With March underway and Opening Day creeping closer, over 60 players have filtered through White Sox camp. The competition has been intense. The performances have been promising.
Yet four intriguing players have yet to appear in a single spring training game.
And each absence carries its own layer of urgency.
Everson Pereira: The Clock Is Ticking
Everson Pereira was supposed to be one of the most fascinating storylines of camp.
Acquired in an offseason trade, the former top prospect arrived with something to prove. Early reports out of camp were glowing. Coaches liked the energy. Teammates noticed the tools.
Then came the setback.
A side injury labeled “day-to-day” by manager Will Venable has now lingered for over a week and a half. Pereira still hasn’t appeared in a Cactus League game.
And here’s where it gets complicated:
He’s out of minor league options.
That means if the White Sox don’t feel confident giving him a roster spot, they risk losing him. No easy stash. No development buffer.
Three weeks remain before the season begins — but that’s not a lot of time to make a decision without game reps.
Meanwhile, Derek Hill, Jarred Kelenic, and Dustin Harris are quietly building their cases for a backup outfield job.
For Pereira, this isn’t just about getting healthy.
It’s about getting seen.
Hagen Smith: From Fast Riser to Developmental Question Mark
Not long ago, Hagen Smith was projected as a fast-track arm. The White Sox envisioned a frontline starter with stuff too electric for the minors to contain.
Reality had other plans.
Command issues crept in. Mechanics needed refinement. The rapid ascent slowed.
Now, Smith enters camp trying to reset the narrative.
The good news? His recent live batting practice session turned heads.
- 15 fastballs averaging 97.2 mph
- 9 sliders averaging 85.7 mph
- 3 splitters at 88.7 mph
The velocity is there.
The raw arsenal is undeniable.
But until it shows up in a Cactus League game, it’s still theoretical.
Smith won’t make the Opening Day roster — that much seems clear. But a strong start to 2026 could accelerate his timeline dramatically.
Fans want to see him face real hitters.
Because if the command matches the stuff, his call-up might come sooner than expected.
David Sandlin: Starter of the Future — or Bullpen Conversion?
When the White Sox acquired David Sandlin from Boston in the Jordan Hicks trade, the message was clear:
They believe in him as a starter.
Not everyone does.
Some scouts project him as a future reliever due to durability and consistency concerns. But Chicago sees upside — plus pitches, starter’s mentality, long-term value.
So far this spring, Sandlin has been limited to live BP sessions. No Cactus League debut yet.
Like Smith, he struggled in his first taste of Triple-A last season. A repeat stint at that level seems likely.
But if he dominates early this year?
The timeline changes.
The White Sox rotation depth isn’t untouchable. Injuries and inconsistency can open doors quickly.
Sandlin’s first spring appearance will offer a glimpse into whether he’s trending upward — or reinforcing bullpen speculation.
Austin Voth: The Quiet Wild Card
Austin Voth’s path back to the majors hasn’t been conventional.
After a productive bullpen season with the Mariners in 2024, he left for Japan in 2025, chasing a starting opportunity rather than remaining a stateside reliever.
Now he’s back.
Signed late in camp, Voth is being stretched out as a starter — though expectations for an Opening Day roster spot appear slim.
There hasn’t been much buzz surrounding him so far. No viral clips. No velocity reports.
But that silence doesn’t mean inactivity.
He’s likely building up through bullpen sessions and live BP work.
Even if he doesn’t break camp with Chicago, he could become valuable depth in Charlotte — the kind of veteran insurance teams lean on by May.
His spring debut will reveal whether he’s a long shot… or a quiet contingency plan.
The Bigger Picture
Spring training isn’t just about the stars already penciled into the lineup.
It’s about the edges of the roster.
The players who could swing depth.
The prospects who could accelerate timelines.
The veterans who could become emergency answers.
The White Sox have shown solid baseball early in the Cactus League. But until these four take the field, the evaluation feels incomplete.
For Pereira, it’s about urgency.
For Smith and Sandlin, it’s about trajectory.
For Voth, it’s about relevance.
And with Opening Day fast approaching, fans aren’t just curious.
They’re waiting.
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