The Chicago White Sox have tough decisions forward as they construct their opening-day roster. That’s the way in which supervisor Pedro Grifol prefers.
“It’s not going to be an easy decision, which is a good thing for us as an organization,” Grifol mentioned Wednesday. “Easy choices are usually not good for any group.
“Hard decisions mean you’ve got depth and you signed the right guys in the offseason. That’s where we’re at.”
The Sox open the common season towards the 2022 champion Houston Astros on March 30 at Minute Maid Park.
Here’s a Tribune projection of the staff’s opening-day roster.
Starting pitchers (5)
- RHP Dylan Cease
- RHP Mike Clevinger
- RHP Lucas Giolito
- RHP Lance Lynn
- RHP Michael Kopech
The rotation is ready. Now it’s all about establishing an order. Grifol mentioned he seemingly will wait till after the World Baseball Classic to call an opening-day starter.
“Make sure that everybody’s healthy, everybody gets back healthy,” he mentioned final week.
A depth choice consists of Davis Martin, who made 9 begins and appeared in 14 video games for the Sox final season.
Relievers (8)
- RHP Nick Avila
- LHP Aaron Bummer
- LHP Jake Diekman
- RHP Kendall Graveman
- RHP Joe Kelly
- RHP Jimmy Lambert
- RHP Reynaldo López
- RHP José Ruiz
Garrett Crochet continues to progress on the highway again from Tommy John surgical procedure. And the Sox anticipate offering an replace on Liam Hendriks’ standing close to opening day. The nearer introduced in early January that he was identified with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The bullpen is crammed with acquainted faces.
Avila, Keynan Middleton, Franklin German, Gregory Santos and Bryan Shaw are amongst these new to Sox camp who need to make an influence.
“Talking to (pitching coach) Ethan (Katz) and (bullpen coach) Curt (Hasler), we’re happy with the amount of arms that can pitch at this level in the bullpen,” Grifol mentioned. “We really feel that we have now depth. It’s a great drawback to have. Is it going to be laborious choices? For positive, actually laborious. You’ve obtained to maintain depth and on the similar time put a bullpen collectively you’re feeling can win video games within the main leagues. Just good issues to have.
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Catchers (2)
- Yasmani Grandal
- Seby Zavala
Grandal’s offseason work has led to a productive spring. He entered Thursday with a .348 common, one homer and 5 RBIs. Zavala’s hitting .313 this spring.
“Catchers have been doing a great job,” Grifol mentioned Tuesday. “I’ve been very happy with our catching situation, our depth in that position.”
Infielders (6)
- 2B Elvis Andrus
- SS Tim Anderson
- UT Leury García
- 3B Yoán Moncada
- 1B/RF Gavin Sheets
- 1B Andrew Vaughn
Andrus has regarded sharp making the change from shortstop to second base. Anderson and Moncada have been developing large within the World Baseball Classic. Vaughn is shifting to his pure place of first base after spending most of his first two big-league seasons within the outfield.
Sheets offers left-handed pop and might play first and proper subject.
Hanser Alberto and Jake Burger are among the many gamers making a robust impression this spring.
Alberto is hitting .484 with three doubles via his first 9 video games. He’s performed second, shortstop and third base. Burger has 4 homers and 6 RBIs, spending time at first and third base. Romy Gonzalez has additionally showcased his versatility, taking part in second, brief and all three outfield spots.
Outfielders (5)
- LF Andrew Benintendi
- RF Oscar Colás
- OF Billy Hamilton
- RF/DH Eloy Jiménez
- CF Luis Robert Jr.
Colás is doing all he can to earn a roster spot, hitting .364 with two homers and three RBIs coming into Thursday. He’s vying for the opening in proper subject.
Benintendi is in left, Robert heart and Jiménez in all probability aiding the Sox largely at DH.
Sheets may also play the correct subject. Hamilton brings pace and a strong late-inning defensive substitute. Options in camp additionally embrace Jake Marisnick and Victor Reyes.
Speaking usually of the depth this spring, Grifol mentioned “All those guys bring something to the table that’s really good.”
He added the Sox are on the lookout for one of the best mixture.
“Those guys, they’re not here on scholarship, those guys are elite at something,” Grifol mentioned. “Alberto is elite towards left-handed pitching. Hamilton is elite defensive substitute and pace and base operating. They all convey one thing to the desk. For us, it’s going to come back right down to one of the best mixture. How we really feel we may give days off and nonetheless be in a great place to win a baseball recreation or late in a recreation we really feel we are able to run, we really feel like we are able to defend.
“When you take a starter out and you give him a day off, you’re taking a lot out of the lineup. Luis gets a day off, you’re taking a lot out of the lineup. Moncada, TA. We need a combination of four players we feel like, ‘OK if we give a day off to a certain starter, we feel we have this type of player’s that elite at this that we puts us in a position to win a baseball game.’”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
