Competition is the central theme at White Sox spring training this year. While most are familiar with mainstays Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Benintendi, and Andrew Vaughn, plenty of new players are on the roster. Fierce battles for several roster spots will commence this spring. There are many under-the-radar players worth paying attention to in White Sox camp as the team has their first full-squad workout at Camelback Ranch today.
Prelander Berroa
A holdover from last year's team, Prelander Berroa spent the majority of the 2024 season with the White Sox AAA affiliate in Charlotte. He put up unremarkable stats at that level but got called up late in the season. In 17 MLB appearances with the 2024 White Sox, Berroa pitched to a 3.32 ERA and struck out 26 batters in just 19 innings.
Berroa's four-seam fastball averaged almost 98 MPH in 2024 and opposing batters hit just .173 off his slider, which features nearly 32 inches of vertical drop. Walks have always been Berroa's kryptonite, but his stuff plays as evidenced by his lofty strikeout numbers. He figures to have an inside track to a bullpen spot coming out of spring training and, depending on how he performs, could even have a chance at the closer role. At just 24 years old, Berroa could be a long-term fixture in the White Sox bullpen.
Sean Burke
Another holdover from last year, Sean Burke spent most of the 2024 season with the AAA Charlotte Knights, where he struck out 86 batters over 64.1 innings across 16 starts. However, it wasn't until the White Sox called him up that he broke onto the scene. In four starts with the big league team, Burke pitched to a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and struck out 22 batters in 19 innings.
Now 25 years old, Burke has positioned himself to earn a spot in the White Sox starting rotation after spring training. Drew Thorpe's cloudy injury status further helps Burke's chances of making the team and cementing his place forward. Burke is one of the logical breakout candidates on this year's team.
Jairo Iriarte
Acquired from the Padres in last year's Dylan Cease trade, Jairo Iriarte spent most of the 2024 season with the AA Birmingham Barons. He pitched to a respectable 3.71 ERA at that level while striking out 122 batters over 126 innings across 22 starts. Iriarte was eventually promoted to the White Sox in September, pitching in six games with the big league club out of the bullpen.
Walks were an issue for Iriarte in his initial cup of coffee at the MLB level, but reports from Arizona indicate that the 23-year-old right-hander will be competing for a starting rotation spot this spring. Iriarte has a lot of upside and he will likely be in Chicago again this season even if he doesn't make the team out of spring training.
Chase Meidroth
Widely considered the third most prominent player in return for Garrett Crochet this offseason, Chase Meidroth might not have the prospect hype of fellow newcomers Kyle Teel or Braden Montgomery but is plenty intriguing in his own right. The 23-year-old infielder had an outstanding 2024 season for the Red Sox AAA affiliate, hitting .293 in 122 games. He also walked 105 times compared to 71 strikeouts while chipping in 20 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a .838 OPS. Even more impressive, Meidroth posted a .437 on-base percentage with a walk rate of nearly 20%. Chris Getz emphasized acquiring players who get on base at above-average rates this offseason, and Meidroth is a prime example.
Meidroth is also a versatile player. He has extensive minor league experience at second, third, and short. Lenyn Sosa, Josh Rojas, and Brooks Baldwin will likely be Meidroth's main competition for a spot this spring. Even if Meidroth does not make the Opening Day roster, fans should expect to see him in Chicago sooner rather than later.
Cam Booser
Cam Booser is an interesting story. Acquired from the Red Sox this winter, the left-handed reliever spent several years in the Twins farm system before quitting baseball entirely. He did not pitch at all professionally from 2018 to 2020. Booser returned in 2021 with the independent league Chicago Dogs and eventually signed with the Red Sox in 2023. He worked his way up their system and made his MLB debut at 31 years old last season.
32-year-old pitchers with minimal MLB experience usually wouldn't be worth paying attention to, but Booser is an exception. He pitched to a respectable 3.38 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 43 appearances during his rookie season in Boston. He also struck out over a batter an inning. Given that the White Sox gave up an intriguing prospect for him, Booser will likely make the White Sox opening day bullpen and could potentially earn a high-leverage role from the left side with a good spring.
James Karinchak
Most White Sox fans are familiar with James Karinchak. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever spent parts of five seasons in the AL Central with Cleveland, where he was generally very effective. He has always put up monster strikeout numbers and has proven that he can be a quality reliever at the MLB level.
Unfortunately, the past couple of seasons have been tough for Karinchak. Shoulder issues have derailed his career. He did not appear in an MLB game this past season, and the Guardians parted ways with him this winter. Karinchak signed a minor league contract with the White Sox at the end of January.
As a non-roster invite, Karinchak must earn a spot on the Opening Day roster through his spring training performance. He recently stated he is fully healthy, so whether he can recapture his old form will be an interesting storyline this spring. Karinchak has a viable path to making the team and occupying a high-leverage role in the bullpen. He is one of the more intriguing relievers in White Sox camp.
Joey Gallo
Joey Gallo, the most accomplished player on this list, has had an interesting career. After a very successful seven-year run with the Texas Rangers in which he was a two-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and had multiple 40-home run seasons, he was traded to the Yankees in mid-2021. His career has been a downward spiral ever since. Gallo has had stops with numerous teams since 2021 but hasn't stuck anywhere for a prolonged period. His offensive production has steadily decreased over the past few years.
Now 31, Gallo is in a similar situation to Karinchak in terms of having to settle for a minor league contract with the White Sox in an attempt to resurrect his career. While he has flaws, Gallo provides an abundance of something the White Sox don't have much of: power. He is also capable of playing both corner outfield positions and first base. Manager Will Venable recently praised Gallo and envisions him as part of the equation at first base. Despite his best days being behind him, Gallo is a player to watch this spring.
Brandon Drury
Brandon Drury, another former established player looking to revive his career, joins Karinchak and Gallo in the non-roster invite group in White Sox camp this spring. The 32-year-old is coming off the worst season of his career, in which he was the worst player in all of MLB per fWAR. However, Drury has historically been a quality player. He hit 26 home runs in 2023 and 28 homers in 2022 while playing multiple defensive positions. He also dealt with hamstring issues and a respiratory illness in 2024, so his dramatic fall-off is at least somewhat explainable.
Drury is a versatile defender as well. He played extensively at first, second, and third base in 2024 and even has some outfield experience. While the White Sox infield competition will feature many players, Drury's ability to play all around the diamond could give him a leg up on the competition if he performs with the bat this spring.
White Sox Spring Training Competition Starts Now
The 2025 White Sox have a diverse collection of young players, change of scenery candidates, and veterans clinging onto their MLB careers in spring training this year. With a roster in a state of transition, spots are up for grabs. This spring will be pivotal for a wide variety of players in the White Sox organization as they look to earn a spot on the opening day roster.
