Now there are three of them! Nick McLain faces brother in Spring Training
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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Nick McLain was called up from the White Sox Minor League side for Friday afternoon¡¯s Cactus League contest against the Reds, putting him across the Camelback Ranch field from his brother, Matt. A third McLain brother, Sean, plays in the Dodgers' system.
If the McLains all reach the Majors in the same season, they would be the first brother trio to accomplish such a feat since Jose, Bengie and Yadier Molina all caught in 2010. They would be the first American-born three-brother combination to play in the same season since Ron, Hank and Hall of Famer Dick Allen in 1972.
Matt is carrying the big-league banner for the McLains currently, posting an .864 OPS with 16 home runs, 23 doubles and 50 RBIs as a Reds rookie in 2023, though he did miss all of last season with a left shoulder injury.
As for the most talented athlete of the group, a smiling Nick feels as if he deserves that honor.
¡°I like to tell them I¡¯m the most talented for sure. The third one is always the most talented,¡± Nick told MLB.com during a recent interview. ¡°We all do different things and similar things. I would say I¡¯m overall the most talented.
¡°We all say we are the best. Each one of us, individually we are all good, but I would say I¡¯m the best at everything. I¡¯ll let them know too. Golf, basketball, ping pong, pool, baseball, football: Gotta give it to myself.¡±
The White Sox selected Nick in the third round of the 2024 Draft, but the 2025 campaign marks his first with Minor League action. He¡¯s a switch-hitting outfielder who followed Sean to Arizona State, a place where Nick blossomed.
It all began for the McLains in Tustin, Calif., not far from Angel Stadium, where their parents had them share the same room until Matt was 16.
¡°My parents stuck us together. We did a lot of fun stuff,¡± said Nick, who is 20 months younger than Sean and 39 months younger than Matt. ¡°Hung out and fought in the room and it was cool.
¡°Matthew and Shawn are my best friends. I can go to them about anything baseball related. We always are very competitive. We joke around a lot but they are great to have.¡±
Nick will be part of the White Sox roster during Sunday¡¯s Spring Breakout contest against the Rockies at Camelback, checking in at No. 28 on MLB Pipeline¡¯s Top 30 prospect list for the White Sox. He grew up an Angels fan, with Mike Trout being his favorite player, but Nick is ready to carve out his own path alongside his brothers.
¡°Yeah, yeah. I hope so. That would be really cool,¡± Nick said. ¡°I would love to share the field, I guess, with any of those guys of that caliber. My brothers would be the coolest to share the field.¡±
¡°He¡¯s really talented. He works really hard. He can kind of do everything, he¡¯s an outfielder, a switch-hitter,¡± said Matt of Nick. ¡°That¡¯s the way me and all my brothers play. We want to be able to do everything on the field and everything in the box. Hit for average, hit for power. He can do it all.¡±
Rotation addition
Manager Will Venable confirmed Sean Burke as part of the White Sox rotation to start the 2025 season during his Friday media session. Burke joins Davis Martin, Mart¨ªn P¨¦rez and Jonathan Cannon as part of the starting crew, although no Opening Day choice has been announced.
There¡¯s still internal debate concerning the fifth starter¡¯s spot, although Shane Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, seems to have a slight edge with Bryse Wilson also in the picture.
¡°There's still guys that are competing and pitching well,¡± Venable said. ¡°So, we'll continue to have those discussions and see where we're at here shortly.¡±
Adams exits early
Right-hander Mason Adams -- Chicago¡¯s No. 12 prospect -- left Friday¡¯s start against the Reds in the second with right elbow discomfort, and he will undergo further testing on Saturday. Adams wasn¡¯t going to break camp with the team, but he had a strong Spring Training to date, striking out three vs. Cincinnati.
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Starter Ky Bush already has undergone Tommy John surgery, as has No. 19 prospect Blake Larson. Prelander Berroa and Juan Carela are scheduled for the procedure as well after suffering Spring Training injuries.
Third to first
? Triple-A manager Segio Santos will manage the White Sox Spring Breakout team Sunday.
? Brandon Drury hit two home runs and a double, while driving in five, during Friday¡¯s 7-3 victory.
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