WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF MAY 24, 2018 “White Sox hit 3 HRs; Covey gets 1st MLB win”… Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Farquhar expected to throw 1st pitch on June 1” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Garcia exits with knee sprain after stolen base”… Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Palka putting in work to improve defensively”…. Max Gelman, MLB.com “Cubs pitchers lead top prospect performers”… Chad Thornburg, MLB.com “AL Central prospects who are this close to callup”… Rhett Bollinger, MLB.com “White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will reportedly be suspended 80 games for use of PED”… Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago “Cubs? White Sox? Manny Machado mum on Chicago possibilities as both sides of town dream of his World Series impact”… Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago “Column: Welington Castillo’s PED suspension a setback for White Sox rebuild”… Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Yoan Moncada has untapped power from right side, Rick Renteria says” … Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune “Welington Castillo's reported PED suspension overshadows White Sox's 11-1 victory over Orioles” … Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune “Column: Make the White Sox watchable: Bring up Eloy Jimenez once the arbitration date passes” … Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune “White Sox’ Anderson says he’s just scratching the surface” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun-Times “Report: White Sox’ Castillo to receive 80-game suspension for PEDs” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Sun-Times “Umpires for Cubs game, Southpaw deliver stuffed animals at children’s hospital” … Madeline Kenney, Sun-Times “Report: Castillo facing 80-game suspension for failed drug test” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “White Sox shortstop Anderson 'not even close' to reaching potential” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “No trouble with the curve: Michael Kopech has a third ‘plus’ pitch and it’s ready for the bright lights” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Where’s the Beef? White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will be suspended for 80 games” … James Fegan, The Athletic “Dylan Cease is trying to live up to his potential. But can he exceed it?” … James Fegan, The Athletic

White Sox hit 3 HRs; Covey gets 1st MLB win By Scott Merkin / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 CHICAGO -- The first words White Sox manager Rick Renteria said to Dylan Covey following an 11-1 drubbing of the Orioles on Wednesday night were very simple and straight to the point. "I told him, 'Great job,'" Renteria said. "He said, 'I've been working really hard.' And he has." After beginning his Major League career with 13 winless starts, Covey picked up career win No. 1 without much nail biting. Covey, who came up from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Carson Fulmer in the South Siders' rotation, allowed one run over a career-high seven innings while striking out eight at Guaranteed Rate Field in front of his wife, dad and father-in-law. The White Sox improved to 5-2 on their current eight-game homestand.

Covey recorded eight losses and five no-decisions over his first 13 career starts. His streak of 13 consecutive winless starts to open his MLB career was the longest in White Sox history. The last MLB pitcher to open his career with 13 winless starts was Colorado's Jon Gray (2015-16), and the last with 14 or more was Minnesota's Liam Hendriks (17 between 2011-12). As a Rule 5 pick last year, Covey was unfairly overmatched in 2017 with only six games of Double-A experience on his resume. The season was tough for the right-hander, but it helped set up his growth in '18. "Obviously, I wasn't ready, I don't think," Covey said. "But I think that it taught me more than I could ever have learned at any level in Minor League baseball. Starting in Triple-A this year, I had that year of experience, and it helped me a lot. It helped me more than I can say. I'm happy with where I'm at now, and I'm super comfortable." "That was nice for him, his first career victory in pretty convincing fashion," Renteria said. "The ball had a lot of action, topping out at 96 [mph] today. Good angle, great movement on all his pitches. He threw a lot of strikes. Not a lot of hard contact." Down 1-0 after two innings, the White Sox offense gave its full support to Covey with four in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth, with six runs charged to Orioles starter Alex Cobb. Yoan Moncada's three-run homer in the third gave the White Sox a lead they never wouldn't relinquish, while Adam Engel hit a two-run homer in the fifth, his first of the season, en route to a 4-for-4 game that matched his career-high in hits. He also set a career-high with three runs scored. "Just trying to get in a rhythm," Engel said. "The last couple days, I've been trying to feel a little bit of rhythm and less tension in the swing and trust in what I've been doing." Wednesday night marked the fourth time this season the White Sox have scored 10 or more runs, an offensive output that was capped by Jose Rondon's two-run homer in the seventh. It was Rondon's first Major League homer, capping off a night of firsts. The 24-year-old was a late inclusion in the White Sox lineup, with Matt Davidson being scratched due to back soreness. "It was a very impressive game," Rondon said through interpreter Billy Russo. "It was a nice game for us. Dylan got his first victory and my first homer. We were having fun in the dugout for this game and it was good. I felt good. "I've seen [Covey's] evolution. I played with him in Charlotte. Every outing was better and better and better for him. Today, he was good. Just to have an opportunity to see that with one of my teammates, you feel happy for him, because I know he has been working hard." SOUND SMART Jose Abreu, who finished 2-for-5 and raised his average to .309, has 10 doubles, two homers and 13 RBIs over his last 15 games. He also has nine multi-hit games in that span. HE SAID IT "It's just a confidence builder, just confidence in what you're doing. We can work and everybody in the big leagues works, it's just a matter of working at the right things for different guys at different things, just confidence in what we're working on, what's gonna help you get more results." -- Engel, on his four hits raising his average to .212. UP NEXT Lucas Giolito wraps up the White Sox eight-game homestand with his first career start against Baltimore on Thursday with a 1:10 p.m. CT first pitch. Giolito earned his second consecutive win on Saturday against Texas, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out three over

six innings. He has struggled at home this season to the tune of a 10.19 ERA and .286 batting average against over four starts. Dylan Bundy will start for the Orioles.

Farquhar expected to throw 1st pitch on June 1 White Sox reliever recovering from brain hemorrhage By Scott Merkin / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 CHICAGO -- The incredible recovery of Danny Farquhar will take another step forward on June 1 when the White Sox reliever is scheduled to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game against the Brewers at Guaranteed Rate Field, a source confirmed to MLB.com. Farquhar, 31, suffered a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm after he pitched on April 20 against the Astros and then underwent the ensuing surgery. He has visited the White Sox clubhouse twice since leaving RUSH University Medical Center and was cleared by his doctors to throw the first pitch.

Garcia exits with knee sprain after stolen base By Scott Merkin / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 CHICAGO -- Leury Garcia left the White Sox 11-1 win over the Orioles on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field in the fifth inning after stealing third base. The White Sox announced Garcia exited the game with a left knee sprain. He will be re-evaluated on Thursday. Garcia appeared to jam his foot into the base on the slide and had to be helped off the field and into the clubhouse. Trayce Thompson pinch-ran for Garcia during the White Sox three-run inning. Thompson scored on Adam Engel's two-run home run.

Palka putting in work to improve defensively Davidson scratched from lineup Wednesday; Engel reflects on key walk By Max Gelman / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 CHICAGO -- Daniel Palka knows he needs to improve his defense. The White Sox outfielder won't shy away from that. In order to do so, Palka has taken extra outfield reps before nearly every game this homestand with outfield coach Daryl Boston. View Full Game Coverage "That's ultimately what's gonna keep me here, keep me at this level, being able to cover right and left field," Palka said. "It hasn't been great, so obviously that's why I'm working on it every day." The drills begin well before the White Sox take batting practice and several hours before first pitch. Palka stands in right field while Boston hits from a tee at the edge of the infield dirt. Boston alternates between line drives, fly balls and grounders, giving Palka as many reps as possible. Part of the challenge Palka said he faces is adapting to how the baseball travels in the Majors, because the balls themselves are different than in the Minors. In the big leagues, Palka said, the baseballs "have a little more life" than in the lower levels. "Balls that you read off the bat as being right at you, sometimes, once they're in the air, would go a little bit further," Palka said. "You have to keep your feet moving just a little bit longer." Palka has seen regular starts in right field, largely due to his .284/.304/.567 slash line entering Wednesday's game against the Orioles. With Avisail Garcia continuing to nurse a right hamstring strain

