White Sox open camp with some bad news and many positions available

There is some irony in the spring training facility at Glendale, Ariz., being shared by the White Sox and Dodgers.

One team is coming off a World Series victory, then went on a spending spree this winter to add more talent. The other team set a major-league record with 121 losses last year.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz didn't need to be reminded which side of the facility he's on when meeting with reporters Tuesday.

“There's a lot of different ways to go about building an organization,” Getz said. “(The Dodgers) have done a great job within the parameters they have. With that being said, it's a great opportunity to be matched up in a facility with a team that won the World Series, to have something to aim for, (learn) how can we compete.”

The White Sox seem to be playing a different game than the Dodgers, spending far less money and trying to rebuild the organization from the ground up.

What the Sox do have is a growing number of promising prospects and plenty of competition for roster spots. The list of White Sox veterans in camp is pretty much limited to Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn.

“You look across our infield, you look at our catching situation, you look at our starting staff and our bullpen, there's opportunity here,” Getz said. “We don't have a lot of positions that are set in stone.”

On the day before pitchers and catchers report, Getz delivered some bad news. Left-hander Ky Bush, who made his major-league debut late last season and was a candidate for a spot in the starting rotation, will have Tommy John surgery Wednesday and is out for the year.

Better news is right-hander Drew Thorpe is feeling better after some winter soreness and should be throwing off a mound soon, Getz said.

Everyone wants to know how many games Getz expects to win this season. In reality, a run of early-season injuries helped ruin last year's squad, and the Sox need a high draft pick in 2026. Win totals are tough for anyone to predict.

“I do think we're going to win more games than we did last year,” Getz said. “Unfortunately, there are going to be some growing pains along the way that at times are going to challenge your emotions. But that's part of the development of some of these players. We need to be patient.

“I do think there's going to be plenty of exciting stories and a lot of that has to do with the talent that's going to work its way to the major leagues this season.”

The next two years on the South Side will feature plenty more major-league debuts. The next player on deck appears to be 2021 first-round pick Colson Montgomery, who during the winter stated a goal of being the full-time starting shortstop.

The crown jewel of the organization might be the two highest-ranked left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, Oswego native Noah Schultz and last year's top pick Hagen Smith. Getz was asked if the lefties could make it to the majors this year.

“That's yet to be seen,” he said. “I know it's going to be fun to watch them pitch in major league camp. I don't see them breaking with the team out of spring training. With that being said, I could see some of our top guys working their way to the major league level.”

Another debut to watch is new manager Will Venable, who served as associate manager of the Texas Rangers the past two years.

“He's a relationship builder,” Getz said of his field boss. “Every time I interact with him, and I think I can speak for others, you walk away pretty impressed.”

Will anyone walk away from the 2025 White Sox impressed? As Getz said, that's yet to be seen.