Another White Sox pitcher may be at risk of undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.
On Sunday, the Chicago Sun-Times' Daryl Van Schouwen initially reported that right-hander Mason Adams would undergo the procedure. However, he later clarified that White Sox general manager Chris Getz stated Adams is set to be evaluated this week by Dr. Keith Meister before a final decision is made.
Meister, the head team physician for the Texas Rangers, is already performing Tommy John surgery on White Sox right-handers Prelander Berroa and Juan Carela. He has an extensive track record, having worked with the Dallas Stars, the University of Florida, and USA Hockey. If Adams requires surgery, he would become the sixth White Sox pitcher to undergo the procedure this spring, joining Drew Thorpe, Ky Bush, Carela, Berroa, and Blake Larson.
Losing Adams would be a significant setback for the White Sox. The 25-year-old, ranked as the organization’s No. 12 prospect, was on the cusp of earning a shot in the big-league rotation.
Last season, Adams made 18 appearances (17 starts) for Double-A Birmingham, posting an impressive 2.44 ERA across 103.1 innings before earning a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. While he struggled in his five starts for the Knights, registering a 5.82 ERA, he flashed the potential to become a future big-league starter.
Adams boasts a well-rounded arsenal, featuring an above-average low-80s curveball, a mid-80s slider, and an upper-80s changeup—all of which he mixes effectively to keep hitters off balance. His fastball, both four-seam and two-seam, sits in the mid-90s. Notably, his excellent command resulted in just 1.7 walks per nine innings at the Double-A level.
If Tommy John surgery is necessary, it would be a tough break for Adams, but given his skill set and control, he still has the tools to be a productive arm for the White Sox in the future.