and Nicky Delmonico sidelined with a broken right hand, White Sox manager Rick Renteria said Palka's bat will continue to earn him playing time. "He's an individual who understands what he's capable of doing or not doing defensively," Renteria said. "It's going to be much easier for Palky to come in than go back right now. He is a work in progress defensively, and he's not afraid to work to try to improve." Davidson scratched Prior to Wednesday's game with the Orioles, the White Sox scratched Matt Davidson from the starting lineup with back stiffness. Jose Rondon replaced Davidson as the designated hitter, batting seventh. Davidson entered the night hitting .243/.368/.521 on the season with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and a career-high 27 walks. Engel reflects on key walk In Tuesday's comeback 3-2 win over Baltimore, Adam Engel drew a pivotal walk in the White Sox eighth-inning rally following two unsuccessful squeeze bunt attempts. Engel had fallen behind 0-2 in the count against Orioles reliever Mychal Givens, but he worked a seven-pitch walk. Engel described the plate appearance as one of his best in a big situation, and he felt good after going hitless in his first three at-bats. "I was watching film on him and knew that typically when he throws pitches in they're good ones to lay off of just because, 1, they're high velocity, and 2, he throws more strikes to the other side of the plate," Engel said. "If he hits his spot, he puts me in a tough spot. Throwing 97 mph up and in, as a hitter, that's really a tough pitch to get to." Givens did not throw Engel an offspeed pitch in the eighth, and he missed high and inside on three of the four balls. Anderson recharges Tim Anderson appeared in the White Sox first 44 games this season before his first off-day, which came on Tuesday against the Orioles. "I'll play all of 'em, that's the plan," Anderson said. "Well, I want to play all of them, but … the goal wasn't to play all of them, but play as many as I can, so I just want to be in that lineup in with the guys, pick 'em up and have fun." The White Sox shortstop returned to the lineup on Wednesday against Baltimore, hitting eighth. Anderson added that he has been encouraged by his higher walk total this season, already setting a new career high with 14. "I get excited about that more than anything because that tells me I'm learning. I'm figuring things out," Anderson said. "So I'm just going to continue to work and everything else will come together." Worth noting The White Sox signed outfielder Alex Presley to a Minor League contract Wednesday, him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Cubs pitchers lead top prospect performers By Chad Thornburg / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 Here's MLB Pipeline's roundup of the top prospect performances in the Minor Leagues on Wednesday.

Cubs fans were offered a promising glimpse of the future during Wednesday's Minor League contests. Four pitchers ranked in Chicago's Top 30 prospects -- Alex Lange (No. 5), Brendon Little (6), Trevor Clifton (27) and Duane Underwood Jr. (29) -- turned in strong performances for their respective teams. Lange pitched six scoreless innings for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach in its 5-0 win over Lynchburg. The right-hander held the Hillcats to just six hits, didn't issue a walk and struck out a career-best 10 batters. Little bounced back from giving up five runs in his last start to toss seven scoreless frames for Class A South Bend, lowering his ERA to 4.50. He allowed three hits with no walks and struck out five vs. the Lansing Lugnuts. With Double-A Tennessee, Clifton pitched four scoreless innings and allowed two hits and two walks with three strikeouts before rain suspended play. And at Triple-A Iowa, Underwood held Round Rock to one run over six innings while striking out six. Other top prospect performances from Wednesday's action: • The Minors' hottest hitter, No. 2 overall prospect (Blue Jays' No. 1) Vladimir Guerrero Jr., continued his tear through the Eastern League. Guerrero went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a walk for Double-A New Hampshire, stretching his on-base streak to 31 games. His .425 batting average is also the best in the Minors. The Jays' No. 19 prospect Cavan Biggio also impressed by hitting 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs for Triple-A El Paso. It marked his first three-hit game of 2018 and the 10th of his professional career. • No. 32 overall prospect (Padres' No. ) Luis Urias collected his third multi-hit game in the last four days, batting 3-for-5 with an RBI for Triple-A El Paso. • In his return from the disabled list, No. 44 overall prospect (Yankees' No. 3) Justus Sheffield held his opponent without a run. The 22-year-old southpaw pitched four scoreless innings with three hits, a walk and five strikeouts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. • Astros' No. 24 prospect J.J. Matijevic went deep twice for Class A Advanced Buies Creek. He was 3-for-4 with a pair of solo homers, giving him six long balls on the season as well as two multi-homer games. Ronnie Dawson (Houston's No. 14) also left the yard in that game as part of a four-RBI performance. • Braves' No. 18 prospect Drew Waters was a catalyst for Class A Rome on Wednesday, batting 3-for-3 with an RBI, two doubles, a triple, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base from the leadoff spot. His seven total bases tied his career-high. • Orioles' No. 15 prospect Zac Lowther held Hickory to one hit and three runs over six innings in a gem for Class A Delmarva. He struck out 10 batters, reaching double digits for the third time this season. It was his best performance since he pitched six hitless frames and struck out 13 in his season debut on April 9. The left-hander has allowed just four runs through 31 innings in 2018 (1.16 ERA). • Phillies' No. 13 prospect Thomas Eshelman turned in his best performance of the season, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning -- Rochester's Nick Gordon (Twins' No. 4), brother of Mariners outfielder Dee Gordon, broke up the no-no bid with a leadoff single -- for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Eshelman completed a season-high seven innings and allowed one run on four hits. • Jonathan Hernandez, the Rangers' No. 14 prospect, followed up last week's 11-strikeout performance by fanning 10 over six scoreless innings for Class A Advanced Down East. He took a no-decision, however, as the Wood Ducks lost, 2-1, in extras. • Tigers' No. 9 prospect Daz Cameron extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-for-4, two-homer performance for Class A Advanced Lakeland. He drove in three runs and posted his third multi-hit effort in his last six games.

• White Sox No. 11 prospect Gavin Sheets finished a double shy of the cycle in Class A Advanced Winston-Salem's 3-1 win in the opener of a doubleheader against Buies Creek. Sheets homered for a second consecutive day, hit his second career triple and had a hand in all three of Winston-Salem's runs. Sheets' teammate, Luis Alexander Basabe (Chicago's No. 13 prospect) impressed in the nightcap, batting 3-for-4 with a solo homer.

AL Central prospects who are this close to callup By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com / May 23, 2018 Prospects remain the lifeblood of Major League teams, and it's apparent in the American League Central with the White Sox, Royals and Tigers all in a rebuilding stage, while the contending Indians and Twins have prospects who are close to reaching the big leagues and could help down the stretch as they compete for the postseason. The division boasts 18 players ranked among MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects, including eight from the White Sox, five from the Twins, three from the Tigers and two from the Indians. So it's clear that plenty of talent is going to make its way into the division in the near future. With that in mind, here's a look at five prospects -- one from each team -- who could make an impact in 2018. Indians Prospect: RHP Shane Bieber MLB Pipeline rank: No. 8 (Indians) Why you should keep an eye on him: Bieber excelled with Double-A Akron (1.32 ERA in four starts) and hasn't missed a beat since being promoted to Triple-A Columbus (1.16 ERA through five starts). Overall, the precision-based righty had a 1.23 ERA with 54 strikeouts against just three walks in 58 1/3 innings through his first nine outings. ETA: Possibly later this season. Bieber was a blip on the organization's radar coming into 2018, but he has risen to the next-man-up region of the depth chart. If there were a setback in the MLB rotation, the righty now looks like a real possibility to be called. Royals Prospect: LHP Richard Lovelady MLB Pipeline rank: No. 17 (Royals) Why you should keep an eye on him: Lovelady is only 22 and rising through the system at a quick rate. He has a plus fastball with late life and a slider that could be Major League-ready now. He is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 15 games at Triple-A Omaha this season. ETA: Lovelady is not on the 40-man roster, but that could change when spots open up after the non-waiver Trade Deadline. There's a decent chance you'll see him at the big league level this season. Tigers Prospect: OF Christin Stewart MLB Pipeline rank: No. 10 (Tigers) Why you should keep an eye on him: The Tigers need impact bats for their rebuilding project, and Stewart is about as impactful of a bat as they have in their system. But the power-hitting left-handed batter has been hitting for average, too, in Triple-A Toledo. ETA: Stewart could make his debut late in the 2018 season, possibly as a September callup. Twins Prospect: SS Nick Gordon MLB Pipeline rank: No. 4 (Twins), No. 30 (MLB) Why you should keep an eye on him: After hitting .333/.381/.525 with 18 extra-base hits and seven stolen bases in 40 games at Double-A Chattanooga, Gordon was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

