What you need to know for White Sox Spring Training
Scott Merkin
@scottmerkinThis story was excerpted from Scott Merkin¡¯s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Will Venable¡¯s first Spring Training as White Sox manager coincides with the second year of the organization¡¯s latest rebuild.
And both sides appear excited for the mashup.
¡°The thing you hear across the board with our players is their excitement for the opportunity this year and this Spring Training will present for them,¡± Venable said. ¡°That can create a really competitive environment, and we want to lean into that.
¡°It¡¯s on us to create a schedule and daily flow that can support that. We are really excited to challenge these guys and what they do in camp and really facilitate that competitive environment.¡±
Here¡¯s a look at some frequently asked questions with 2025 White Sox Spring Training approaching:
When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
Physicals and the first workouts take place on the same day, which is Wednesday, Feb. 12. General manager Chris Getz will be answering media questions the day before.
What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
February 17
Where is the team¡¯s facility?
Camelback Ranch, located in Glendale, Ariz., at 10710 W. Camelback Road. The complex is easy to get to, just a few blocks off the 101 Highway. For those visiting from the Midwest, always remember there¡¯s an In-N-Out Burger a few blocks from the ballpark.
Can fans attend workouts?
Daily White Sox work takes place across five back fields, a couple of half fields and numerous batting cages, with areas for fans to closely watch beyond nearby fences. There are two regions on either side of the main path where players either walk or take a cart to and from the clubhouse which are prime locations to get autographs. The schedule for workouts most likely will differ between the 10 days before Cactus League action and after it starts.
Who are some new faces fans should know?
Prospects will be the White Sox focus on the Major League level, meaning they weren¡¯t operating near the big-ticket end of the free agent market. The White Sox still made interesting veteran additions such as infielder Josh Rojas, left-handed starter Martin Perez, right-hander Bryse Wilson, left-handed reliever Cam Booser, catcher Matt Thaiss and outfielders Mike Tauchman and Austin Slater, who all should help the team both on and off the field.
The biggest attention-getters in Spring Training will be those up-and-coming young players, which leads us to ¡
Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
The White Sox have six prospects in the Top 100 per MLB Pipeline¡¯s most recent rankings released on Jan. 24. That list features left-handed starters Noah Schultz (No. 16) and Hagen Smith (No. 34), catchers Kyle Teel (No. 32) and Edgar Quero (No. 66), shortstop Colson Montgomery (No. 39) and outfielder Braden Montgomery (No. 55). Teel and Montgomery were part of the four-player return from Boston in the Garrett Crochet trade on Dec. 11, while Smith was the No. 5 selection overall in the 2024 Draft. Everyone but Quero and Colson Montgomery, who could break camp as the team¡¯s starter up the middle, will be taking part in their first big league Spring Training with the White Sox.
Other young players to watch are right-handers Mason Adams, Eric Adler, Peyton Pallette and Grant Taylor, infielders Tim Elko, Jacob Gonzalez and outfielder Wilfred Veras. Infielder Chase Meidroth, who was another piece of the Crochet deal, also could make a case for a big league job.
When is the team¡¯s first Cactus League game?
Feb. 22 against the Cubs at Sloan Park. The White Sox opened in the same locale last year, dropping an 8-1 decision after yielding six in the first inning.?
What are a few other notable spring games?
Since the White Sox share the Camelback facility with the Dodgers, they play the defending World Series champions on March 2 and March 8. The White Sox also host the Cubs on March 7. Cactus League games mark a good opportunity to see the current and future in action at any site.
What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?
While the White Sox play the Rangers in Surprise on March 16, their prospects take on the Rockies prospects at 4:05 p.m. CT at Camelback Ranch for their Spring Breakout contest. This is the second year for the Spring Breakout, with games running from March 13-16 in Arizona and Florida, featuring the top young players for each franchise. Those young players currently are the crux of the White Sox being.
Last year¡¯s Spring Breakout debut, between the Cubs and White Sox at Sloan, was canceled due to a rare Arizona storm.
Will the team¡¯s games be televised?
A schedule of White Sox Cactus League contests to be televised by the new Chicago Sports Network will be announced next week.
When is the club¡¯s last game in Arizona?
Cactus League action for the White Sox finishes on March 24 at home against the Athletics, with a 2:05 p.m. CT first pitch.
Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?
As of now, the White Sox have two off-days following that contest against the Athletics.
What are the details for Opening Day?
Manager Ron Washington and the Angels visit Chicago for a three-game series at Rate Field, beginning the 2025 season. The opener takes place on March 27, with a 3:10 p.m. CT first pitch, with the Twins following the Angels to town for three. Shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yoan Moncada, integral parts of the last White Sox core, could make triumphant returns to Chicago with Los Angeles.