The White Sox announced the additions of fourteen players on minor league contracts with MLB spring training invitations this week. Among the signees not previously-reported are infielder Matt Reynolds; right-handers Ryan Burr, Tayron Guerrero, Alex McRae, Connor Sadzeck and Mike Wright; and left-handers Jacob Lindgren and Kodi Medeiros.
Reynolds and McRae have the most recent MLB experience of this contingent, having played in the big leagues last season. Reynolds appeared in three games for the Royals. Also a former Met and National, the right-handed hitter has compiled a .212/.282/.323 slash line across 251 plate appearances in parts of four seasons. McRae tossed a pair of scoreless relief appearances for Chicago in 2020. The right-hander has a 7.50 ERA/5.64 SIERA in 36 MLB innings with the Pirates and White Sox over the last three years.
Burr, Guerrero and Sadzeck are all righty relievers who last pitched in the majors in 2019. Each brings a power arm and has flashed some bat-missing ability (Guerrero and Sadzeck especially), but all three have been plagued by control problems. Wright was a swing option early in his career with the Orioles and can serve as a potential rotation or long relief depth piece for the Sox. He spent last season with the NC Dinos of the Korea Baseball Organization, where he started 29 games and posted a 4.68 ERA with below-average strikeout (17.9%) and walk (9.1%) rates. Nevertheless, Wright managed to pitch 157.2 innings last season, perhaps giving him a leg up from a durability perspective on pitchers who spent last year in the United States, where a shorter season led to drastically curtailed innings totals.
Lindgren and Medeiros were both well-regarded prospects at one point whose careers have since been sidetracked. Lindgren has been through a series of injuries and hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2015, although he’s still only entering his age-28 season. Medeiros, once a top fifteen overall draft pick by the Brewers, has never consistently performed in the minors and has yet to play in the big leagues.
Didn’t know Lindgren was still in pro ball.
Well, the last stint he got in the MLB he had a 10.3 K/9. The catch is that that was 6 years ago and he was only up for 7 games.
Lindgren likely could have gone straight from college to the majors in 2014 and been very effective. Unfortunately, by the time he was called up the following year he was already dealing with a bone spur resulting in surgery and then the following year had the first of his two TJS’s. I lost track of him after the second TJS. Looking at his numbers in the minors in 2019, his K rate is almost half what it was at Mississippi and his first year in pro ball. Three arm surgeries will do that. Hopefully a year off and further away from the last TJS will help him regain some of what he lost. We never got to see peak Lindgren, and that would have been fun.
he’s been in the Sox system since 2019
Sox clicking on all cylinders now. Watching intently. Wow.
Really think Lindgren could be a great piece if he can stay healthy
How does Mike Wright keep getting chances?
Great agent
He’s great on his knees
Major league managers have looked at their rosters and decided to bring Mike Wright into a game 110 times. There is still hope for all of us.
He should legally change his name to Mike Wrong.
Why? Eight guys that should be looking for high school coaching jobs.
Sadzeck is effective when he limits the free passes and I can understand holding out hope for Guerrero and Medeiros. The rest are just filler.
@keysox
You’re really going there?
You realize every team does this every ST, right? You need filler for the split-squads. None of these scrubs will sniff the 26-man roster.
FYI: As part of the new MLB COVID-19 protocols, there will be no split-squad, ‘b’ games or contests versus local colleges this spring. Most teams will be playing 28 games in the final 30 days of spring training once the schedule begins on February 28th. The Florida Grapefruit League will be split into 3 geographical sectors with most games being played among those teams in each.
More intrasquad games will be allowed among a team’s own roster and perhaps some involving clubs that share the same complex like the White Sox and Dodgers do at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona although I’m less certain about the latter scenario. It appears teams will have the power to shorten more games this spring if they see fit.
Rosters for MLB teams in camp will be restricted to a maximum of 75 players that include members of the 40-man along with those signed to minor league contracts with an invite to spring training. Basically, it will be players on the 40-man MLB roster along with those most likely to play in AAA this season. The remainder of the minor league players are not allowed to report to spring training until the ‘MLB’ players leave camp to begin the season on April 1st.
Here’s a brief synopses of how spring camp will differ for players and fans in 2021: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-spring-training-2021-how-this-years-camp-will-be-different-for-players-teams-and-fans/
@Aaron Sapoznik
I briefly read about the condensed ST schedule, but didn’t realize split-squad games were nixed (though it makes sense they would be, now that I think about it). Thank you for the clarification, Aaron.
They will still need these scrubs for filler, especially the P’s, since the starters will only go a few innings each game in ST trying to stretch themselves for the start of the season.
I don’t want any of them. If I had to pick one, it would be Sadzeck.
You can’t go wrong on a minor league deal (even Tim Tebow).
Ohhhh…. Dumpster Haulin’ Hahn!!!
Besides the WSox BP looking good now as is, Tyler Johnson could very well earn a promotion at some point in ’21 if he keeps pitching well in the upper minors. The organization is doing well now to rely less on expensive middle reliever types from the outside. Hope that keeps going.