The son of former MLB closer Tom Gordon, he's also worked to improve his defense and is considered a capable shortstop. ETA: Gordon could make his debut late this year, potentially as a September callup. The Twins have a crowded middle infield with shortstop Eduardo Escobar and second baseman Brian Dozier, as well as shortstop Jorge Polanco set to return from his 80-game suspension in early July. But Dozier and Escobar are both impending free agents, so Gordon could establish himself as a regular next year. White Sox Prospect: OF Eloy Jimenez MLB Pipeline rank: No. 1 (White Sox), No. 3 (MLB) Why you should keep an eye on him: Every rebuild has a cornerstone player or two, and the right-handed-hitting Jimenez appears to be that sort of presence for the White Sox. The Cubs may not have reached a third straight National League Championship Series in 2017 without acquiring lefty Jose Quintana at the Deadline, but in Jimenez, the White Sox received in return a potential offensive force for the next decade. ETA: The White Sox certainly aren't rushing prospects, so he conceivably could spend the 2018 season in the Minors. But as general manager Rick Hahn has said, the good ones have a way of forcing the issue.

White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will reportedly be suspended 80 games for use of PED By Vinnie Duber / NBC Sports Chicago / May 23, 2018 For the first time since new rules came into effect in 2005, the White Sox will reportedly see a major league player suspended for violating baseball’s ban on performance-enhancing drugs. Welington Castillo, the team’s biggest offseason addition, will be suspended for 80 games, according to a pair of reports. Manager Rick Renteria said after Wednesday's win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles that he couldn't comment on the reports. Castillo played in Wednesday's game, during which the news broke. "For me, those at this particular moment are rumors," Renteria said. "MLB is the one that is in charge of that type of stuff. Until they release anything officially I can’t really comment on that." The veteran catcher, slashing .267/.309/.466 with six home runs and 15 RBIs in 33 games this season, was brought in over the winter to help the rebuilding White Sox in both the short and long term. He had a career year offensively and defensively in 2017, and he was acquired to help develop a young pitching staff featuring big pieces of the future like Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, and also to swing a solid bat and help this young team learn how to win. If Castillo proves productive over the course of his two-year deal, the White Sox have a team option that could keep Castillo on the South Side for the 2020 season. That could make him a piece of the puzzle for when the rebuild reaches its apex and the team is ready to start contending for championships. But this news has the potential to change that dramatically. Zack Collins and Seby Zavala are both having strong offensive seasons at Double-A Birmingham and figure to be the long-term answers behind the plate. But Castillo’s absence from any long-term picture could leave the White Sox without a veteran safety net in the years ahead, depending on how the team decides to react to this news now and in the coming seasons. Castillo’s absence for the next 80 games could also have an impact on the development of aforementioned pitchers like Giolito and Lopez. Lopez, in particular, has been throwing really well this season, and Giolito has control issues to work through, as he leads the American League in walks. Without the veteran catcher brought in to help those guys transition to the major league level, how will the transition change for those two pitchers?

Omar Narvaez would be the logical choice to take over as the No. 1 catcher. As for who could take Castillo's place on the major league roster, the options are limited. Kevan Smith, who was edged out by Narvaez for the backup-catching job in spring training, is on the disabled list at Triple-A Charlotte, placed there Tuesday. The aforementioned Zavala is also injured at Double-A Birmingham, and it seems far too early to rush Collins to the big leagues. Alfredo Gonzalez is a catcher on the roster at Charlotte. A spot on the 40-man roster would need to be freed up to bring him to Chicago.

Cubs? White Sox? Manny Machado mum on Chicago possibilities as both sides of town dream of his World Series impact By Vinnie Duber / NBC Sports Chicago / May 23, 2018 What’s Manny Machado’s favorite pizza place? What’s his favorite bar on Rush Street? Does he want to shoot the puck at the Blackhawks game? Maybe drive a Red Line train? Headline Lollapalooza? Heck, is there anything that can get this guy to Chicago? Sadly, Machado has no opinion on Chicago, at least no opinion he'd like to share. He talks as though he’s experienced nothing but the tarmac at O’Hare and the inside of the visitor’s clubhouse at Guaranteed Rate Field. “To be honest, nothing,” Machado said when one of the multitude of media members asked him what he thought about the city ahead of his Baltimore Orioles’ game against the White Sox on Monday night. “I go from my (hotel) room to the ballpark to play baseball. I try to keep it simple, my life is simple. I don’t really do too much other than come here and play.” Sorry, Cubs and White Sox fans. No inside info to better the offer. Both sides of town are entranced by Machado Mania. The North Side wants him to arrive via trade and help deliver another World Series championship in 2018. The South Side wants him to ink a monster free-agent deal and deliver a whole bunch of World Series championships as the new face of the rebuild. But no matter whether you want the MVP candidate in blue pinstripes or 1983 throwbacks, he made no indication he’s thinking about his next team when he spoke Monday. “That’s out of my hands. I can’t control that,” he said. “I’ve got to go out and win some games, do as much as I can for my ball club. “I’m here to play baseball. Obviously you’ve got to answer these questions, but at the end of the day none of that matters. I’m here to win some games with my ball club, win some here with the Orioles, and play well at the same time. “I’m not getting distracted by any of this, and all this talk, it’s rumors. They’re all rumors and talks. At the end of the day, I’ve got to go out there and perform and win games for this ball club.” For the Cubs, rumors of a Machado pursuit would come at a seemingly steep cost. With almost nothing to deal away from the farm system, an Orioles team looking to jumpstart a rebuilding effort of their own would likely require Addison Russell as a centerpiece of any trade offer. Would Theo Epstein’s front office be willing to part with Russell, who they always speak so highly of, who is still just 24 years old and who remains under team control through the 2021 season? Just for a few months of Machado, who is by no means a guarantee to stick around on a free-agent deal? The Cubs’ title chase this season would figure to be better served by getting two of their recent pitching acquisitions to turn in more consistently good performances. If Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish can right their respective ships, the Cubs might not need to worry about blowing up their core to add an MVP candidate to an already menacing lineup featuring multiple All Stars. But there’s no doubt about it: Any team that adds Machado to the mix is going to improve its chances of hoisting a trophy this October.

