Sox invite 18 to camp
Top prospects Aaron Poreda and Gordon Beckham highlight a group of 13 players agreeing to minor-league contracts with the White Sox on Monday, and 18 were invited to spring training.
After spending the last 11 years in Tucson, Ariz., the Sox' camp moves to Glendale, Ariz., this spring.
Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 15.
Poreda, the Sox' No. 1 draft pick in 2007, enters camp with a good shot at making the 25-man roster after combining to go 8-9 with a 3.11 ERA with Class AA Birmingham and A Winston-Salem last season.
The 6-foot-6 lefty wowed scouts with his big fastball in the Arizona Fall League. If Poreda's off-speed pitches come around, he has a shot at breaking camp as the No. 4 or 5 starter. If not, Poreda could win a bullpen job.
Beckham, the White Sox' top pick last year, should open the season with Class AA Birmingham. The University of Georgia All-American batted .310 with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in 14 games with Class A Kannapolis last year.
In the Arizona Fall League, Beckham hit .394 for the Peoria Saguaros, including .533 with 3 HR and 11 RBI in his final seven games.
Seven of the invitees played in the major leagues last season: pitchers Franklyn German (Rangers), Mike MacDougal (White Sox) and Jon Van Benschoten (Pirates), catchers Corky Miller (Braves) and Chris Stewart (Yankees) and infielders Bryan Myrow (Padres) and Eider Torres (Orioles).
Catcher Tyler Flowers, a top prospect acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Javier Vazquez trade, also received a spring invite.