The White Sox bullpen looks to be lights-out in 2021 after being solid last season. Liam Hendriks replacing Alex Colome as closer is just one of the improvements with the Aussi’s ability to miss bats far more frequently. The White Sox will also have two power lefties available for late inning duty with ‘worm-burner’ Aaron Bummer and young Mr. 100+ fastball phenom Garrett Crochet. That trio could be reminiscent of Cincinnati’s ‘Nasty Boys’ threesome of Rob Dibble, Randy Myers and Norm Charlton who helped power the Reds to the 1990 World Series championship.
In addition to those late inning arms, the White Sox also have veteran Evan Marshall who has reinvented himself in Chicago with a nasty changeup and better command to pair with a solid sinking fastball. The ChiSox bullpen also returns two highly effective young righty in Codi Heuer and Matt Foster and a third southpaw in Jace Fry with his wicked curve. They also have a pair of power righties who provide depth in Jimmy Cordero and Jose Ruiz with additional young power arms at AAA in Zack Burdi and Tyler Johnson.
Finally, the White Sox figure to have either Carlos Rodon or Reynaldo Lopez available as long men depending on which of those two win the spring battle for the #5 rotation spot. My money would be on Rodon if only because Lopez has less health issues and looks to be the better bullpen fit. Michael Kopech will also be available at some point in 2021 once he knocks off the rust at AAA after not having pitched an official inning since September of 2018 due to TJ surgery and his 2020 opt-out. Kopech will be ramped up as a SP at Charlotte but could see action in the bullpen if all the other starters are effective.
The best news for the bullpen and rotion just might be the addition of new pitching coach Ethan Katz. The hiring of HOF skipper Tony La Russa also figures to help the White Sox with better bullpen management going forward.
* rotation. lol
Good post Aaron
Thanks pal. I also like the Pete Ward moniker!
If I had to roll with a ‘Go-Go’ nickname it might be highly underrated RHP Joe Horlen since I could be his doppelganger (or vice-versa).
Ray Herbert was my favorite Sox player until I went to my first game and Ward hit a homer off Denny McLain. After that game it was all Pete Ward. And the Peters Horlen John years were special. Can’t forget Juan Pizarro either. I was at Navy Pier, that is before it became Navy Pier of today, when Horlen threw his no-hitter in September of 1967 at the height of a four team pennant race.
For those unaware, Denny McLain, MLB’s last 30-game winner with the Tigers, was originally signed by the White Sox in June of 1962. He was born in the south Chicago suburb of Markham. He was a SP and played SS at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago before the White Sox signed him following his graduation.
At that time, players with one year of service in the minor leagues were subject to a draft if they were not called up to the major leagues. The White Sox left McLain in the minor leagues and he was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on April 8, 1963. The rest became noteworthy history, both good and bad.
Ironically, McLain made his MLB debut on September 21, 1963 versus the White Sox at Tiger Stadium at the age of 19. He won the game with a complete game 4-3 victory in which he allowed one earned run, picked off two runners and hit a HR to boot. That dinger was the first and last of his MLB career. At that time, he also became just the 6th teenage major league pitcher to hit a HR since 1920.
McLain could have been another great starting pitcher in that late White Sox ‘Go-Go’ era along with fellow right-hander Joe Horlen and southpaws Gary Peters, Tommy John and Juan Pizarro.
McLain would go on to win a World Series ring with the 1968 Tigers in his 31-win season. He won the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards in 1968 and followed that up with a second CYA in 1969 He was also the son-in-law of HOF SS Lou Boudreau. At 25, the world was McLain’s oyster before things began unraveling. While living the high life he had issues with teammates, coaches and even fans. He developed a gambling addiction, associated with organized crime and eventually had legal issues which landed him in prison for cocaine drug trafficking, embezzlement and racketeering. He also ballooned up to 330 lbs following his MLB career.
@Aaron Spaoznik
@PeteWard8
They were before my time, but I enjoy reading these “history lessons” about the game from your memories of being there.
As you can see from my name, early 80’s were when I really got into the Sox. Actually watching Disco Demolition night (as bad as it sounds) got me interested in the game as a little kid. But when they signed Fisk and (my favorite all-time player, so far) Luzinski, I’ve loved the team ever since, through the good and the bad.
Thank you both.
Gary Peters from Mercer Pa was one of the best hitting pitchers ever.
The Pirates were looking to get him or Horlen after the 1966 season.Donn Clendenon was in the mix to be traded,as the Pirates needed pitching,and the White Sox hitting.There was another player in the mix also,but the Pirates did not want to trade him,and no deal was made.
His name was Willie Stargell.
I just finished reading Stargell’s autobiography. Great book. He was a good man and had a good heart. Sox used to bat Peters 6th in the order at times. The man could hit. Pizarro could hit a home run also.
Simpler days for you and me.