Unlike a pursuit of a player during free agency, it’s the Orioles the Cubs need to convince to seal a deal, not Machado, and even with Russell as the main piece, the Cubs’ package might not be the best one out there. But Machado, despite his comments, has likely heard a little bit of what it’s like to play on the North Side from the guy he calls his cousin, Albert Almora Jr. “As kids growing up we played together,” Machado said. “When we were playing in his backyard growing up, we always dreamed about playing together some day in the big leagues and putting on the same big league uniform and be on the same field, win a World Series together, that’s every kid’s dream.” Meanwhile, the White Sox are, as they’re doing in every facet of their existence at the moment, playing a long game when it comes to Machado or any big-name free-agent-to-be. Reports dating back to last winter say they’re expected to be one of the many teams vying to sign Machado to what’s sure to be a gargantuan contract when he joins Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson and a host of other superstars in free agency this winter. Machado’s production has made him the object of White Sox fans’ affections for some time, and the dream of seeing him join all the young talent in this rebuilding effort and leading the South Siders in their next pursuit of a title is still alive and well in their minds. The White Sox will have the financial ability to pay the high price for Machado, if they choose — a price, it should be noted, that come winter will be only measured in money and not players, as a midseason trade during this campaign would be. Obviously the biggest selling point is their bright future, where he could anchor a lineup that also features Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert. Pair that with a boatload of cash, and maybe it’s enough to edge out the rest of what’s expected to be a very competitive market. The White Sox, too, have an apparent void at third base (or shortstop, should they do some maneuvering on the left side of the infield) moving forward after Jake Burger, last year’s first-round pick, twice tore the same Achilles tendon this year. While there’s still time needed to tell where exactly the White Sox will have major league holes to fill, penciling names into a 2020 lineup leaves most pencilers with a question mark at third base. Machado would fit nicely there, and the apparent need could provide more drive for the White Sox to get something done this winter. There will be other options, of course, should they miss out on Machado. Donaldson this winter and Nolan Arenado the following are two other alluring names. Be it Machado, it would be the kind of statement signing that signals that the rebuilding effort is ready to transition into the contention phase, much like the Cubs did with Jon Lester. And like the Cubs, the White Sox have their own Machado friend to make a convincing pitch. Nicky Delmonico played alongside Machado (and Harper, for that matter) on a Team USA squad back in 2009. “It was really cool. I got to play with Harper for two years and Machado (for one),” Delmonico said last week. “Just to be around that type of talent, it was a lot of fun. “It was pretty special. We had a lot of guys who are doing well at the big league level. It was like a big family. “You’re with each other every day. It’s like what I compare to the minor leagues. You’re playing every day in that short amount of time. So you got to know that person pretty well. And to play with those guys, it was a lot of fun.” And Welington Castillo, too, got to know Machado when they were teammates last year in Baltimore. “He’s special, honestly,” Castillo said. “I had the opportunity to play with him last year in the (World Baseball Classic) and then for a year with the Orioles. It’s nice to play with him in the same lineup and spend time with him. He’s an awesome player and an awesome person. I think that’s why everybody is talking about him. Everybody sees because he’s been showing them every year, what he can do. “Who wouldn’t want to have a guy like him?”

If Machado has received any PR training through this process, he put it to good use Monday. Nothing he said indicated any preference to join either of this city’s teams either this season or next. He didn’t say the word “Cubs” once, and judging by his response to the lone question asked specifically about the White Sox, it doesn’t sound like the South Side rebuild is the talk of the Orioles’ clubhouse. That, though, will likely do nothing to dampen enthusiasm on either side of town that Machado could soon call this city home, nor does it mean Machado wouldn't be jazzed about joining a championship contender this season or a franchise with a bright future next season. But until a deal is made this summer or this winter — or both — it’s all just speculation. Until then, Machado’s going to try to beat one of Chicago’s teams four times this week, either as a preview of what could be or a display of opportunity lost.

Column: Welington Castillo’s PED suspension a setback for White Sox rebuild By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune / May 23, 2018 Welington Castillo was conducting a postgame TV interview after Tuesday night’s White Sox win when Yolmer Sanchez interrupted and dumped a bucket of Gatorade over his own head. The Sox were trending upward for the first time this season, and everyone was seemingly in on the fun. But everything changed 24 hours later, and when news broke during Wednesday’s game that Castillo would be handed an 80-game suspension for PED use, the Sox’s season once again was operating under a black cloud. Manager Rick Renteria referred to the report by Dominican journalist Americo Celado as “rumors” and declined to comment after the game, though it was confirmed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Castillo is the second major-leaguer suspended for PED use in the last two weeks, following Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano. Castillo, 31, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal early last winter before the free-agent freeze, was brought in to mentor the young Sox pitchers, provide some much-needed pop to the lineup and keep the seat warm for catching prospect Zack Collins. Castillo averaged 18 home runs and 59 RBIs with a .767 OPS the last three seasons before signing with the Sox, and his 2.7 WAR last year with the Orioles was sixth among catchers with 300 or more plate appearances. Omar Narvaez, who split starts with Kevan Smith last year, was relegated to a backup role this year, starting 16 of 46 games. But the loss of Castillo now thrusts Narvaez back into the starting job, at least for the time being, despite a .180 average. With Smith on the DL at Triple-A Charlotte, the Sox likely will have to bring in a discarded veteran from off the scrap heap. With top pitching prospect Michael Kopech expected to arrive sometime in the near future, the Sox’s catching situation is in a state of flux. It’s not a major setback to the Sox in terms of their ability to compete. They already appear to be on their way to 100 or more losses, despite taking five of their last seven from the Rangers and Orioles, a couple of bottom-dwellers in their divisions. Castillo would be ineligible for the postseason, which obviously is irrelevant at this point. But the suspension means all the time Castillo spent from spring training on learning the new pitchers is now wasted. And it’s a black eye for the Sox, who have been trying to promote the team as a group of young, grinding players to make up for its overall lack of talent.

One of the more genial players, Castillo’s presence will be missed in the Sox clubhouse. He wasn’t having a particularly productive season, but he was always upbeat and in the middle of the team’s festivities. Castillo signed with the Sox early in December, saying he had five or six options at the time but “didn't want to wait.” “My agent told me it’s going to be hard to sign,” he said in February. “Last year (the Sox) wanted me to sign, and I know this is a young team with a lot of talent and they’re starting to put something together." While Castillo still has another year left on his contract and a club option for 2020, the Sox could go in another direction in 2019, even if neither Collins nor Seby Zavala, their other top catching prospect, is ready to make the big-league club next spring. Either way, the embarrassment of having their starting catcher suspended for PEDs casts a shadow over the rebuild, which fans generally have bought into in spite of one of the worst starts in franchise history. It’s hard to wipe the smile off Renteria’s face. He’s always looking at the bright side of things, despite their losing ways. But this could be his biggest challenge since taking over the managerial reins in 2017. When the dust settles from Castillo’s suspension, will that smile still be there?

Yoan Moncada has untapped power from right side, Rick Renteria says By Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune / May 23, 2018 When Yoan Moncada hit a sacrifice fly off Orioles reliever Richard Bleier in the eighth inning Tuesday night, he did more than just drive in the tying run and set the stage for a comeback victory. He showed some power while batting from the right side. “I’ll tell you this,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said, “the right-handed at-bat against the lefty was, for me, real impressive because that’s the side he has been trying to work on a little bit more. To be able to drive the ball and create the sacrifice fly was really big.” Moncada ranks high among American League leadoff men in slugging (.500, tied for third), but the switch-hitter has done most of his damage batting left-handed. A lot of that stems from a lack of opportunities from the right side, partly due to missing 10 days with left hamstring tightness earlier this month. “He’s still trying to get back to where he was when he left off,” Renteria said before adding he believes Moncada can hit with more power right-handed when he does find his groove again.. Entering Wednesday’s play, the second baseman has hit .154 right-handed in 39 at-bats and none of his six home runs came from that side. “He doesn’t have as many at-bats (from the right side) just because he doesn’t face that many lefties,” Renteria said. “You need a larger amount of at-bats against lefties to get a sense of where you’re going to ultimately be. I still think that he probably has the ability of having more power — even though he has power from the left side — I think he has the ability to have more power from the right side.” “It’s just a matter of him trying to manage that side of the box without trying to be the same as he is on the left-handed side.”

