THE BASICS
Home stadium: Camelback RanchGlendale, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85037
Directions: Access AZ 101 off Interstate 10 or 17. Take Loop 101 north (from I-10) or Loop 101 west (from I-17). Exit Camelback Road west (Exit 5). Stadium is about 1 mile on the north side of Camelback Road.
Information: 623-302-5000; WhiteSox.com/spring
Prospect to watch: Nick Madrigal, 2B. Madrigal, 22, hit .311 with 35 steals and just 16 strikeouts across three levels in 2019, including a late stint at Class AAA. He is a plus runner and has great plate discipline despite no power. He’s an elite defender.
How far along is the young core?
There’s plenty of youth talent on the south side. The White Sox just need to determine how sparing they want to be with it.
Similar to last season, when they bought out then-22-year-old Eloy Jimenez’s arbitration years and first years of free agency before he played his first big-league game, the White Sox did so for touted outfield prospect Luis Robert.
That means he will almost certainly be the team’s starting center fielder come opening day, and he is one of several young players in Chicago’s pipeline. Michael Kopech will return from Tommy John surgery rehab at some point in 2020, and fellow right-hander Dylan Cease, 24, is also expected to join the rotation this year.
Dane Dunning, 25, another righthanded pitcher, should also be in the mix for the rotation.
Nick Madrigal, a second baseman, was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 draft and possesses top tier bat-to-ball skills and should also be up this season.
Can free agent acquisitions help the young group?
The White Sox’s brass has tried to make splashes in free agency during the last two seasons and had more success this time by signing veterans such as catcher Yasmani Grandal, left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel,
Edwin Encarnacion and
Cishek.
Spring training will determine how well these veterans can complement the younger players. Adding the three veterans to play key spots should only help.
– Chris Bumbaca first baseman reliever Steve