Right-hander Mason Adams exited his start against the Reds in the second inning Friday with right elbow discomfort, the latest in a series of blows to the White Sox’ pitching depth this spring.
Adams, one of the Sox’ top performing prospects last season who figured to make starts for the team this season, will be further evaluated Saturday.
After Adams walked Jacob Hurtubise with one out in the second, catcher Korey Lee went to the mound, followed by Sox training staff. Adams didn’t allow a hit but he hit one batter and was charged with two runs, raising his spring ERA to 4.91 in four games including two starts.
A 13th-round Sox draft pick in 2022, Adams struck out 101 batters, walked 19 and posted a 2.44 ERA for Double-A Birmingham last season before posting a 6.88 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Charlotte.
Right-hander Prelander Berroa was hurt in the first game of the spring and will have Tommy John surgery, left-handed prospect Ky Bush had Tommy John Surgery early in camp and right-handed prospect Juan Carela was sidelined this spring and headed for Tommy John surgery along with Berroa.
Shuster cut
Left-hander Jared Shuster, who going into camp figured to land a spot on the Opening Day roster after pitching most of the 2024 season with the Sox, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte Friday.
Shuster, who posted a 4.30 ERA in 39 appearances last season, was getting stretched out as a starter in camp but “we just have some guys ahead of him,” manager Will Venable said.
Ahead of Shuster in the Sox’ starters contingent are Jonathan Cannon, left-hander Martin Perez, Davis Martin, Sean Burke and Shane Smith.
In seven Cactus League innings over four appearances, Shuster showed an improved changeup, Venable said, but he gave up eight earned runs on 15 hits including two homers and one walk while striking out eight.
“We’re going to give him the opportunity to go to work and get back into reliever shape,” Venable said. “He’ll be an option for us at some point during the summer.”
Shuster appeared in three games at Charlotte last season. He started four games for the Sox.
Burke filling the bill
Burke, who has allowed two earned runs in five innings, makes his third start Saturday.
“He had four outings in the big leagues and he dominated those outings [1.42 ERA] and right now he’s kind of doing the same thing he was doing,’’ pitching coach Ethan Katz said.
Burke added a two-seam fastball to run in on right-handed hitters.
“The stuff is there,” Katz said. “He’s a big-time physical kid that can really spin the baseball, and he’s showing that he has ability to get high-level hitters out here.”
Lee’s hot spring
Catcher Korey Lee was 0-for-4 with a walk Friday but still owns a .350/.381/.600 hitting line with three doubles and one triple in 10 games.
Lee has minimized movement in his lower half, which is helping him keep his head still.
“He’s just in the ground, which gives him a really good chance to see the baseball,” Venable said. “And he’s still getting good swings off.
“Just being able to control the zone is going to be very important for him to be successful at the plate. I’m glad he found something that he likes.”
Spring Breakout 2025
Pitchers Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor, catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero and shortstop Colson Montgomery are among Sox prospects on the Spring Breakout game Sunday. Twenty-one of the Sox’ top 30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, are on the roster. Connor McKnight and Brooke Fletcher will be on the call for CHSN (4:05 p.m.)
Sox 7, Reds 3
· Brandon Drury hit his second and third homers and sixth double of the spring in his first three plate appearances, driving in five runs with the homers.
Drury, signed to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, is pushing for an Opening Day roster spot as an infielder or designated hitter. He was the DH Friday.
Drury is batting .364/.400/.818 with 10 RBI in 11 games.
*Drury won a Silver Slugger with the Reds and Padres in 2022 and had a better year with the Angels in 2023 but battled wrist and hamstring injuries in 2024 and had the worst season of his 10-year career.
“I saw a good opportunity here to get myself back on track,” Drury said.
Drury can play all infield spots but shortstop. He’ll play second base for the first time this spring on Saturday, he said, but he doesn’t mind being a DH, which he did Friday.
“I just want to play,” he said.
*The Sox (6-13-1) have 54 players remaining in camp after Jared Shuster was optioned to Charlotte: 24 pitchers, five catchers, 15 infielders and 10 outfielders.
On deck: (split squad) Rockies at Sox, 3:05 p.m., Saturday, Glendale, Antonio Senzatela vs. Martin Perez, webcast, 1000-AM.
Sox at Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m., Saturday, Scottsdale, Sean Burke vs. Corbin Burnes.
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