Making strides: Renteria likes the progress he’s seeing in Tim Anderson’s development, not only offensively but on defense. While he’s not an elite shortstop, he’s tied with the Indians’ Francisco Lindor in range factor (3.91) among qualified shortstops at 10th. “He gets to a lot of balls,” Renteria said, “but he’s completing a lot more balls, he’s coming through balls a little bit better. He’s improving a little bit more to his back-hand side, which is one of the things that he has been working on a lot.” Speaking of defense: What Daniel Palka has done with the bat (.375 with two triples and two RBI in his last four games), coupled with some injuries, has gotten him regular work, but what he does in the outfield can help him stay in the majors. First-base coach Daryl Boston has been working Palka with fungo drills. Renteria said: “He is a work in progress defensively, and he’s not afraid to work to try to improve. I think his bat is showing some capability against lefties and righties, and I think that’s going to continue to buy him more time.”

Welington Castillo's reported PED suspension overshadows White Sox's 11-1 victory over Orioles By Phil Thompson / Chicago Tribune / May 23, 2018 Reports White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will be suspended for 80 games for using a performance-enhancing drug put a damper on a 11-1 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. Dominican journalist Americo Celado S. first reported Major League Baseball planned to hand down a suspension Thursday for “steroid use.” The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal confirmed through sources that Castillo would be suspended for violating baseball’s Joint Drug Agreement, but was told the prohibited substance wasn’t steroids. The Tribune could not immediately verify the reports. Asked about them after the game, manager Rick Renteria said, “For me, those are just, at this particular moment, rumors. MLB’s the one in charge of all that stuff, and until they release something officially I can’t really comment.” Castillo, who singled in the third inning, did not address reporters afterward. Earlier this week, Renteria benched Castillo for not hustling to first base on a popup and Castillo expressed regret to reporters the next day. There were no outward signs during the game Wednesday that Castillo’s teammates were aware of or were affected by the reports. Another somber note was struck when outfielder Leury Garcia sprained his left knee while stealing third base and left the game. Renteria said Garcia will be reevaluated Thursday morning, as will designated-hitter Matt Davidson who was a late scratch with back stiffness. There were many high notes, though, Wednesday. Yoan Moncada hit a three-run homer, Adam Engel when 4-for-4 with a two-run shot to left field in the fifth, his first since Sept. 11 in Kansas City, and Jose Rondon hit his first career blast to right field in the seventh. It was the fourth time this season the Sox scored 10 or more runs, the last on April 23. The hit parade nearly overshadowed Dylan Covey’s performance. Coming into the game, the young right-hander (1-1, 3.46 ERA) had a dubious streak hanging over his head — 13 straight starts without a victory, the longest in Sox history. He certainly put that to bed, giving up just one earned run on six hits and striking out eight in a career-high seven innings to notch his first major-league triumph.

Covey had given up at least three runs in each of his last five starts before Wednesday. But Sox manager Rick Renteria emphasized beforehand he had been doing a better job attacking the strike zone in Triple-A Charlotte before his call-up Saturday. Covey threw 65 of 103 pitches for strikes. Last season, the Sox had to keep him on the 25-man roster as a Rule 5 draft pick and he floundered. “It was tough. Obviously, I wasn't ready, I don't think,” Covey said. “But I think that it taught me more than I could ever have learned at any level in minor-league baseball.” The 68-degree temperature at game time seemed to agree with Sox batters, eight of whom had at least a single and overall the team had 12 hits. Engel matched his career high with four hits and Daniel Palka extended his hitting streak to five games. The Sox stole four bases (though one was uncontested), and after his theft, Engel advanced to third on a wild pitch. Garcia strung together back-to-back steals but came up limping while keeping his foot on third base.

Column: Make the White Sox watchable: Bring up Eloy Jimenez once the arbitration date passes By Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune / May 23, 2018 The White Sox have cornered the market on playing nondescript games before tiny crowds. Before they rallied late Tuesday night to take down the Orioles, the Sox played another buzz-free game before about 12,500 fans at Guaranteed Rate Field. Give Yolmer Sanchez & Co. credit for rallying from down 2-0 in the eighth. “If you can read my T-shirt, it says, ‘Ricky’s Boys Don’t Quit,’ ” Sanchez proclaimed. “We play nine innings. We fight until the end.” The Sox improved to 14-31 by beating a team that’s 5-20 on the road. Congrats. Most Sox games will remain unwatchable until the team promotes Eloy Jimenez from Double-A Birmingham, where he leads the Southern League with a .608 slugging percentage. Many feel Jimenez, 21, will be the Sox’s best outfielder once he joins the team. Yahoo baseball columnist Jeff Passan, interviewed Tuesday on the McNeil & Parkins show on WSCR-AM 670, predicted Jimenez would be up by the middle of June. “He’s ready,” Passan said. “He’s crushing (it) at Double A and yeah, you could put him at Triple A to face the junkballers and 4-A type pitchers, the borderline major-league guys. But he’s not going to learn anything at Triple A that he hasn’t already. We’re a couple weeks out from the Eloy era and it’s going to be pretty cool.” Responded Danny Parkins: “That is going to make White Sox games so much better.” Passan said he doubted Jimenez’s arrival would prompt Sox fans to start showing up and tuning in. But the hosts disagreed. “I think they will because they’ve been disgusted by everything they have seen from the first 45-ish games,” Dan McNeil said. “Understandably so,” Passan replied. “They’ve been a pile of garbage so far.”

Said McNeil: “We like to watch when Reynaldo Lopez throws. We like to watch (Lucas) Giolito. And even though James Shields has sometimes been pretty good, nobody cares!” The Sox don’t want to bring Jimenez up before the early June cutoff date because that would grant him an extra year of salary arbitration. Nor should they. That would be bad for business. As soon as the arbitration date passes, the Sox should make people care. Take this rebuild up a notch. Bring up Jimenez.

White Sox’ Anderson says he’s just scratching the surface By Daryl Van Schouwen / Sun-Times / May 23, 2018 Shortstop Tim Anderson doesn’t mince words when talking about how good he wants to be. And how good he can be. What you see now from Anderson, 24, is not what you’re going to get next year and beyond, he says. He has raised a high bar and believes the ceiling is far from being reached. “It’s way up there,’’ Anderson said. “I’m not even close, not even close. I still do things that I can’t even believe. I feel like I got a high ceiling. I’ll keep working and bust through.’’ The White Sox want this to happen, and they want it bad. They view Anderson and second baseman Yoan Moncada, 22, as their long-term middle infielders, smack dab in the middle of their rebuild. The development of the keystone combo in 2018 is arguably the most important thing going on position-player-wise for the Sox. For Anderson, his development has been a mixed bag. On the plus side, he has seven home runs, 11 stolen bases and already a career-high 15 walks. On the minus side, he was hitting .156 in his previous 19 games and had only three steals in his previous 29 games before the Sox beat the Orioles 11-1 Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Manager Rick Renteria gave him a full day off Tuesday for the first time this season. “To reset,’’ said Anderson, who has a .232/.296/.396 slash and went 1-for-3 in the rout of the Orioles with an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. The most concerning thing about Anderson’s game in 2017, his first full season in the majors, was a major-league-high 28 errors. But he committed only six errors in his last 65 games last season and, according to defensive metrics, is playing better in 2018. “I wasn’t aware of the numbers,’’ Anderson said. “I try not to get too wrapped up in reading about what’s being said, I just get into my work — and I’m learning.’’ After ranking 30th among all shortstops in defensive wins above replacement in 2017, Anderson is 11th. “He gets to a lot of balls, but I think he’s completing a lot more balls, he’s coming through balls a little bit better,’’ Renteria said. “Coming forward on the ball, he’s really good. And his first step off a batted ball is pretty quick. So as he continues to see more and more ground balls, more and more action, with all the adjustments in the defense with the shifts and things of that nature, you start to get an understanding more and more of that.’’ Anderson said his backhand, once his weakness, is improving because of hard work.

