Chicago White Sox Lose Top Prospect to Arm Injury, More Information Coming
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The Chicago White Sox are awaiting word on the severity of the injury to bullpen candidate Prelander Berroa.
Berroa was acquired this offseason from the Seattle Mariners in the deal that sent Gregory Santos to Seattle. Ironically enough, Santos is also dealing with arm issues and is slated to open the season on the injured list.
Per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times on social media:
Prelander Berroa will be sidelined with arm/shoulder area issue. More info upcoming.
Berroa was not a lock to make the Sox 'pen out of spring training but given that there's so much uncertainty on the roster, he was going to be given a good opportunity to do so. Mariners' brass often compared him to Edwin Diaz, who began his career as a starter before transitioning to a dynamite reliever. They had hoped he could be the same thing.
Berroa enters the season as the No. 16 prospect in the Chicago organization. The following comes from a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:
Though he's far from physically imposing at 5-foot-11, Berroa can overmatch hitters with a pair of power pitches. He throws his upper-80s slider about 60 percent of the time, and it gets a lot of empty swings and chases while showing tight break at times and more depth at others. His four-seam fastball sits at 95-98 and touches 100 with armside run, though it can straighten out at times and get hittable.
Berroa struggled as a starter because he lacked feel for a changeup he since has scrapped and struggled to provide consistent strikes. He still battles the zone because he has an effortful delivery that he struggles to repeat. He should claim a role in Chicago's bullpen this year, and how much he can improve his control will determine if he'll eventually reach his ceiling as a closer.
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