The White Sox are expected to add Eloy Jimenez to the 40-man roster so that he can attend big-league camp in the spring.
White Sox expected to add Eloy Jimenez to 40-man roster so he will attend spring training.
Non-roster invitees to camp likely to include Luis Robert, Micker Adolfo and Jake Burger.— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 15, 2017
According to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, several other new prospects are expected to join the early work at Spring Training as non-roster invitees. This is not an unusual move for many major-league clubs. Michael Kopech, Zack Burdi, Dane Dunning and Zack Collins were non-roster invites to Spring Training last season.
Rick Hahn expects quite a frenzy at Spring Training considering the spoils they’ve been able to cull from other teams in the first season of rebuilding the franchise. But he also pointed towards the general excitement at having so many young and heralded players.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn on prospects-loaded spring training: "I think it’s going to be actually a fairly exciting camp, at least for the first few weeks as we give some of these young guys the opportunity to get acclimated to the big-league environment."
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 15, 2017
Luis Robert is certain to collect a lot of attention as he voyages to the United States for the first time. As the elite international-signing of 2017, Robert will have to deal with a swarm of media day-in and day-out. Despite hanging around the Dominican Republic for the summer working out at the White Sox facility there, plenty of razzle-dazzle found its way to fans pockets over the summer. Robert slugged a homer in his first at-bat as a White Sox farmhand and he recently posted this beauty on Instagram.
Micker Adolfo had a breakout season in 2017 and flashed signs of the promise White Sox brass rewarded with a sizable signing bonus a few years back. He won’t compete for a roster spot in the big leagues but he will be fighting for his future. With Jimenez and Robert expected to fill two-thirds of the outfield in the near future, Adolfo finds himself struggling to hold on as a premier prospect.
There are sure to be other non-roster invites to Spring Training before the winter closes, but the first batch of names includes only one 2017 draft-pick. Jake Burger is viewed as the future third-baseman on the south side of Chicago and he has work to do. Before the draft, Burger was heralded for his offensive prowess and makeup, but he has must improve his footwork and glove skills to become a major-league third baseman. After speaking with his college coach Keith Guttin last summer, I’m confident he won’t let excuses infect his future. According to Guttin, Burger has an unparalleled work ethic and pedigree that will serve him well as a professional.
One final thought: The only question with Jimenez is how his body will hold up after such a long season in 2017. He is expected to play his final contest on Wednesday evening but he is only a few short weeks away from reporting to mini-camp in Arizona. Baseball is a game that mandates playing to improve, but every player has their limits. We’ll see how Jimenez’s body responds to the grind.
We’ve reached the end of Eloy Watch 2017.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn said he believes top prospect Eloy Jimenez will be playing his final game in the Dominican Winter League today.— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 15, 2017