Reading all this, it makes me wish the Sox still played in Old Comiskey. I absolutely loved Old Comsikey, even though they just let it go the last several years in existence. I see why they couldn’t just upgrade Old Comiskey, with the cost, plus all those obstructed-view seats where there wasn’t an easy fix for (obviously you couldn’t simply take out the beams supporting the upper deck). I don’t think much about Old Comiskey anymore (especially since it’s been 30 years at the “new” park), but I think all the reminiscing of the past triggers the good memories of the stadium.
Obviously I don’t have the memories of the 60’s, but from what my father and other family members have told me, as also from your posts and other posts on these sports message boards, I would’ve loved the 60’s, especially the early 60’s and the 50’s for that matter (in general, not just Sox related). The Go-Go Sox sounded like a fun team to watch, and all the talent in the 60’s, though maybe not widely recognized as stars, sounded like guys you could enjoy rooting for (much like Thomas, Konerko, Buehrle, among many other recent Sox players).
Thank you all for these posts. I can’t read enough about the past of the Sox, even if much of it was before my time.
Quite frankly 83,at least for me it serves as a reminder of past times long ago when one of the main things in my life was following the Pittsburgh Pirates and collecting baseball cards.
One thing was pointed out here about the average age of baseball fans now being 57 year old white men.I think the reason that it is still the national pastime in many of our minds is of the memories of youth and attending games with my father and also my sister.
Those memories can never be replaced.
Just as you appreciate us older fans,we appreciate you somewhat younger fans who appreciate our memories and the chance to share them.
Thank you.
@83sox94win05
I believe one of the biggest mistakes with the new stadium was having it face the wrong direction for most of the fans in the park. The field is aligned in such away where the most open part of the stadium, the outfield, is facing southeast so we get a view of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the high rise projects. They should have retained the configuration from the old Comiskey Park so the beautiful downtown Chicago skyline would appear although it was less apparent in the original venue with its tall outfield grandstands.
As I understand it, the reasoning to switch the alignment had to do with less ‘sun’ glare during day games and also the fact that winds in Chicago generally don’t prevail out of the southeast. That said, I believe an opportunity was missed here that would have made the ballpark experience a bit nicer.
It’s not as if the White Sox didn’t retain other features from the old Comiskey Park like the arched windows at the front facade of the park and Bill Veeck’s “exploding scoreboard’. There were renovations made after building the new park which were nice, some a necessity like lowering the upper deck which was perilous for many fans with its steep walk-ups, those suffering from acrophobia and anyone susceptible to nosebleeds. lol
I remember lucking out in getting tickets for the 1993 ALCS versus Toronto and damning myself for not bringing binoculars so I could watch the game better from the uppermost section of those grandstand seats with all the Peregrine Falcons and pigeons who were there chirping for the Blue Jays. lmao
@Mendoza Line 215
The Pirates were one of my favorite teams after the Sox. They were (I suppose still are) my favorite N.L. team (Astros were 2nd at the time with Ryan, J.R. Richard, Cedeno, Jose Cruz, and the rainbow uniforms). The “We Are Family” Pirates were the first WS Champs I remember, with Stargell, Parker, Candy Man, Rubber Band Man, Blyleven, and their cool uniforms and hats (uniforms to a then little kid do make a difference lol). I wish I got to see Clemente play.
I won’t even get started on baseball cards lol. Oh the memories.
And you are absolutely right, memories of attending games with your family can never be replaced.
@Aaron Sapoznik
I made the mistake of going to my first game at “New Comiskey” in the upper deck I think in ’91 or ’92. I didn’t have problems with heights until that game. It wasn’t even so much how high up I was, but the slant of the upper deck. The players looked like ants and I think my knees shook a few times when I stood up while looking down at the field. I vowed never to sit in the upper deck again. Of course, getting playoff tickets in the upper deck could motivate me to look past those particular problems.
I don’t know if tearing out the top 10 rows and putting the “shelter” (for lack of a better word) above the upper deck helped or made no difference whatsoever, but I still cringe when I think of that game. I remember sitting near the top row in the upper deck at Old Comiskey (3rd base side), and they were great seats (outside of not seeing anything in foul territory on the 3rd base side).
Sitting in the lower deck is very nice at GR Field, I will definitely give it that. Yes, pointing it to the Chicago Skyline would’ve been nice, especially seeing most of the other Central teams did it with their new stadiums after that.
Once the pandemic finally ends, maybe I’ll resume going to games, if I can stomach the prices. It’s been close to 10 years since I’ve been to a game, for many reasons.
I was fortunate to see Roberto play a number of times.He was actually fast and a good base runner.When he ran his hands would be flailing along side him!
I met Henry Aaron once about twenty years ago ,and in speaking for just a minute toward the end I mentioned that I grew up in Pittsburgh and we had a pretty good rightfielder too.
He just smiled and said “yes you did”!
The upper deck in Three Rivers Stadium was similarly treacherous.They must have banned alcohol there because any fan who was drunk would quite likely have fallen to his death.
The railings were very short and the steps were very steep and the players looked like ants.
But you were still at the park watching your favorite team.
Spot on!
Well well well apparently cubs aren’t the only chicago team doing some diving
Aaron Sapoznik is a walking White Sox footnote, and I am 100% here for that.