White Sox pitching advisor Bannister has a believer in Schultz

GLENDALE, Ariz. ¨C White Sox fans are happy to have Brian Bannister as the organization¡¯s senior advisor to pitching.

The White Sox pitchers seem to share that opinion, as shown through Noah Schultz's praise Monday.

¡°It¡¯s funny: Everything he says, it¡¯s just like magic -- like, right away, it works,¡± Schultz said of Bannister. ¡°Helping with everything, all the pitches, just mindset with everything. Definitely a guy that, I¡¯m happy he¡¯s on our side.¡±

• White Sox new pitching advisor shares philosophy

When asked for an example of that ¡°magic,¡± Schultz pointed to a recent side session with Bannister.

¡°I threw a changeup and it ran a little arm side, and he was correcting it and told me some things,¡± Schultz said. ¡°The next couple I threw were great. Obviously, he knows what he¡¯s talking about. It¡¯s definitely amazing to see how much he knows.¡±

Schultz, MLB Pipeline's top-rated left-handed pitching prospect and the No. 16 prospect overall, threw his first live bullpen session of Spring Training on Sunday, facing teammates Jacob Amaya, Tim Elko and Oscar Colas, while throwing to catcher Matt Thaiss. He has another live session scheduled for Thursday, pointing toward his Cactus League debut on Feb. 26 against the Padres at Camelback Ranch.

¡°I¡¯m excited. I have that date circled,¡± Schultz said. ¡°Last year, I started throwing lives a little bit later. This year, a little bit earlier because I have to go with a bigger workload. I¡¯m confident I¡¯m able to handle it.¡±

White joins White Sox
The White Sox have claimed right-hander Owen White off waivers from the Yankees, bringing their total of players currently in camp to 71. To make room for White on the 40-man roster, which is full, the club placed left-handed pitcher Ky Bush on the 60-day injured list. Bush underwent Tommy John surgery on Feb. 12.

White, 25, was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Feb. 11, a week after being claimed off waivers from Cincinnati. He was acquired by the Reds from Texas on Jan. 6 in exchange for cash, then designated for assignment. He finished 2-8 with a 5.64 ERA over 29 games (14 starts) for Triple-A Round Rock last season, and he allowed eight runs in three innings over his first three Major League games covering two stints with the Rangers.

¡°Yeah, I really like Owen,¡± said White Sox manager Will Venable, who worked with White in Texas. ¡°He's got a bunch of different pitches in his arsenal. Really good kid, really somebody who can have some versatility.

¡°He can start. In Texas, came out of the bullpen. So really excited that we got Owen.¡±

Words of wisdom
Venable spoke to the full roster Monday morning in a White Sox camp featuring competition and opportunity across the board.

"Now it's up to these guys to go out and take advantage of it,¡± Venable said. ¡°It was important to get in front of the group and talk about some of the things that we expect in the clubhouse, that we expect out on the field. Then just set the tone for how we're going to use camp to help us prepare for the season."

Third to first
Drew Thorpe, who has been slowed by soreness following Sept. 7 surgery to shave down a bone spur in his right elbow, will throw his first side session Tuesday, according to Venable.

Jermaine Dye, the 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player, was in White Sox camp lending his expertise.