Mark Gonzales: Figure 2022 will be challenging for pitchers, training staff

The Instagram photograph of Cubs reliever Codi Heuer sporting a cumbersome brace on his right pitching arm while lying on a hospital bed last week served as the first warning.

A few days later, the White Sox disclosed that Michael Kopech's offseason buildup to spring training was limited due to illness, causing his workload to be more closely monitored leading up to the regular season.

This won't be your traditional spring training, where players and pitchers usually declare themselves ready with seven to 10 days before the start of the regular season.

The major concern involves pitchers, and the need to maintain health and build depth. Adbert Alzolay, who was expected to compete for a spot in the Cubs' rotation, will start the 2022 season on the injured list because of right shoulder stiffness.

Thanks to the lockout, about three weeks of supervised spring training was lost. That comes after more than a two-month period in which teams could not communicate with their players during the lockout, heightening the unknown factor throughout camps.

As a result, pitchers will be monitored more than ever for the next three weeks. It's usually at the end of that window that pitchers experience what is known as a "dead arm" period.

Former White Sox ace Mark Buehrle once skipped a spring training start in Tucson and claimed he had a bout of Dutch elm disease.

Buehrle's deadpanned attempt occurred about two weeks before the start of the regular season, usually when there's little left to decide besides the 24th and 25th men on the roster.

But it was no joking matter in mid-March of 2015 when Jon Lester disclosed he had a dead left arm. Lester suddenly received as much scrutiny in simulated games as he did during the month leading up to him signing a six-year, $155 million agreement with the Cubs three months earlier.

Lester said his left arm felt well enough to start the season opening, but it took three starts before he found his groove.

In 2020, COVID shut down spring training with less than three weeks left. Some pitchers struggled with a restart after 3½ months, while others pitched competitively enough during the layoff to return without experiencing any setbacks.

The majority of baseball players love an offseason routine where they resume their preparation in November, and hitters and pitchers start to accelerate their work by Jan. 1.

But the traditional starting of spring training in 2021 (with the threat of COVID still persistent) wasn't finalized until mid-January. One former trainer said the lateness affected the schedules of players and led to an array of injuries throughout the season.

These irregularities, however, paled in comparison to the uncertainty after commissioner Rob Manfred imposed the lockout. Negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement didn't start until spring training was scheduled to begin, and temporary postponements of the first two weeks of the regular season created more uncertainty.

Many teams wisely examined the cause of injuries, specifically to pitchers, and reacted last winter. The White Sox hired C.J. Gearhart as a biomechanics analyst in an effort to enhance injury prevention.

"Definitely feel good about the blueprint," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Friday. "Definitely feel great about the staff, the support, the technology, the planning - that's all in place to promote player health."

The White Sox's rotation was largely responsible for a large lead that enabled them to coast to a 2021 American League Central title. However, an array of injuries to Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon in the second half served as a warning about the delicacies of preparing for a 162-game schedule and the postseason after two irregular spring trainings sandwiching a 60-game 2020 season.

The Cubs signed reliever Jonathan Holder to a one-year, $750,000 contract prior to the 2021 season. But Holder didn't pitch the entire season because of a shoulder injury.

Holder re-signed with the Cubs on a minor league deal with the hope he can provide a return for their investment.

For several decades, owners have chafed at losing dollars due to players placed on the injured list. And no matter how many resources are invested in preventive maintenance and extra care, 2022 is destined to be a stressful season for training staffs.