After multiple pitchers at various levels of the White Sox organization lost their 2019 seasons to Tommy John surgery, all reports of healthy hurlers in Glendale are welcome right now, and they continue to pour in. After the start of Spring Training saw positive reports about the recovery and process of potential rotation mainstays Michael Kopech and Carlos Rodon, there was more good news shared about the recovery of one of the Sox top farmhands in Dane Dunning.
Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported this week that Dunning, No. 5 on FutureSox 2020 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List, is finally healthy for the first time in nearly 20 months, and has had no issues pitching his bullpen sessions so far this Spring Training. As such, he is set to throw live batting practice next Friday, which will be his first time facing hitters since being shut down while AA in June of 2018.
Dunning’s return from injury is a major development for a White Sox team that figures to have no shortage of rotation options in 2020. Prior to having his 2018 season shutdown due to the forearm soreness that eventually resulted in Tommy John in 2019, Dunning was a consensus Top 100 prospect in baseball, and was delivering on that reputation with a dominant season in the minors. Through 15 starts for A+ Winston-Salem and AA Birmingham, he posted a combined 2.71 ERA, and an even better 2.40 FIP in his 11 starts for the Barons.
While Dunning may not have the high-end ceiling of other pitchers in the organization like Kopech or Dylan Cease, he may have a higher floor than either of them given his repertoire and skillset. While not necessarily having the same combination of an electric-but-erratic fastball and elite breaking ball, Dunning throws four pitches that MLB pipeline grades as plus or better, and distinguishes himself with the plus control that Cease and Kopech lack. His well-rounded repertoire and overall command of his pitches had Dunning figured as a lock for the rotation on the South Side.
Given that it has been almost two full years since he last pitched in a competitive setting, it’s likely that Dunning’s live batting practice session next week will be the first of many appearances in Glendale for him this spring, as it is likely the Sox will send him to extended spring training after Opening Day. That would allow Dunning ample time to recover while ramping up his workload before being officially assigned to a minor league affiliate. At that time, the best bet is on Dunning being sent back to Birmingham.
While the Sox are likely to slow-play his 2020 season and enforce an innings limit on the 25-year old, it would not be too surprising to see Dunning in the majors soon – if his performance in his official return to action is commensurate to 2018 numbers. Dunning was added to the White Sox’ 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule-5 Draft, meaning any assignment to the minors would require exercising a minor league option. Overall, it would be a major upset if Dunning’s 2020 campaign ended anywhere other than Charlotte or Chicago.
While his Spring Training work is just the first step in what is still going to be a long journey back to action for the Florida Gators product, having him back in action and progressing toward becoming a rotation mainstay for the White Sox, Dunning’s return is yet another positive development for the organization this offseason.
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this sounds like great news for the kid and sox fans