Outside of the inconvenient question about who actually knew about Tony La Russa's criminal case before the White Sox hired him as a manager, the first day of spring training featured a welcome string of mostly encouraging news regarding current White Sox players, including one we haven't seen in a while.
Rick Hahn talked to reporters for about 50 minutes before players worked out with his usual brand of genial, heavily redacted candor. La Russa showed up to his post-practice Zoom call 90 minutes late, which isn't the greatest way to get people to stop questioning this whole arrangement.
Hahn fielded a wide range of questions about his roster, which looks likely to be his roster through the remainder of the preseason. Hahn said he has an "uptown problem" of finding it harder to recruit non-roster invitees because it's harder to see avenues to real playing time, especially out of spring training. That looked to be the case when I compiled this year's non-roster invitee rundown. The question is whether the White Sox were trying to get any decent downmarket veterans on non-roster invitations, instead of paying a Brad Miller $3.5 million or so.
Hahn said "the goal is to win a World Series championship" and that anything less would be a disappointment, which isn't newsworthy, but it's at least a more relevant to the proceedings than when he'd drop the same line about rosters that carried Adrian Nieto. The best part of the first-day-of-spring-training address is the overview of initial plans for positions, as well as individual expectations therein. The most noteworthy of the bunch was the guy you've already seen.
Michael Kopech: He threw in the first group, and apparently impressed Tony La Russa more than anybody among the first looks.
As for the plan out of the gate, Hahn said he wanted to sit down with Kopech before making any maps public -- COVID-19 intake protocols have prevented such meetings thus far -- but he likened Kopech's situation to that of the Dodgers' Julio Urias, who was reintroduced to the team after his injury through the bullpen before moving into the rotation, as a way of managing his workload while allowing him to contribute.
Of course, the Dodgers had the luxury of a gradual reintroduction because of their insane rotation depth. For this team in this year, the bullpen might be the most sensible place to introduce Kopech to live competition if Triple-A isn't up and running, or the alternate training site won't meet his needs.
Garrett Crochet: The plan is for him to start out of the bullpen in the majors as previously stated. Hahn was open to multi-inning work, but given how little he's pitched over the last year-plus, they'll be going by feel.
Andrew Vaughn: Hahn said the first baseman is "very much in the mix to make this club," downplaying concerns about the lack of experience above A-ball, at least of the traditional variety. He likened the White Sox's situation to the Atlanta Braves in the 1990s, who made a habit of integrating rookie players at key positions. It's yet more company that flatters the White Sox prematurely, but still.
Jonathan Lucroy: It doesn't sound like there is any pressing language in his minor-league contract that gives him an inside edge to open camp. Hahn said, "He's here to compete. Nothing's been promised to anybody in terms of that role, and Jonathan's here with Seby [Zavala], Zack [Collins] and Yermín [Mercedes] to compete for that spot, and we'll see what the next six weeks hold."
Injuries, absences, delays
Jace Fry: After battling back issues during the season, Fry ended up undergoing a microdisectomy in January, which Hahn said was a procedure he also had in 2012. The surgery will set him back, and he probably won't be ready before May. I had Jimmy Cordero penciled in for that last spot, but who knows -- maybe it'll be Kopech.
Aaron Bummer: He's healthy and ready, but not yet in spring training because his daughter was born on Tuesday.
Emilio Vargas and Marco Hernández: The non-roster invitees are not yet in camp due to visa issues, with no arrival dates just yet.
Nick Madrigal: Hahn said Madrigal is in his last week of rehab, which trainers said includes controlled diving to get him psychologically ready to use his shoulder to full capacity in the field. He should be ready for Cactus League play "come early March," on schedule to make the Opening Day roster without restrictions.
(Photo by Nick Panico)
