The White Sox announced the addition of 16 players to their 60-man player pool Tuesday. They’ll all head to the team’s alternate camp site in Schaumberg, Ill. Today’s additions include (* = non-roster invitee):
Right-Handed Pitchers
Left-Handed Pitchers
Catchers
Outfielders
As Opening Day draws nearer, the White Sox will option additional players to their alternate camp site. There are currently 43 players in big league Summer Camp with the South Siders, and they’ll need to trim that number to 30 by the time the opener rolls around.
Today’s list of additions contains several notable names, including 2020 first-round pick Garrett Crochet, whom the Sox selected 13th overall out of the University of Tennessee. Farm director Chris Getz isn’t ruling out the possibility of Crochet making his MLB debut sometime this year, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score tweets.
Getz also spoke about another recent White Sox first-round pick in Zack Burdi, whom they took 26th in 2016, saying (via Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times): ’We hope to build off how he finished major league camp. It’s the best we’ve seen him in a while. His last couple outings were very encouraging. It’s a special arm.”
Significant injuries have prevented the hard-throwing Burdi from realizing his potential or even reaching the bigs since the White Sox drafted him. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, barely pitched the following year as a result, and then succumbed to a ligament tear in his patella last season. Burdi’s still a well-regarded relief prospect, though, and may have a chance to factor into Chicago’s bullpen this season.
I can.see.Crochet being the best pitcher in the draft when it’s all said and done.. visions of Sale
@californiaangels
If Crochet is even close to expectations, we Sox fans will be happy.
Do you still think Michael Kopech isn’t just another head case?
@Dogbone
Wow. Not really sure where that came from. I skimmed the article and I don’t see his name listed anywhere in it. I skimmed all the posts for this article and I don’t see his name listed anywhere–well, expect for your post I am replying to.
Some intriguing choices, was surprised Seby and Burdi weren’t in the initial group. Btw, i think crochet was the 11th pick not the 13th.
@Big Hurt
Yes, he was the #11 pick overall.
Luis Gonzalez unretiring?
@mgomrjsurf
Different Luis Gonzalez, but I’m sure you already knew that lol.
Though, ironically, the link above is to the wrong Luis Gonzalez.
Chris Getz is doing a fantastic job.
Oh yeah, let me know the next time the organization wins 80 games.
By the way, when was the last time.
@Dogbone
If it makes you feel better, the Sox won’t win 80 games this year either.
I’m excited about the White Sox young core, but if they have to rely on anyone from this taxi squad, the 2020 season is probably not going well for them.
@Oddvark
Exactly. Well said.
The notable players who missed the cut to the 60-man roster (mainly the Top 30 Sox prospects from MLB.com):
#7 Matthew Thompson (Age 19)
#11 Gavin Sheets (Age 24)
#12 Andrew Dalquist (Age 19)
#15 Jake Burger (playing in a college league in St. Louis) (Age 24)
#21 James Beard (Age 19)
#22 Yolbert Sanchez (Age 22)
#23 Benyamin Bailey (Age 19)
#24 Konnor Pilkington (Age 22)
#30 Lenyn Sosa (Age 20)
2nd round pick Jared Kelley (Age 18)
Daniel Palka (Age 28)
There are others like 2nd rounders Spencer Adams and Alec Hansen, but they’re busts at this point, so no surprise they weren’t added.
How far has Palka fallen that he can’t even make it to the 60-man roster. Not exactly a surprise though.
Out of the 10 prospects listed above, 6 were born in ’00 or ’01. Still plenty of time for their development. No huge surprise either.
Sheets was a little bit of a surprise. The Sox are pretty set at 1B with their depth, so P depth was probably more important.
The one that surprised me the most because of his MLB ready defense was Sanchez. Obviously his offense is the culprit here. I thought they would want to develop him more this year. Then again, maybe they’re waiting to put him in a rookie fall league. They don’t have much in depth at SS in case TA goes down (Leury, Mendick, Cuthbert, and Romine–not exactly a strong group). But as Oddvark said above, if they’re dipping into this group of 16 guys, the season isn’t going well for them.
Trades are going to start happening. Polka and Sheets writing was on the wall when Abreu and EE were signed.
There value has increased with the DH in NL. Probably candidates for AAAA teams (Orioles, Marlins, Pirates)
@keysox
I’m not sure if guys not on the 60-man roster can get traded this year. But I could very well be wrong.
Whenever they are allowed get traded, I think Sheets could get thrown into a trade (not the centerpiece of a trade, unless it’s a minor deal). Palka more likely would get released and hook on to a AAAA team, like you said.
83sox, put the cool aid down. These guys you list, are a bunch of bums. You couldn’t get a broken bat for Palka or Carson Fulmer.
@Dogbone
Right, that’s why I said Palka would more likely get released and hook on to a AAAA team. Maybe you missed that part when you skimmed my post.
I don’t recall Fulmer being on my list above.
As for the other “bums” I listed, 5 of them are 18 or 19 y.o. A little premature to call them “bums”, don’t you think.
I only count 59 players. Potentially one can still be added right?
@Jim Tom
Correct
@Dogbone sure is worried about the White Sox and their fans. I think he/she has pretty enough to be worried about what’s happening on the North side.
@kroeg49
I know. Dogbone has a serious obsession for the Sox. It makes me wonder if he was a Sox fan at some point and something set him off. I thought maybe it was that Jerry Reinsdorf was a key figure in ending the ’94 season, but there’s no way Dogbone was even alive back then. All I know is Dogbone hates the Sox with every fiber of his being.