As Ken Rosenthal was leaving the White Sox Spring Training facilities he had to remind himself of what team he was dealing with. Despite the outside noise, the vibes are good at White Sox camp.
“In White Sox camp, the day I was there talking to some people, I got a very good vibe there from the players and manager Pedro Grifol,” Rosenthal said during an appearance on Foul Territory.
“People are pretty excited they think they have done some good things. Kinda improving the bottom of their roster or their depth. And yet you look at the White Sox and you think ‘woah woah woah wait a second it’s the White Sox, not a team you see as a contender’ and when I walked out of camp I had to check myself and say ‘woah remember who they are.’”
There's a "good vibe" at @whitesox camp, says @Ken_Rosenthal
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 27, 2024
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This is a very different-looking White Sox team from years past, one with fresh faces and limited expectations. Of the 70 players in the White Sox camp, there is a healthy mix of veterans trying to stay in the MLB, free agent signings with something to prove, young prospects hungry to show what they can do, and holdovers from last season eager to bounce back. They also have multiple players in contract years which always adds a little extra incentive to play well.
“Play hard, play good defense, pitch well, hit well, run well,” White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn told MLB.com. “Putting pressure on the other team is a good way to win ballgames.”
Last year’s White Sox team looked complacent at times. There were nights when the team looked disinterested in playing, quit after trailing early in games, and had little regard for fundamental baseball. Chris Getz is trying to change that. The new faces he has brought in this offseason all have something to prove in 2024.
The limited expectations also mean less pressure for what is left of the White Sox former top prospects. Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Luis Robert Jr, Eloy Jimenez, and Yoan Moncada no longer have the weight championship expectations placed on them, a burden they proved they were not yet ready to handle.
“Respect 90s.That is something that [Grifol] told us,” Eloy Jimenez told MLB.com last week. “That is good. That is something different coming from him in the second year.”
It’s hard to get excited about a team coming off a 101-loss season. But spring is the time for external optimism. While things may look bleak there are some reasons to feel excited about the upcoming season.
Getz made it a priority to improve the team’s defense, especially up the middle. It’s one of the reasons why he acquired Paul DeJong, Nicky Lopez, and Martin Maldanado. After being ranked as the worst defense in the MLB last season, they have a chance to turn into the most improved defensive team.
That improved defense will benefit a pitching staff that still features Dylan Cease. Former All-Star Michael Soroka and KBO MVP Erick Fedde are also interesting additions to the rotation. The White Sox also still has plenty of talent that has failed to meet expectations. However, with Yoan Moncada healthy and in a contract year don’t be surprised to see him revert to his 2019 form.
Moncada admitted last season that a nagging back injury was affecting his performance at the plate. Midway through August he quietly established himself as one of the White Sox best hitters last season.
In Moncada’s final 30 games in the 2023 regular season games, he slashed .324/.367/.551 with 17 RBIs and six home runs. If he was able to keep up that pace for a full season Moncada would be looking at a home run total north of 30 while also knocking on the door of 100 RBIs.
Eloy Jimenez also predicted a big year for himself. While talk is cheap, his early Cactus League results leave a reason for optimism. In his first eight at-bats, Jimenez recorded five hits, with two doubles and no strikeouts.
At this point, fans are tired of waiting for players like Kopech, Jimenez, and Moncada to live up to their potential. But there is no denying that there is still talent on this team. White Sox second baseman Nicky Lopez says he is already collecting bulletin board material. With everyone writing off the White Sox this is a perfect opportunity for everyone in the locker room to hit the reset button.
“It’s the beauty of the game,” Rosenthal said. “Everyone thinks they have a chance.”