“I’m using it in the game now, so that’s a big deal,’’ he said. “And it’s going to get better.’’ If it’s said that Anderson’s overall game has gotten better, the Sox will rest more comfortably about having a premium position covered. Renteria says Anderson is right about that high ceiling. “I agree with him,’’ Renteria said. “He’s not at the top of what we expect and hope he will ultimately become as a major-league shortstop in all facets of his game. He continues to improve. From the first year I was here, seeing him when he first came up, and then last year and this year, we’ve seen a lot of gains in the field, on the bases, offensively. I know he’s been in a little bit more of a slowing trend right now with the offense. But, in general, he’s gaining a lot more knowledge in playing baseball at the major-league level.’’

Report: White Sox’ Castillo to receive 80-game suspension for PEDs By Daryl Van Schouwen / Sun-Times / May 23, 2018 White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will be suspended 80 games for failing a PED test, according to a report out of the Dominican Republic that was confirmed by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Castillo, 31, who signed a two-year, $15 million contract as a free agent during the offseason, caught all nine innings of the Sox’ 11-1 victory against the Orioles at Guaranteed Rate Field, going 1-for-5 with two strikeouts. According to Dominican journalist Americo Celado, an announcement that Castillo violated the league’s joint drug agreement could come from Major League Baseball on Thursday. It wasn’t immediately known what Castillo would be suspended for, but reportedly it’s not for a steroid. The Sox declined comment Wednesday night. “Those are rumors,’’ manager Rick Renteria said after the game. “MLB is the one that is in charge of that type of stuff. Until they release anything officially, I can’t really comment on that.’’ Omar Narvaez, who’s batting .180 and leading the majors with seven passed balls, would assume the No. 1 catcher’s role. The Sox’ top catcher at Class AAA Charlotte, Kevan Smith, is on the seven-day disabled list with an ankle issue. Alfredo Gonzalez, a career .159 hitter in Triple-A, is not on the 40-man roster. Castillo is batting .267 with six home runs and 15 RBI in 123 plate appearances. When the Sox signed him on Dec. 1, general manager Rick Hahn said Castillo’s “presence will have a lasting positive effect on our younger pitchers and catchers as they continue their development at the major-league level.” The Mariners’ Robinson Cano received an 80-game suspension this month after testing positive for Furosemide, a masking agent that is a banned substance. Covey snaps skid Right-hander Dylan Covey earned his first career victory in 20 appearances and 14 starts, allowing one earned run in a career-high seven innings as the Sox (15-31) won for the fifth time in seven games. Covey walked one, allowed six hits and struck out eight. Working with an improved fastball in the 93-96 mph range, Covey halted a streak of 13 consecutive winless starts to open his career, the longest in Sox history. “The fastball was really working well for me,’’ said Covey, who was 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA in seven starts with Charlotte this season.

“When I spoke to him after the game,’’ Renteria said, “I told him, ‘Great job,’ and he said, ‘I’ve been working really hard.’ And he has.” Yoan Moncada, Adam Engel (four hits) and Jose Rondon (first of his career) homered for the Sox. Davidson scratched, Garcia hurt Designated hitter Matt Davidson was a late scratch with back stiffness. Davidson (.243/.368/.521), the team leader in homers (11) and RBI (28), was replaced by Rondon. Leury Garcia left the game with a sprained left knee and will be re-evaluated Thursday. Another minor-league OF signed The Sox’ already thin outfield, made worse by injuries to Avisail Garcia and Nicky Delmonico, prompted a second minor-league signing in three days. Alex Presley, 32, was added to Charlotte’s active roster, two days after Michael Saunders, 31, signed a minor-league deal. Farquhar to throw out first pitch Right-hander Danny Farquhar, who continues to progress from a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm, will throw out the first pitch before the Sox’ game against the Brewers on June 1, according to MLB.com.

Umpires for Cubs game, Southpaw deliver stuffed animals at children’s hospital By Madeline Kenney / Sun-Times / May 23, 2018 While Cubs and Indians players participated in their game-day rituals, four MLB umpires for Wednesday evening’s Indians-Cubs game at Wrigley Field spent the day delivering furry friends to young patients at a children’s hospital. As part of the UMPS CARE Charities, umpires Ted Barrett, Lance Barksdale, Will Little and Tom Woodring, along with White Sox mascot Southpaw handed out stuffed animals — courtesy of Build-A-Bear — to patients at Comer Children’s Hospital located in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The main goal of the umpires visit was to offer words of encouragement and brighten the days of children coping with cancer and other serious illness. The children were allowed to choose their own animal as well as outfits — including Cubs and White Sox uniforms — for their new furry friend.

Report: Castillo facing 80-game suspension for failed drug test By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald / May 23, 2018 Being benched Monday night after failing to run to first base on a popout apparently is not going to be the lowlight of Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo's week. During Wednesday night's game against the Orioles at Guaranteed Rate Field, Dominican Republic journalist Americao Celado reported Castillo is facing an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. Castillo played for the Sox Wednesday and could begin serving the suspension Thursday. Major-league baseball has not confirmed the suspension.

"For me, those at this particular moment are rumors," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "MLB is the one that is in charge of that type of stuff. Until they release anything officially, I can't really comment on that." The 31-year-old Castillo signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Sox on Dec. 1. An 80-game suspension would cost him roughly $3.5 million in salary. If Castillo is indeed suspended, Omar Navarez takes over as the White Sox's No. 1 catcher. Class AAA Charlotte catcher Kevan Smith has played in 94 games with the Sox over the last two seasons, but the Knights placed him on the disabled list Tuesday. Double-A Birmingham catcher Seby Zavala, who leads the Southern League with 10 home runs, is on the DL with a wrist injury. Top catching prospect Zack Collins, also at Birmingham, likely needs more minor-league experience, so Charlotte catcher Alfredo Gonzalez appears to be the best option to replace Castillo. Sox roll over Orioles: It was a night of firsts in the White Sox's 11-1 win over Baltimore Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. In his 20th game (14th start) for the Sox dating back to last season, Dylan Covey earned his first major-league win. The 26-year-old righty pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 6 hits and 1 walk to go with 8 strikeouts. "It feels really good," said Covey, who has spent most of the current season with Class AAA Charlotte. "It took a while to get it; it's been a process for me. I learned a lot in Triple-A this year. I think I just became comfortable with myself on the mound. I don't fight myself anymore." Adam Engel had the first 4-hit game of his career, raising his batting average from .183 to .212. Jose Rondon hit his first career home run, a 2-run shot in the seventh inning. After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Yoan Moncada put the White Sox in front for good with a 3-run homer in the third. Designated hitter Matt Davidson (stiff back) was scratched before the game. Left fielder Leury Garcia has to exit in the fifth inning with a left ankle injury.

White Sox shortstop Anderson 'not even close' to reaching potential By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald / May 23, 2018 By most accounts, Tim Anderson is tracking in a positive direction. Still trying to prove he has the skills to stick as the Chicago White Sox's starting shortstop in the future, Anderson had already drawn a career-high 14 walks this season heading into Wednesday night's game against the Orioles. He was also tied for third in the American League with 11 stolen bases and ranked third on the Sox with 7 home runs. Throw in improved defensive play at the most difficult position on the field, and maybe you are looking at the White Sox's shortstop for the foreseeable future.

