GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jordan Leasure hears the chatter. The White Sox haven’t identified their closer for 2024 — at least not publicly — but his name is one that pops up in conversations.
‘‘I mean, outside people mention it, and, as a reliever, who doesn’t want to be in that role?’’ Leasure said.
Leasure, 25, hasn’t pitched in the major leagues and hasn’t even made the team yet, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He has all of 13⅓ innings of Triple-A experience, and those didn’t exactly distinguish him. He posted a 6.08 ERA at Charlotte after the Sox acquired him in a trade-deadline deal last season with the Dodgers.
But Leasure came to camp well-regarded, acquired with right-hander Nick Nastrini — another prospect with aspirations to make his major-league debut soon — in a deal for veteran pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. His three-pitch mix features a fastball in the upper 90s, an 88 mph slider with bite and a curveball.
He arrived at camp on the heels of a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League (1.08 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 8⅓ innings) and has impressed in his bullpen and live batting-practice sessions and in three scoreless Cactus League relief appearances.
‘‘He’s got a nice-carry fastball, getting to the top of the zone very easily,’’ pitching coach Ethan Katz said. ‘‘Worked on the curveball this offseason [and] a little bit in the fall league, and he was landing that. And he has a wipeout slider. It’s a nice three-pitch mix, but the fastball gets on guys.’’
‘‘What’s not to like?’’ manager Pedro Grifol said of Leasure. ‘‘He throws a ton of strikes. He’s got plus-plus stuff. He’s got three pitches. He’s a good athlete. He repeats his delivery. He’s competing for a job. He really is.’’
Whether the job is in the ninth inning, however, remains to be seen. For a team not built to win, identifying a closer doesn’t have to be a top priority.
Leasure certainly is willing to fill the role when the time comes.
‘‘That’s a role you want to be in,’’ he said. ‘‘Just when it comes to helping the team win. I don’t know when it is, this year or next year or whenever that is, but it would be great. But until then, my goal is to make the team and help the team win.’’
Right-hander John Brebbia, whom the Sox signed to a $5.5 million deal as a free agent in the offseason, has high-leverage work — perhaps in the ninth inning — in his future, although he is out with a strained right calf. Brebbia is slated to throw a bullpen session Thursday, his first in two weeks, as he aims to be ready by Opening Day. But Brebbia, who posted a 3.18 ERA in a National League-high 76 appearances for the Giants in 2022, has two career saves.
Left-handed submariner Tim Hill, another free-agent acquisition expected to be used late, has four career saves. Experienced non-roster invitees, including 40-year-old Jesse Chavez, are competing for jobs, too.
‘‘We have talent, and we have good arms,’’ Grifol said. ‘‘We have guys who are really intriguing, guys who’ve done it before, guys who’ve been in the big leagues and are coming in great shape and showing the ability to pitch in those leverage situations.
‘‘So it’s actually been fun to try to sort through this stuff. Everybody has different ideas on what it’s going to look like, but it’s tough to say.’’
The Sox won’t want to thrust Leasure, who had nine saves, a 3.09 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 35 innings last season at Double-A Tulsa, into such a high-profile role without confidence that he won’t fail. Easing him in seems the most logical avenue.
‘‘The White Sox definitely see something in me,’’ Leasure said. ‘‘Just take that, run with it and try to help them any way I can.’’
