Tough White Sox rotation decisions 'a good problem to have'

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Take Michael Soroka’s five strikeouts over three innings, mix in Garrett Crochet’s four punchouts in 2 2/3 innings behind him, and the White Sox have a great deal to be happy about from a 1-1 tie with the Padres on Saturday afternoon.

But it’s not just about Soroka sequencing his two-seam and four-seam fastballs with catcher Max Stassi in individual at-bats or Crochet touching 98 and 99 mph on the Peoria Sports Complex scoreboard radar gun in the scheme of Chicago pitching. There is some depth within this mound crew, leaving general manager Chris Getz and manager Pedro Grifol with some tough decisions to make in the final 16 days of Spring Training.

“Absolutely, we have a lot of good arms we’ve surprised some guys with. We have a lot of options, and that’s a good problem to have,” said Soroka, who was acquired from Atlanta in November. “I came from an organization in the Braves that has many of them, and it makes for a really good team. I love watching all of them, seeing what they’ve done.”

“Guys are throwing the ball well right now,” Crochet said. “I think the competition is bringing the best out of everybody.”

Grifol has preached full Spring Training competition since the end of the 2023 season, refusing to commit to anyone in the rotation beyond Dylan Cease and his second straight Opening Day start.

Let’s assume everyone stays healthy and no trade takes place before the Tigers visit Guaranteed Rate Field on March 28. It’s a safe bet to put Erick Fedde and Soroka behind Cease in that front five, but where do the White Sox go from there?

Chris Flexen makes his first Cactus League start on Sunday after appearing in relief during his debut. Michael Kopech is scheduled to throw three innings when he follows Jake Woodford to the mound on Monday against the Rockies.

Kopech came to camp in solid physical shape, and the ball is coming great out of his hand. There have been a few too many heavy counts, but Grifol chalks up that issue to it being early in camp.

“Obviously it’s tough to pitch in the big leagues behind in the count,” Grifol said. “But again, it’s two starts. There’s a lot of rhythm to this thing and a lot of feel to it, as well. He’s got to feel it. And we all know what he’s capable of doing. Let’s just play it out.”

Crochet threw 55 pitches in his Saturday effort, which was too high a pitch count in his estimation. It was less about him struggling in the zone and more about him not finishing off hitters.

In his first Spring Training interview discussing the move from relief to a starter’s role, Crochet said that how he bounces back and feels after his trips to the mound are an integral part of the process. He feels pretty good so far and wants to keep everything “as normal as possible” as he increases the workload.

As for his next progression as a starter? Crochet has maintained a steely focus on staying only where his feet are at the moment.

“What did I get, 2 1/3 innings? Get through three. That’s probably the next step,” Crochet said. “Obviously, pitch count will be a big factor in that. Like today, I think I threw 55 pitches in 2 1/3. Just can’t have that happen anymore. [I’ve] got to kind of hone in on my stuff and be more efficient.”

“He’s looked really good,” said Soroka of Crochet. “He’s going to fine-tune a couple of things as a starter and build out the repertoire a little bit. It’s easy velocity, and he’s attacking hitters. We’ve got some really good options everywhere, so it’s exciting.”

Those options include Nick Nastrini, who was acquired with Jordan Leasure in the Lance Lynn/Joe Kelly trade with the Dodgers last season. Or how about Chad Kuhl, who fanned five in three hitless innings Saturday?

We won’t even get into the bullpen, which has a plethora of options, including Leasure. There will be some tough calls to come, but that’s a positive for the White Sox.

“You want guys to step up, take the bull by the horn and tell you, ‘This is where I’m supposed to be,’” Grifol said. “Sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes it does.

“From experience, the guys that take it end up being the good ones. I’m happy that some guys are saying, ‘I know you had this plan, but I need to be in the plans.’”