GLENDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox’ sizable flock of working pitchers in camp has taken a trim, from 36 to 33, including one or two notable components.
Veteran right-hander John Brebbia, signed to a one-year, $5.5 million contract as a free agent and expected to be a valued late-inning option for manager Pedro Grifol, strained his right calf throwing live batting practice Wednesday and was wheeled out of the Sox’ complex at Camelback Ranch on Thursday on a scooter. And lefty Shane Drohan, the Sox’ Rule 5 draft pick, had nerve-decompression surgery on his left shoulder, Grifol said.
Earlier this week, the Sox said righty Edgar Navarro is having Tommy John surgery.
Grifol and general manager Chris Getz are hopeful that Brebbia can be ready by Opening Day in five weeks.
“My only question was, ‘Hey, are we going to keep the arm moving?’ ’’ Grifol said. “And without hesitation, all our guys said it wasn’t a problem. We are shooting for Opening Day, the beginning of the season.”
Brebbia had a 3.18 ERA in a National League-high 76 appearances for the Giants in 2022 and a 3.99 ERA in 40 games for San Francisco last season as an opener, middle reliever and setup man.
Drohan is expected to begin a throwing program after spring training.
The Sox open Cactus League play Friday against the Cubs, with Jesse Chavez, 40, slated to pitch the first inning as pitching coach Ethan Katz gets his first look at several new faces in camp.
“It’s interesting,” Katz said. “It’s a lot of different guys, a lot of veteran guys, a lot of younger guys. So it’s a very nice mix.
“But it’s a very good group of guys that have been very open to whatever’s going on and just trying to see how it all shakes out. We’ll play some games and kind of let guys do their thing and see where they are.”
A team not built to win in 2024 could feature a bullpen with veterans such as Chavez, Bryan Shaw, lefty Tim Hill and Brebbia — when he gets healthy.
It could be balanced out with rookies such as Jordan Leasure, acquired from the Dodgers in the trade for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly last season, and Prelander Berroa, who came from the Mariners this month with outfielder Zach DeLoach and the No. 69 pick in the draft.
Leasure, viewed as a potential closer, was the most impressive of a group of pitchers veteran left fielder Andrew Benintendi has faced in live batting practice.
“That was a huge compliment,” Katz said. “I saw him in the [Arizona] Fall League throw once and saw him throw the other day in his live BP, it was quite impressive.”
Other early observations from Katz:
† Michael Kopech, 20 pounds lighter, is in the best shape Katz has seen since 2021. “He’s been phenomenal. Ball’s coming out hot, and he’s pounding the strike zone, so right now he’s in a great spot.”
† The focus for Garrett Crochet, who will start against the Dodgers on Tuesday (one inning), is simple: “Throw strikes.”
† Dylan Cease adjusted his ramp-up to spring training after his velocity was down a slight tick last season and is already touching 97 mph. “He looks really sharp; the fastball command is really good.”
† Former All-Star Michael Soroka “is a different pitcher right now [after two Achilles tears]. He’s moving differently down the mound. What he was able to do before the injuries is something he’s not able to do as much, so we’re kind of working with his new delivery, understanding how good the sinker was in years past and trying to get him as close to that as possible with where he’s at with his delivery, what he can and can’t do.”
† Lesser names who have opened eyes: Jake Cousins and Jake Woodford. “We’re going to have some tough decisions to make as time goes on. But it is really exciting to have all these options.”
