innings in his third rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, yielding two runs with a 5:1 K:BB in the process. Even though he doesn't appear ready for a full workload just yet, Clevinger could start for the White Sox as soon as Sunday, as long as he recovers well from Tuesday's outing. Clevinger has been out since late May with right elbow inflammation and more recently a stiff neck. He holds a 6.75 ERA in four starts with the big club this season.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Slated for rehab start Tuesday
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Clevinger (elbow/neck) will make a rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Clevinger was originally scheduled to make another rehab start with Charlotte on Saturday, but that contest was rained out. Despite allowing seven runs over his last two outings spanning 7.2 innings, the 33-year-old right-hander appears close to returning to Chicago's rotation. Clevinger landed on the injured list May 28 due to right elbow inflammation, and his rehab program was paused in late June due to neck stiffness. He started in four games for the White Sox before landing on the IL, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.94 WHIP across 16 innings.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Next step undetermined
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The White Sox are still deciding on Clevinger's (elbow/neck) next step after a rainout Saturday prevented him from making his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte, MLB.com reports. "This little break and the cortisone shot and now I don't have to worry about that anymore," Clevinger said Monday. "I'm hopeful this is going to be the last one of these things."
Clevinger had already made a pair of rehab starts for Charlotte on June 18 and 23, covering 7.2 innings between those outings while allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits and two walks. Despite the poor results, Clevinger had seemingly been encouraged by how he was coming along in his recovery from right elbow inflammation and a stiff neck, but his inability to make a third rehab start this weekend looks as though it'll push back his potential return from the 15-day injured list. Rather than having Clevinger make another rehab start, the White Sox could opt to have the right-hander throw a simulated game or live batting practice session in Chicago instead. If that's the case, Clevinger could still have an outside chance at rejoining the big-league rotation for this weekend's home series versus the Pirates.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Rehab paused due to stiff neck
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Clevinger's (elbow) next rehab start has been pushed back to next week due to neck stiffness, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Clevinger last pitched with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, when he allowed five runs and threw 71 pitches over 4.2 innings. The White Sox are hopeful that he will need just one more rehab start before rejoining their rotation, although that will be dependent on how he looks and feels. Clevinger is targeting 70-to-80 pitches in next week's rehab start.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Reaches fifth inning in rehab start
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Clevinger (elbow) covered 4.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte, striking out two while giving up five earned runs on seven hits and one walk.
Making his second rehab start with Charlotte, Clevinger spotted 48 of his 71 pitches for strikes and faced off against 22 hitters. While Clevinger was knocked around a bit by Gwinnett and allowed three extra-base hits, at least from a workload standpoint, he looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list. He could be activated later this week to rejoin the White Sox rotation during their three-game home series versus the Rockies.
