Healthy Lucroy looking to win catching job with White Sox

Playing for the Brewers in 2014, Jonathan Lucroy had 53 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI while batting .301/.373/.465.

At the end of the season, the catcher finished fourth in National League MVP voting.

Lucroy had another productive season in 2016, earning his second trip to the All-Star Game before being traded from Milwaukee to Texas.

The wear and tear that comes with the position gradually took a toll, and Lucroy was limited to a game with the Red Sox last year before being designated for assignment.

On Thursday, the 34-year-old Lucroy was one of 14 free agents that agreed to minor-league contracts with the White Sox. All of the deals include invitations to spring training, which opens Wednesday in Glendale, Ariz.

Pitcher Connor Sadzek, a Crystal Lake Central High School product, also signed with the Sox. In 2019, the right-hander was 0-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 20 relief appearances with the Mariners.

No. 1 prospect Andrew Vaughn was one of seven players within the organization to receive spring invites.

Lucroy heads to camp healthy and ready to compete with Zack Collins, Yermin Mercedes and Seby Zavala for the backup catching job behind Yasmani Grandal.

"At the end of 2016, I herniated a disk in my neck," Lucroy said. "If you look at my numbers that year, I hit pretty well and it became a steady decline from there. In 2019, in November, I had it fixed, I had a disk replacement done in my neck.

"Suffice to say, it's been pretty amazing the recovery that I've had. And so now, it's about getting the opportunity and getting back out there and showing teams I've still got it. I feel great."