Danny Mendick (Clinton Cole)

White Sox invite 26 non-roster players to spring training

By / / Uncategorized, White Sox

In addition to the 40-man roster, the Chicago White Sox will bring 26 more players to participate in major league spring training once camp opens at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. The group is broken up by position with four catchers, four infielders, four outfielders, three left-handed pitchers and 11 right-handed pitchers. One player in particular seems extremely likely to make the White Sox’s opening day roster. There are some prospects getting their first taste of big league spring training in the organization as well.

Likely Big League Additions for White Sox

  • Jesse Chavez (RHP)
  • Kevin Pillar (OF)

The White Sox recently inked a contract with veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar. The 35-year-old will earn $3 million in 2024 if he makes the big league roster. The 6-0, 200 pounder isn’t an every day player and especially not this late into his career. The veteran could be a valuable contributor in a specific role however. Pillar is a great defender and he could serve as depth in the outfield at all three spots. The Pale Hose recently acquired outfielders Dominic Fletcher and Zach DeLoach in trades from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners respectively. Both players hit from the left side and starting left fielder Andrew Benintendi does as well.

The 26-year-old Fletcher will likely earn the majority of the playing time in right field this season but he’s struggled against southpaws throughout his career. Pillar has posted a career 103 wRC+ against lefties and he’s likely to get plenty of run in a platoon role while serving as a fourth outfielder. The outfielder played in 81 games for the Atlanta Braves last year and hit nine homers while posting a 71 wRC+. He’s always been known as a positive influence in the clubhouse and makes sense as a bridge to some young outfielders in Chicago.

Jesse Chavez is 40-years-old and will likely be a member of the White Sox’s bullpen if he wants to be. The veteran righty threw 34.2 innings with the Braves last year and posted a 1.56 ERA out of the bullpen. He posted a 52% ground ball rate and struck out 39 hitters while walking twelve. He was a recent addition by the club and could serve as a veteran influence as well. It seems to be something that this front office has considered for 2024.

Down on the White Sox Farm

  • Ky Bush (LHP)
  • Jonathan Cannon (RHP)
  • Fraser Ellard (LHP)
  • Tim Elko (1B)
  • Adam Hackenberg (C)
  • Jordan Leasure (RHP)
  • Colson Montgomery (SS)
  • Nick Nastrini (RHP)
  • Edgar Navarro (RHP)
  • Nick Padilla (RHP)
  • Carlos Pérez (C)
  • Lane Ramsey (RHP)
  • Zach Remillard (SS)
  • Edgar Quero (C)

Shortstop Colson Montgomery is one of the best prospects in baseball after being selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 2021 draft. The 21-year-old isn’t likely to make the team but he could excite this spring. He’s clearly being prepared as the future on the southside despite some minor league seasoning to come. The 6-3, 205 pounder hits from the left side and while some evaluators believe that third base is his ultimate destination, he’ll stay at shortstop for the time being.

Montgomery missed the start of 2023 after dealing with injuries. Once he returned to action, he posted a 198 wRC+ in High-A playing for Winston-Salem. After moving to Double-A and finishing his season with Birmingham, the infielder posted a 129 wRC+. The Indiana native impressed during his time in the Arizona Fall League and he’s one of the 50 best prospects right now listed for every publication this pre-season. Another position player prospect that could be featured prominently for the White Sox is catcher Edgar Quero.

The 20-year-old switch-hitting backstop was acquired at last year’s trade deadline from the Los Angeles Angels in the Lucas Giolito trade. The Halos rushed Quero to Double-A last year after posting a 150 wRC+ in A ball in 2022. He was one of the youngest players in Double-A and the White Sox left him there after the trade as well. He posted a 106 wRC+ with the Barons and he’ll definitely remain behind the dish. Quero recently ranked as the 67th overall prospect in baseball by veteran prospect writer Keith Law at The Athletic. He’s posted high walk rates with a strikeout rate under 20%. He could eventually make his way to Triple-A Charlotte this season.

Ky Bush, Jonathan Cannon, Jordan Leasure and Nick Nastrini could all make their big league debuts at some point this season. All four hurlers will feature prominently on White Sox’s top prospect lists. Nastrini and Leasure were acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at last year’s deadline, Bush came to the organization from the Angels in the Lucas Giolito deal and Cannon was drafted by the franchise. Leasure is a 6-3, 215 pound right-hander who profiles as a reliever in a potential high leverage role. He struggled some in Charlotte after the trade but he was impressive during the Arizona Fall League and he could make it to Chicago out of spring training.

Nastrini recently ranked as a top 100 prospect according to Law as well and he could be a mid-rotation starter. The 23-year-old pumps fastballs in the high 90’s and he’s improved his command since being drafted out of UCLA in the fourth round by the Dodgers. The 6-3, 215 pounder needs to throw strikes more consistently but he shouldn’t be in Triple-A much longer. Bush was originally selected in the second round out of St. Mary’s in 2018. The southpaw’s stuff backed up some but he’s still deceptive from a high three-quarters slot. The 24-year-old is a polished lefty who displays a low 80’s plus slider.

