5 hours Ago By LaMond Pope
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Austin Slater became the latest Chicago White Sox outfielder slowed by an injury after he was scratched from Monday’s lineup because of a strained left oblique.Slater was originally penciled in to play left field Monday against the Athletics at Camelback Ranch.
The Sox are already without left fielder Andrew Benintendi, who will miss four to six weeks after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right hand on Feb. 27. Outfielder Michael A.
Taylor is dealing with right elbow inflammation, but the Sox are hopeful he’ll return to game action by the end of this week.The Sox signed Slater to a one-year deal this offseason. He is 0-for-9 with one RBI, two walks and two runs in four games this spring.
Corey Julks took over in left field on Monday for the Sox in the 5-4 loss. The game included home runs by Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and right fielder Mike Tauchman.
Here are three more camp takeaways for the Sox.1. Infielder Lenyn Sosa is off to a strong Cactus League start.
Chicago White Sox’s Lenyn Sosa celebrates scoring against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a spring training game on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)The Sox were down to their last out on Sept. 20 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
They trailed by two runs.Lenyn Sosa came up to bat with a runner on. An epic nine-pitch battle ensued, with Sosa hitting a game-tying two-run home run against Robert Suárez.
“Before that at-bat, I was waiting and I was visualizing that moment,” Sosa recently recalled at Camelback Ranch. He spoke through an interpreter. “I had that in mind and then having that in my mind when I went to the batter’s box, I was able to execute and it happened.
That was a very special moment, and I still remember that as one of my best moments.”The home run was part of a strong final month of the 2024 season for the infielder. He slashed .
373/.398/.566 with four doubles, four home runs, 13 RBIs, 14 runs and 11 multi-hit contests in 23 September games.
“I just found a very good confidence level,” Sosa said. “I was able to carry on that to the winter league (in his native Venezuela) and I maintained the same focus that I have at the end of the season and I keep working to improve.”Sosa is off to a fast start this spring, hitting .
417 (5-for-12) with two runs, two doubles and five RBIs in five games.Sign up for our White Sox Insider newsletter“He just looks like a guy who looks like he can hit, right?” manager Will Venable said. “He’s a hitter and we know controlling the zone is going to be something that he’ll continue to work on.
But there’s thump, there’s just an understanding of situations, ability to use the whole field. Just a lot to like with him at the plate.“Really excited about him.
He looks great. Has got power in his game. We’ll continue to find ways to get him in there and expose him to different positions.
As we are getting closer to the season, we’ll all figure out how everyone fits in and slots in. One thing we’ll find ways to get his bat in the lineup for sure.”Sosa has played at second base and third this spring.
He started at first base on Monday.“I feel that the opportunity is there for everyone that is here, right?” Sosa said. “It’s a good opportunity.
It’s just a matter of who can take advantage of that opportunity.”2. Starter Sean Burke had ‘an outing to take in stride.
’Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke poses for a portrait on photo day during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L.
Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Sean Burke felt “some stuff was better, some stuff was worse,” in his second spring start Monday.The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in three innings.“I liked how my two-seam was today, I got a lot of groundouts and the command of it was good,” Burke said.
“The slider wasn’t as good today. Just fell behind some guys, a lot of traffic, some bad luck, broken-bat hits. An outing to take in stride and continue to work on stuff.
”After throwing 40 pitches in his first start on Feb. 26 against the San Diego Padres, Burke had 54 pitches Monday.“The most important part of spring is building up and making sure your stuff is where it needs to be,” Burke said.
“You will have outings like that where your stuff is not as sharp and grind through it. For all the traffic on the bases, I was happy to minimize it as much as I could.“I thought the (two-run) home run (hit by Jacob Wilson in the first inning) was the only pitch that was really hit hard, that was a middle-middle slider that was not in the best location to a pretty good hitter, so that is going to happen.
Building up is huge, and overall health-wise, good.”3. Reliever Prelander Berroa provided an injury update.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Prelander Berroa looks at pitching coach Ethan Katz before being taken out of the game during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at spring training at Sloan Park on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L.
Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)Reliever Prelander Berroa said his days have consisted of “a lot of treatment, a lot of rest,” in the aftermath of suffering a Grade 1 elbow strain on Feb. 22 against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz.“I feel a little better because the day that it happened, I was in a lot of pain,” Berroa said through an interpreter on Monday.
Berroa said he’ll have the elbow re-evaluated this week..
