Chicago White Sox baseball is just around the corner as the team opens its Spring Training schedule on Friday against the Cubs. For that contest in Mesa, Arizona, the Sox will send Jesse Chavez, Nick Padilla, Joe Barlow, Fraser Ellard, and Alex Speas to the mound.
Chavez, a journeyman right-hander, is in White Sox camp as a non-roster invitee on a minor-league deal. The 40-year-old owns a career 4.30 ERA and 1.330 WHIP in 1,070.2 innings. Despite his advanced age, Chavez was effective for the Atlanta Braves last season when he logged a 1.56 ERA and 1.096 WHIP in 34.2 innings.
Padilla, also on a non-roster invite, has just 6.1 innings of MLB experience under his belt with 4.2 of them coming in three appearances for the White Sox last season. The 27-year-old righty notched a 5.52 ERA and 1.93 WHIP in 45.2 innings for Triple-A Charlotte last season.
Barlow, 28, is an intriguing non-roster invitee. Across parts of three seasons with the Texas Rangers, he logged 24 saves, a 3.05 ERA, and a 1.072 WHIP in 73.2 innings across 79 games. Barlow struggled last season and was designated for assignment by the Rangers before posting a 7.36 ERA in 18.1 innings for the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A affiliate.
Ellard, the lone lefty of Friday's group, had a shortened 2023 season. In 19.1 innings for Double-A Birmingham, the southpaw struggled with a 7.45 ERA and 1.76 WHIP.
Speas is the only rostered player among Friday's White Sox pitchers. The right-hander split time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023 and posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 56.2 minor-league innings. However, he got roughed up in three appearances for the Texas Rangers and was designated for assignment in October, allowing the White Sox to claim him off waivers.
Friday marks the first of 32 Cactus League games for the White Sox as they prepare for the 2024 season. First pitch is at 2:05 PM CT and the game will air on NBC Sports Chicago. New TV play-by-play announcer John Schriffen will call his first White Sox broadcast alongside the familiar Steve Stone.
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