Cannon represented the White Sox in the Futures Game last season and he was drafted in the third round out of Georgia in 2022. The 6-6, 215 pound hurler is a durable, innings-eater with a four-pitch mix. The 23-year-old throws lots of strikes and features a sinking fastball and plus cutter. Cannon was very solid in the low minors and moved throughout the system quickly. Struggles came in 48.1 innings in Double-A and he’ll likely return to the Barons in 2024. Tim Elko, Adam Hackenberg, Carlos Pérez and Zach Remillard will join this group as well on the hitting side while the pitchers will include Fraser Ellard, Edgar Navarro, Nick Padilla and Lane Ramsey.

Hackenberg was selected in the 18th round back in 2021 out of Clemson and moved quickly through the system. He struggled offensively in 35 games to close out the season in Charlotte last year. The 24-year-old posted a 115 wRC+ in Double-A however and he possess power, on base ability and defensive skills. He could see big league time in 2024 and likely splits the action for the Knights with Korey Lee. Pérez is now 27-years-old and he’ll likely be in the catching mix as well. The backstop was outrighted and remained in the organization after a rough season in 2023. He clubbed 21 homers for the Knights in 2022.

Remillard played in 54 games with the White Sox last season and he possesses a utility player ceiling. The 29-year-old plays all over the diamond but really struggled offensively in the big leagues. Elko is a hulking first baseman who has hit 33 minor league home runs in two seasons. Originally drafted in the 10th round as a senior money saver in 2022, the right-handed slugger dominated both levels of A ball for the White Sox. The 25-year-old struggled in his first Double-A action and he struck out 35% of the time. He likely returns to the Barons in 2024 but will participate in major league spring training for the first time.

Ellard could be a situational left-hander out of the bullpen and he received a look in last year’s Arizona Fall League. The southpaw struck out 27 hitters in 19 innings with the Barons last year but walks have been an issue. Navarro, Padilla and Ramsey all pitched in Chicago last year. Padilla has really struggled in Triple-A and with the big league club. Ramsey was recently DFA’d but returned to the White Sox after not being claimed on waivers by another club.

White Sox Non-Roster Additions

  • Justin Anderson (LHP)
  • Joe Barlow (RHP)
  • Jake Cousins (RHP)
  • Chad Kuhl (RHP)
  • Danny Mendick (INF)
  • Rafael Ortega (OF)
  • Mark Payton (OF)
  • Brett Phillips (OF)
  • Chuckie Robinson (C)
  • Jake Woodford (RHP)

The highlight of this mix for White Sox fans is Danny Mendick as he’s returned to the organization. The 30-year-old infielder posted a 125 wRC+ with the White Sox before colliding with outfielder Adam Haseley and missing the season with an ACL tear. The infielder played 35 games in the majors with the Mets last year but struggled at the dish. He looked to be his normal Triple-A self in Syracuse but he has an uphill battle this spring with multiple younger options on the current 40-man roster. Jose Rodriguez, Lenyn Sosa and Braden Shewmake all occupy space on the 40-man currently and adding another infielder to that mix could be difficult without a tough decision being made.

Rafael Ortega, Brett Phillips and Mark Payton could all serve as outfield depth but their paths to the roster got much tougher after last weekend’s trades. Payton is a local star who really struggled in Japan last year while Ortega hasn’t been able to turn his 2021 run with the Cubs into much more. Phillips is a stellar defender with playoff experience but it might not be enough to make this roster. Zach DeLoach likely starts the year in Triple-A along with Cubans Oscar Colás and Yoelqui Céspedes so playing time with the Knights could be limited as well. Chuckie Robinson hit 13 homers with Cincinnati’s Triple-A affiliate last year but he was signed before big league catching depth was made a priority in Chicago.

Joe Barlow is a 28-year-old right-handed reliever and he might have the best chance of any of these names to make the big league roster this spring. He threw 9.2 innings with the Rangers last year and was decent out of the Texas bullpen in 2022. Chad Kuhl has posted a 4.98 ERA in seven big league seasons and could serve as depth in Charlotte this time around. Justin Anderson, Jake Cousins and Jake Woodford have all battled injuries over the past few years. Anderson is a southpaw and hasn’t pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2020. Cousins is a Park Ridge native with a slider heavy approach and Woodford has used a sinker and sweeper extensively with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

2 thoughts on “White Sox invite 26 non-roster players to spring training”

  1. Doug

    What ever happened to Jonathan Stiever? Too many injuries? Thought he could make a good reliever or backend starter. Think he is only 26 or 27.

    1. Ian Eskridge

      He’s throwing, but we’ll see if he can make the long journey back to a guy again. He’s had a rough go.

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