Volstad joins White Sox in latest bullpen shuffle
Chris Volstad, come on up.
Before Thursday night's game against the Twins in Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox purchased the contract of the 31-year-old Volstad from Class AAA Charlotte.
The veteran pitcher moves into the Sox's bullpen, replacing Gregory Infante.
Following Wednesday's 2-1 win over Tampa Bay at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Sox optioned Infante to Charlotte after he allowed 8 runs in 4⅓ innings over 6 relief appearances.
Look for the Sox's bullpen shuffling to continue throughout the season.
After trading closer David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, Anthony Swarzak, Dan Jennings and Tyler Clippard last year and cutting ties with injury prone relievers Zach Putnam and Jake Petricka in the off-season, the White Sox's bullpen was in a state of flux heading into spring training.
Trade additions Joakim Soria and Luis Avilan, free agent Hector Santiago, holdovers Nate Jones, Juan Minaya, Infante and Danny Farquhar and rookie Aaron Bummer broke camp with the Sox, but there have already been two changes.
Before Volstad replaced Infante, Minaya was sent back to Charlotte after walking all four batters he faced Saturday in a game against Detroit. Bruce Rondon took his spot.
That is two bullpen changes in 11 games, and even more are expected as the rebuilding White Sox navigate their way through the season.
The Volstad move actually comes as a surprise.
The 6-foot-8 righty did make 4 relief appearances for the Sox last September, but he's mainly been a starter during stints with the Marlins, Cubs, Rockies and Pirates.
Volstad made 1 start with Charlotte this season, giving up 5 runs in 4⅔ innings before joining the White Sox's bullpen.
The Sox had plenty of options for Infante's replacement.
Jeanmar Gomez was an obvious choice even though, like Volstad, he's not on the Sox's 40-man roster.
A veteran of eight seasons with the Indians, Pirates and Phillies, Gomez hasn't allowed a run in his first 3⅓ innings out of Charlotte's bullpen.
Thyago Viera is on the 40-man, and the hard-throwing reliever was undoubtedly a candidate to replace Infante after striking out 5 of the first 11 hitters he faced at Triple-A this season.
Acquired from the Mariners in a November trade for international pool money, Viera needs to regroup after allowing 5 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk Thursday night against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Other Charlotte relievers including Xavier Cedeno, Robbie Ross Jr., Tyler Danish and Chris Beck are candidates to join the White Sox's bullpen moving forward, and Class AA Birmingham pitchers Jordan Stephens, Spencer Adams, Ian Clarkin and Jordan Guerrero are also worth keeping an eye on.
To make room for Volstad on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred injured starter Carlos Rodon to the 60-day disabled list.
Rodon had shoulder surgery last September and is now eligible to come off the DL on May 28.
The left-hander is hoping to be back in the Sox's rotation before the all-star break.