3 Positive Developments From Chicago White Sox Spring Training
CHICAGO – The White Sox are gearing up for Opening Day after going 11-19 in Cactus League spring training action in Arizona. They host the Los Angeles Angels Thursday at 3:10 p.m. CT at Rate Field in Chicago.
The White Sox wrapped up spring training Monday with an 8-5 win over the Oakland Athletics, and now it's time for the games that really count. Under new manager Will Venable, Chicago is going through a rebuild after a 41-121 record during the 2024 season, the most losses in MLB's modern era.
Spring training results aren't always a sign of things to come in the regular season, and sometimes it's the opposite. But there were a few positive developments that the organization will hope to build upon.
1. Luis Robert raked
If spring training numbers are any indication, a bounce-back season for Luis Robert could be in store. Across 50 at-bats, Robert had a .300 batting average, a .966 OPS, four home runs and eight RBI. His 26.7% strikeout percentage this spring would also be his lowest since the 2022 season.
The center fielder enters the 2025 season as Chicago's best major league bat. Though he had a .657 OPS in 2024 and only played 100 games due to injury, the 27-year-old slugger is just one season removed from an All-Star campaign. During the 2023 season, Robert hit 38 home runs, stole 20 bases and posted an .857 OPS. The White Sox hope he can return to that form for a few reasons. It would obviously help team success in 2025 if the White Sox decide to keep him. However, Robert was involved in trade talks last season, though the White Sox never came to an agreement, perhaps because of Robert's regression. A strong start to the 2025 season would help his trade value as the White Sox continue to rebuild.
2. Catching depth
When the White Sox traded ace Garrett Crochet last season, they acquired catching prospect Kyle Teel from the Red Sox. Teel, a 23-year-old left-handed bat, is Chicago's No. 2 prospect and the No. 32 prospect in MLB. In 19 spring training at-bats, he had a .316 batting average and a 1.119 OPS, along with two home runs, six RBI, four walks and four strikeouts. Across 112 games at Triple-A and Double-A last season, Teel posted an .819 OPS.
However, the White Sox aren't going to rush Teel to the big leagues. Venable said during spring training that Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss will begin the season on the major league roster, and both performed well this spring. Lee hit .375 with a .925 OPS in 32 at-bats, and Thaiss had a .324 batting average and an .861 OPS in 37 at-bats. That made for a positive spring for White Sox catchers of the present and future.
3. Top pitching prospects make spring training debuts
As the White Sox build toward the future, pitching prospects Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor are three reasons for optimism. Schultz is ranked No. 1 among White Sox prospects, No. 5 among all pitching prospects and No. 16 overall. Smith is close behind at No. 3 in the organization, No. 7 among pitchers and No. 34 overall, per MLB.com. Taylor is the No. 7 prospect in the White Sox system.
Lefties Schultz and Smith threw back-to-back scoreless innings in their spring training debuts. Schultz got through the fifth inning with eight pitches and six strikes, and Smith followed with three strikeouts in the sixth. In three appearances and one start this spring, the 6-foot-10 Schultz threw 4.2 innings and allowed two hits and two earned runs while walking eight batters and striking out four. The 6-foot-3 Smith allowed four hits and five earned runs while walking eight batters and striking out five across 5.1 innings during spring training. Taylor, a 6-foot-3 righty, also made his spring training debut in February. He finished the spring tossing four scoreless innings across three appearances with nine strikeouts and just one walk. The trio will start the 2025 season at Double-A.
For in-person coverage all season long, follow our websiteWhite Sox On SIand beat reporter Jack Ankony on X @ankony_jack.
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Jack Ankony is the beat writer for “Chicago White Sox on SI.” He has been with the Sports Illustrated network since 2022. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism in 2022. Follow Jack on Twitter @ankony_jack