Anderson is happy with where he's at as he moves deeper into his second full major-league season, but far from satisfied. "It's way up there," the 24-year-old Anderson said when asked how much higher his ceiling is as a player. "Way up there. I'm not even close. I still do things that I can't even believe. I feel like I've got a high ceiling and I'll keep working and bust through." Manager Rick Renteria was the Sox's bench coach under Robin Ventura in 2016 when Anderson arrived from Class AAA Charlotte on June 10. He has seen steady progression. "He's not at the top of what we expect and hope he will ultimately become as a major-league shortstop in all facets of his game," Renteria said. "He continues to improve. From the first year I was here, seeing him when he first came up, and then last year and this year, we've seen a lot of gains both in the field, on the bases, offensively. "I know he's been in a little bit more of a slowing trend right now with the offense. But just in general, he's gaining a lot more knowledge in playing the game of baseball at the major-league level. That experience is going to continue, hopefully, to bode well for him in terms of his continued growth." Anderson was back in the lineup Wednesday night after Renteria gave him a day off to rest. Mired in a 10-for-64 slump, Anderson started 43 of the White Sox's first 44 games. "The goal wasn't to play all of them, but play as many as I can," Anderson said. "I'm not going to argue with (Renteria). It's just a good time to reset and start fresh." The walks are up, as are the stolen bases. Anderson's .230/.291/.398 hitting line is down, but seeing more pitches should eventually boost those numbers. "It's helped me be more patient," he said. "I'm learning. I'm learning a lot about the (strike) zone and laying off the balls away and low, and all that junk they're throwing me. I'm still learning and I know I'm taking steps. I've got to keep working." Defensively, Anderson has made noticeable improvement over last year, when he led the majors with 28 errors in 145 games. Anderson has 5 errors in 44 games this season. "He gets to a lot of balls, but I think he's completing a lot more balls," Renteria said, "He's coming through balls a little bit better. I do think that he's improving a little bit more to his backhand side, which is one of the things that he's been working on a lot. I think he's trying to maintain arm strength throughout a long season. "As he continues to see more and more groundballs, more and more action, with all the adjustments in the defense with the shifts and things of that nature, I think you just continue to improve because you're experiencing it more."

No trouble with the curve: Michael Kopech has a third ‘plus’ pitch and it’s ready for the bright lights By James Fegan / The Athletic / May 23, 2018 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kevan Smith is not trying to talk out of turn, or step on the White Sox plans, but after eight years in the organization, the catcher has seen prospect arms come and go, and fashions himself as being able to evaluate just a little bit. So what did he think of the team’s top pitching prospect Michael Kopech when he first started catching him?

“In my personal mind, I thought this dude was a closer,” Smith said. “I caught him a bunch and I’m constantly like ‘Kopey, you would be dominant out of the bullpen as a closer. Whatever you want to be, but great heater, good slider, cambio…he’s working on it, but it was so special to see in Louisville, his last three pitches, at 100 pitches, were at 100 mph. And I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s so special.’ I’m thinking ‘If this guy only had a curveball or something with a little more depth and a little slower.’” Kopech has been tasked with developing his changeup (or cambio, if you prefer Spanish) since the outset of the year, to provide a change of pace to take pressure of his hard fastball/hard slider combo. In every interview he’s given since the spring, Kopech has talked about his changeup. After every game, he’s mostly boiled his performance down to how much progress he showed with his changeup. He sometimes mentions his fastball command, which has to be on point for him to be efficient, but even then, he’d weave it back to whether he had enough command to set up his changeup. He did this again Wednesday. The guy is focused. For the most part, it seems like progress with the changeup has been incremental. Some reports have described the change as a firm offering up around 90 mph, prompting Smith to wonder if there was another route to get hitters out in front and throw off their timing for his hard stuff. “Then he’s like ‘Oh yeah, I actually have a curveball,’” Smith said. “And I’m like ‘What?!’” Kopech has long had a curveball. He had a five-pitch mix as a high schooler, that involved the curve and a two-seamer, but as with every pitcher, there’s a difference between what pitches he can throw, and what pitches make it into the White Sox’s game plan for him to use. In his May 18 start in Triple-A Columbus, the curve made its way into live action. The results were immediate. Kopech threw seven scoreless innings, struck out nine, and allowed just four baserunners. “That was just overpowered, overmatched,” Charlotte Knights pitching coach Steve McCatty said. “His curveball is a plus pitch. It’s not just a get-me-over. It’s a plus pitch. That’s the best way to put it. It’s a plus pitch. We talked with the other staff when we were in Columbus. They liked his fastball–dominant. They liked his slider–really good. But talking to their pitching coach ‘Whatever it was he was throwing at 82, 81 mph, they had no chance.’ And that’s his curveball. I’m not saying the other ones won’t. The slider still, plus pitch, but this was…it’s not just more back and forth and change of speeds, it’s good!” The focus on the changeup doesn’t end here, but the addition of a wider speed differential to Kopech’s arsenal with a curve immediately showed the type of effect the White Sox were seeking with his third pitch. McCatty added that the necessity for a curveball to be finished out in front in his delivery, and on top of Kopech’s front leg, can also pay benefits to his other pitches, as a reminder to stay front-to-back, and avoid the rotationality that leaning on his slider can sometimes cause. Even in a follow-up outing Wednesday night, where Kopech walked four and ran up a pitch count of 100 in just five innings of work, the curveball remained prominent, actually more than ever. In a start he largely thinks was hindered by over-tinkering with his mechanics, his curveball was his best pitch. Kopech said after the game that despite his initial intention to use his curveball as a strike-grabber, it wound up taking over as a wipeout offering to finish off hitters. For the first time he could remember in his life — even in high school when it was a more regular part of his arsenal — he threw it more often than his slider, and to great effect, in just his second time using it in games. “They were working, so it was just a pitch that I had a comfort zone with,” Kopech said. “My slider has always been my go-to breaking ball. But with the way I’ve been throwing the curveball, using it the way I did tonight, especially with how often I was up in the zone with my fastball tonight, it was pretty good pitch to use. I felt like it kept me in the game.”

The curveball is a great stylistic pairing for a pitcher who is going to naturally elevate his four-seam fastball and needs something that starts out on the same visual plane. But there’s only so much fawning that can go on before someone might follow up with a question of: where has it been all this time? “I don’t think there’s a pitcher alive that hasn’t thrown knuckleballs, and they’ve thrown some really good ones but you’re scared to death of throwing it out there in a game, because if it doesn’t knuckle it gets pummeled,” McCatty said. “Being able to go out there and play with it…It’s not something where we just walked in there in the middle of the game and said ‘You know what, let’s go out there and throw a curveball today.’ We had to do a little work beforehand getting prepared for that.” Kopech has been patient and adherent to the White Sox wishes for his development. At the same time, he was ready to start throwing that curveball in games significantly before they were. “It’s a pitch I always considered using,” Kopech said “Just wanted to make sure I was on the same page as the organization, and they gave me the OK to start using it. I’ve only been throwing it for maybe about a month now — bullpens, practice, whatever the case may be. I got the chance to use it tonight a lot more than I expected.” Kopech is just 22 years old and has all of 12 starts in his career at Triple A, so it’s not like it’s been a particularly long wait to unlock a pitch with so much potential for him. But after just two starts with it, he has a new believer. “He’s throwing it for strikes, we’re punching guys out, we’re getting ahead of guys, we’re getting early swings,” Smith said. “He got so many goofy swings last start and it was just because of that one pitch. Now my whole mindset is shifted. OK, this guy can be a starter now. I’ve only caught a year and change in the big leagues but I feel like after catching a guy a few times I can basically tell you if he has the stuff to be an elite guy out there. If he can consistently pound the zone with that curveball and that fastball and obviously there are other secondary pitches, he’s going to be special.”

