White Sox's Romy Gonzalez: Could lose out on roster spot
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Gonzalez could lose out on a roster spot to begin the season in favor of Leury Garcia, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Gonzalez has had an inconsistent spring, leaving his status for Opening Day in flux. On one hand, he's slugged four home runs and added a double across 40 Cactus League at-bats. However, Gonzalez has also struck out 15 times in 43 total plate appearances. While Gonzalez's defensive versatility has been praised by the club, Garcia is also capable of playing many positions, either in the infield or outfield.
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White Sox's Jake Burger: Pushing for roster spot
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Burger is in the running to earn a roster spot to begin the season, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Burger has made a strong case for a roster spot with both his bat and glove this spring. He's slugged four home runs and a double across 59 plate appearances during Cactus League action, though that's been offset by 18 strikeouts. Adding to Burger's appeal is that he added first base to his defensive repertoire, giving him some additional versatility as compared to the 2022 campaign.
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White Sox's Lance Lynn: Faces 21 batters in spring finale
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Lynn allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Reds.
Lynn took the mound for the first time since returning from the World Baseball Classic. He was hit around initially but closed the outing with three shutout innings while retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced. Lynn is expected to start Chicago's second game of the regular season Friday against the Astros, and he should be able to work fairly deep into the game after facing 21 batters in his spring training finale.
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White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Hopes to return Monday
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Vaughn (back) appeared in another minor-league game Saturday and hopes to return to the big-league lineup Monday against the Cubs, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Vaughn has been dealing with lower-back soreness for over a week, but he's trending in the right direction. He served as the designated hitter in Friday's minor-league contest and will play the field Saturday. If he does indeed play Monday and gets through the game without issues, he should be good to go for Opening Day.
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White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Returns to lineup
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Moncada went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Friday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.
Moncada was dealing with a bruised rib that he suffered during the World Baseball Classic while playing for Cuba. He showed no ill effects in his return from the issue, as he belted a two-run homer in his first plate appearance. Moncada will be looking to rebound from a poor 2022 campaign, during which he recorded a .212/.273/.353 line across 433 plate appearances.
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White Sox's Dylan Cease: Draws Opening Day start
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Cease will start Thursday's Opening Day contest versus the Astros.
Cease will be making the first Opening Day start of his career. When asked about the possibility of doing so last week he said, "it would definitely be special. It would be an honor". Speaking of special, Cease will look to repeat his success from 2022 after he produced a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 11.1 K/9 last season.
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White Sox's Lucas Giolito: Velo steady, still getting Ks
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Giolito was sitting between 91 and 94 mph with his fastball during his Cactus League start Tuesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
For much of Giolito's career, he's averaged around 94 mph with his fastball. That number dipped to 92.7 during a subpar 2022 campaign, so it's slightly concerning that he's struggled to ramp his velocity back up. On the other hand, he's racked up 15 strikeouts across only 9.1 frames while maintaining a respectable 3.86 ERA in Cactus League games this spring. Overall, Goilito will be hoping to bounce back from last season's 4.90 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, which he posted across 161.2 frames.
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White Sox's Michael Kopech: Pitched through illness Thursday
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Kopech said he was pitching through a respiratory issue during his Cactus League start Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The ailment was evident as he sounded hoarse during his post-outing chat with the media, per Van Schouwen. Kopech got knocked around for five earned runs on seven hits and four walks over just three innings of work against the Giants. He said he struggled to find his timing, probably because he wasn't feeling 100 percent. The 26-year-old remains locked into a spot in Chicago's season-opening starting rotation.
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White Sox's Davis Martin: Sent to minors
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The White Sox optioned Martin to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The right-hander has struggled with a 5.25 ERA in 12 innings of Grapefruit League action. That said, Martin did post a respectable, albeit unimpressive 4.83 ERA and provided rotation depth last season, so he's a likely bet to rejoin the White Sox at some point in 2023.
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White Sox's Yoan Moncada: Expected to return Friday
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Moncada (rib) is expected to return to Cactus League action Friday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Moncada suffered a bruised rib in Team Cuba's loss to Team USA in the World Baseball Classic last Sunday, but he's feeling better now after some rest and treatment. The 27-year-old should be at third base for the White Sox on Opening Day as he looks to bounce back from a highly disappointing 2022 campaign.
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White Sox's Andrew Vaughn: Playing in minor-league game
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Vaughn (back) will play in a minor-league game Friday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Vaughn will be able to take as many at-bats as he needs in a controlled setting. Assuming it goes well, the first baseman could be able to play in a Cactus League during the final stretch of spring training. Vaughn has been dealing with lower-back soreness for the last week but should be ready for Opening Day as long as he can avoid setbacks.
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White Sox's Luis Robert: Feeling prepared for season
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Robert believes the intensity of the World Baseball Classic has helped him get more prepared for the regular season, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Robert played for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic and went 7-for-27 with a double, two runs scored and four RBI. He returned to camp Tuesday and relayed to reporters that he feels playing in meaningful games this spring will help him get off to a better start with the White Sox in the regular season. Robert is expected to return to the team's lineup Thursday for a Cactus League matchup against the Giants.
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White Sox's Mike Clevinger: Battles sinus infection Wednesday
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Clevinger said he was dealing with a sinus infection during his Cactus League start Wednesday against the Rangers, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
There was a concerning dip in his velocity readings, and Clevinger blamed it on the illness, saying he struggled to find an "extra gear" with his fastball. Still, the 32-year-old right-hander managed to induce a bevy of groundouts as he turned in five innings of one-run ball versus Texas. He should be in the clear to open the 2023 regular season as a starter for the White Sox.
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White Sox's Aaron Bummer: Scheduled to pitch Friday
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Bummer (lat) is scheduled to appear in Friday's Cactus League game against the Athletics, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Bummer will be making his Cactus League debut against Oakland after missing the start of spring training with soreness in his right lat. The right-hander isn't a lock to make the Opening Day roster because of how much time he'll have missed, but his stint on the injured list would likely be short if he isn't available for the start of the season. Bummer could be in line for save chances for the White Sox at some point in 2023 with no defined closer for Chicago to begin the campaign.
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White Sox's Eloy Jimenez: Back in action in Cactus League
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Jimenez (calf) will serve as the White Sox's designated hitter and cleanup batter in Wednesday's split-squad Cactus League game against the Royals, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Jimenez exited early in Monday's game against the Diamondbacks due to what the White Sox labeled as right calf camping, and fortunately for the 26-year-old, the issue wasn't anything more severe than that. After getting Tuesday off to rest and rehydrate, Jimenez is good to go one day later. In an effort to keep Jimenez healthy following consecutive injury-riddled campaigns, the White Sox could have him see an even larger share of his work out of the DH spot rather than the corner outfield in 2023. Jimenez made 50 starts as a DH and 30 as a left fielder last season.
White Sox's Leury Garcia: Will return to action Wednesday
Rotowire
Garcia (hand) will return to the White Sox's Cactus League lineup Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Garcia has been battling a left hand issue but is apparently past it. The 32-year-old is set for a utility role again in 2023 and will be looking to bounce back from a dreadful 2022 campaign which saw him post just a .500 OPS over 97 contests.
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White Sox's Eloy Jimenez: Expected back Wednesday
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Jimenez (calf) is expected to return to the White Sox's Cactus League lineup Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Jimenez set off alarm bells when he exited Monday's game with a right calf injury, but it's merely cramps and he's fine now. The slugger is sitting out Tuesday in what was already a scheduled off day, but he'll be back in there in one of the team's split-squad lineups Wednesday.
