Prelander Berroa's 'electric' stuff leaves impressions on White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox right-hander Prelander Berroa, acquired from the Mariners along with outfielder Zach DeLoach and the 69th pick in the 2024 draft for right-hander Gregory Santos, left an impression on Mariners manager Scott Servais last spring.

He left an impression on White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, who called Berroa’s live batting-practice session Wednesday “really, really impressive.”

“Berroa is electric,” Servais told the Sun-Times on Tuesday. “It is some kind of fastball-slider combination. And he’s a really good person. Love the kid.”

Berroa, 23, who made two scoreless appearances with three strikeouts and three walks for the Mariners last season, has a chance to make the Opening Day bullpen. At Double-A Arkansas, he had a 2.89 ERA with 101 strikeouts and 39 walks in 65„ innings.

“Can he control the strike zone, will he throw enough strikes?’’ Servais said. “Eventually he will because he’s young. And he’ll make the adjustment there. A lot of upside in that player.”

Berroa, who has featured 100 mph velocity, said the trade took him by surprise. But new teammates and staff have left him feeling comfortable and “welcomed.”

He worked on a changeup in the offseason and is working on command this spring.

“My focus is on hitting the mitt with an emphasis on keeping the ball down because my pitches tend to rise a little bit,” he said through translator Billy Russo.

Santos, who ended the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation, was viewed as the Sox’ top closer candidate this season. He came to camp with a minor lat strain and will begin his throwing program in a few days.

“He’s doing fine; we’re slow-playing it,” Servais said. “He’s got great stuff. I’m anxious to see him pitch.”

DeLoach disciplined at plate

A left-handed-hitting outfielder, DeLoach is an intelligent player who controls the strike zone “extremely well,” Servais said, and doesn’t chase out of the zone.

“If you have a good swing, a little power and don’t chase, you should be a productive major-league hitter,” Servais said. “And I think he will be.”

Defensively, DeLoach “will be fine,” Servais said. “He throws to the right base, understands the game.”

Fletcher with inside track

DeLoach (.286/.387/.481, 23 home runs, 30 doubles in 138 Triple-A games in ’23) is on the right-field depth chart, but Dominic Fletcher, acquired from the Diamondbacks for pitching prospect Cristian Mena the same day, “has a leg up” on the competition, general manager Chris Getz said.

This and that

The first reported serious medical issue of spring training fell on right-hander Edgar Navarro, who needs Tommy John surgery. Navarro pitched 8‰ innings in eight games last season, allowing seven runs.

• Getz suggested the Sox might be done making moves.

“We’re focused with the group we have right now,” he said. “If something pops up that makes sense, we’ll do that. But at this point, we feel comfortable with the group we have.”

• Grifol, oozing positivity in the first days of camp — or perhaps doing what he can to hype trade value — called Dylan Cease’s live batting practice “absolutely incredible. Velocity was really high, as sharp as you can possibly be, presence.”

• Grifol has talked about “playing fast” during camp. Turns out it’s an acronym that stands for fearless, aggressive, selfless and technically sound.