Where’s the Beef? White Sox catcher Welington Castillo will be suspended for 80 games By James Fegan / The Athletic / May 23, 2018 A significant crack has emerged in the White Sox’s bridge to their top catching prospects. On Wednesday night, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal confirmed a report out of the Dominican Republic that catcher Welington Castillo will be suspended 80 games for a violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Agreement. The nature of the violation is unknown, but Rosenthal specified that it was not for a steroid. Castillo, 31, was signed before the 2018 season to a two-year, $15 million deal with a club option for a third. He has started 30 of the team’s 46 games behind the plate, and was expected to provide the team with a stable and capable-hitting backstop until Zack Collins or Seby Zavala, or someone else entirely, was ready to unseat him. Despite poor early framing numbers, he was largely holding up his end of the bargain, hitting .267/.309/.466 for a 111 wRC+. Now, the White Sox will have to revert to the Omar Narváez-Kevan Smith combination that carried them through the 2017 season in admirable fashion, but clearly not to a level of satisfaction, given that the Sox went out and signed Castillo two months after the season wrapped. Narváez is off to a career-worst start, hitting .180/.275/.246, while leading baseball in passed balls and ranking poorly in framing. Smith, after suffering a high ankle sprain near the end of spring training, returned to Triple-A Charlotte to hit .283/.343/.457, but faced some of the same struggles throwing out baserunners (1-for-14), and was just placed on the minor league seven-day disabled list Tuesday. As is

typical with the minor league disabled list additions, a specific cause for Smith’s placement on the list was not initially announced by the White Sox, but he is said to be dealing with an issue with his right ankle. After those two, the White Sox run out of catchers on their 40-man roster, and start running out of major league catchers in the organization. Alfredo González is a revered framer, but a career .159/.272/.181 hitter at Triple A. Brett Austin was Carlos Rodón’s college catcher at North Carolina State, has gotten into two Triple-A games and is a career .210/.292/.320 hitter across the minors. Collins is hitting well (.248/.428/.450 at Double-A Birmingham), but is an unthinkable option at this stage of his development. Zavala is on the disabled list with a sore wrist, just to pile on top of the other setbacks. Everyone says they loved Geovany Soto in the clubhouse last year. This would be a hell of a time to show it. That about covers the current crisis, which is surely an immediate massive headache for everyone who wears a blazer to work at 35th & Shields, as is the potential loss of infielder Leury García, who left Wednesday’s 11-1 win over Baltimore with a left knee sprain, at a time when the outfield depth at both the major league and Triple-A levels has been hacked to the bone. But what remains to be seen is how it affects Castillo’s role going forward as a multi-year stabilizer of the position. He is guaranteed through 2019, but the White Sox have been largely if not entirely removed from violations of the Joint Drug Agreement at the major league level. Their reaction to the man they brought on to be a stabilizing force to both their catching corps and their young pitching staff making the national news in such a fashion remains to be seen, but it will probably fall considerably short of being pleased.

Dylan Cease is trying to live up to his potential. But can he exceed it? By James Fegan / The Athletic / May 23, 2018 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C — The residue of the six innings of scoreless ball he twirled last Friday is still written across Dylan Cease’s face. He’s smiling plenty, but the primary evidence is a wispy mustache, which looks like it’s been growing out in the five days since, while the rest of his 22-year-old face remains smooth. “If my starts are good, I can’t shave it unfortunately,” Cease explained. “I don’t want it on. I’m not doing this for joy, I’m doing this because I had a good start with it. So we’ll see after this next start. Hopefully no more than another start or two and then get rid of it. I’ll have to figure out some way to get rid of it without jinxing my pitching.” Friday’s outing was a rebound from the worst start of the year for Cease, who, with Alec Hansen on the shelf, and a 3.12 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings at High-A Winston-Salem, has a good case to be the fourth-best prospect in the White Sox system. Almost two weeks ago now, little of that was on display, as he was lit up for seven earned runs on nine hits in two strikeout-free innings, which Cease says was indicative of well, nothing. “You throw it away,” Cease said. “Honestly that was one of those games where I didn’t have it. You’ll go through a season where it’ll happen once or twice where you don’t have it. My velo was down and all that. I was overcoming some stuff too. It was just one of those bad starts, but I was able to rebound.”

The rebound has left Cease with a Michael Jordan-esque mustache, but also back on course for a season that looks like a step toward being a complete starter, rather than just a collection of jaw-dropping raw stuff out of a lean and athletic frame, and a rigid delivery that leads scouts to question his ability to start. Cease’s 10.7 percent walk rate in 2018 is too high still, but it’s also a career-low. His dominant seven-inning, 12-strikeout performance on May 1 helped him win Carolina League pitcher of the week, and was also the longest, most complete outing of his career. There were plenty of times with the Cubs when Cease blew through an opposing lineup the first time through with the raw force of his four-seam/curveball combination. Now he touts his ability to locate his heater in every quadrant of the zone, and said his changeup powered his 12-strikeout night. While his slider is still a work in progress, Cease says he’s lost the fear of using his third pitch that he had with the Cubs, filling out an arsenal that allows him to pick and choose different ways to turn over a batting order. He claims that his delivery has reached the point of being repeatable without requiring thinking, allowing him to focus more on expanding his arsenal. “He’s got a great idea of what he’s trying to do with each guy,” teammate Gavin Sheets said. “He’s very knowledgeable. It’s fun to listen to him. I like to pick his brain and see what he’s thinking with each hitter. There’s a lot of thought process that goes behind what he does. Obviously the stuff is what everybody sees but the thought behind what he does…loves to talk to the guys, loves to talk to the hitters, and find out what we’re thinking.” It’s actually a fairly rapid maturation process for Cease, who in addition from having to recover from Tommy John surgery, left high school without a real second pitch. At least not one he had to bother throwing or developing. “Just hard fastballs,” Cease said. “It’s hard to hit 95 mph in high school.” Cease is obviously still very much a power arm first and foremost. There was a spark of joyful recognition when he was reminded of falling behind 3-0 to Jean Segura in spring training, and remedying the situation with three straight challenge fastballs, a highlight of three scoreless innings against a major league lineup. Obviously the goal is fewer 3-0 counts, but the first big league camp of Cease’s career provided plenty of assurance that reaching back for his best four-seamer is still going to be a viable route for success against big league hitters, should he need it. “You don’t have any other option too,” Cease said. “I mean, you’re 3-0. I throw hard enough where I should be able to get away with some stuff when I need to. It helps. Obviously I’m trying to not get in that situation, but if I get in that situation I’m going to attack with my fastball. Even if I threw 92 mph I would do the same thing. It’s something you have to do. I’m not trying to get in a three-ball count by any means, but if I am in a three-ball count, I’m going to throw my best ones and see what they got.” Cease also spent much of spring having the same experience as Michael Kopech described in 2017, working through the “nerve-wracking” process of trying not to stand out or call negative attention to himself as an inexperienced prospect in a locker room full of major leaguers for the first time. Calling attention to yourself on the baseball field is fine, though, which is good since he can’t stop himself from doing that.

“The first time he pitched, I’m like ‘Oh my gosh,’” Blake Rutherford said. “The ball jumps out of his hand. He’s got disgusting off speed, unbelievable control. Everything he does screams unbelievable potential.” That potential is what Cease cites as his primary motivation as a baseball player, the source of drive and work ethic that gets cited for why he’ll eventually be able to smooth out his delivery enough to start. He knows he throws harder than anyone else, he knows he has swing-and-miss stuff, but also that that alone won’t get him to the majors. “I see that I’ve got a lot of potential, and I don’t want to waste it,” Cease said. “I want to be as good as I can. Motivation is just being the best I can be. I couldn’t be anymore fortunate to be playing baseball for a living. I need to do my best to be the best player I can be.” He says he’s just a White Sox pitcher now, 10 months after the trade, but every time Cease sees the Cubs, or some of his old teammates playing at Myrtle Beach, it brings back memories. Even just Sloan Park triggers memories of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery after he was drafted. Yet Cease doesn’t have any bitterness after the trade, or at least not enough to make him want to stick it to the Cubs more than the rest of the league. “I want to stick it to every team,” Cease said.