Dark Horse Candidate To Make White Sox Opening Day Roster

Earlier this week, MLB.com released its short list of dark horse candidates to make each team's Opening Day roster. Scott Merkin identified right-handed pitcher Edgar Navarro. Navarro is a minor leaguer that has flown under the radar in recent years. He isn't listed among the team's top 30 prospects. However, he has put himself in a position to steal a spot in the White Sox bullpen after receiving rave reviews for his 2022 minor league season.

Opponents hit just .188 against the right-hander in 54 1/3 innings of work. During that stretch, he posted a 3.64 ERA and struck out 69 hitters (11.9 K/9). Navarro split time with High-A Winston Salem, Double-A Birmingham, and Triple-A Charlotte last season, with the bulk of that time pitching for the Barons.

He needed just seven games and a 1.13 ERA to earn the promotion to Birmingham. He threw 35 games in a Barrons uniform and logged three saves and a 3.53 ERA. The 25-year-old had a 7.5 walk rate and 1.500 WHIP but managed to overcome it because of his elite sinker that limited opponents to a .185 batting average. The front office gave him a taste of Triple-A ball in September, but he struggled in his only three innings pitched, allowing four runs.

Navarro has spent his entire professional career in the White Sox organization. He was signed to a minor-league contract in 2018 as a free agent out of Venezuela. Since arriving in camp, he has turned some heads. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol described him as having "power stuff." In his lone inning of work thus far in Cactus League action, he threw a perfect inning against the Angels with a strikeout.

Navarro's path to a roster spot won't be easy. The White Sox have brought a handful of relief arms to restock the bullpen.

Rick Hahn has already selected San Francisco Giants pitcher Nick Avila with a Rule 5 Draft pick, acquired right-handed reliever Gregory Santos and Keyan Middleton, traded for former Red Sox minor league pitcher of the year Franklin German, claimed right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and signed longtime Guardians reliever Bryan Shaw.

Navarro will have to out-pitch all of them in this competition. There are seven slots available in the White Sox bullpen. At the moment, only five of them appear to be locked down. Those four slots belong to Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, Aaron Bummer, Jake Diekman, and Reynaldo Lopez. Garrett Crochet will occupy a spot once he returns in May, and Liam Hendriks will recapture his role should he be well enough to return at some point.

Jose Ruiz has not done anything during his White Sox tenure to earn a guaranteed roster spot. However, Ruiz, Tanner Banks, Davis Martin, and Jimmy Lambert seem to have an advantage due to their previous time spent on the major league roster.

All these relief arms should give the White Sox plenty of intriguing options heading into the season. Don't be surprised if Navarro throws his name in the mix.