With spring training just days away, the Chicago White Sox are entering camp with more pitching questions than firm answers in their starting rotation.
Sep 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Vasil (61) celebrates after the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The bullpen has begun to settle after additions like Seranthony Dominguez and Jordan Hicks, bringing clarity to at least one area of the pitching staff.
Shane Smith is locked in as the rotation anchor, while Davis Martin and newly signed Anthony Kay are expected to slot in behind him.
After those three names, however, the back end of the rotation remains unsettled, creating quiet tension heading into camp.
Rather than forcing an outside move, the White Sox appear willing to explore internal solutions that could reshape their pitching depth.
That possibility gained traction following comments made during a recent Baseball Isn’t Boring Podcast interview earlier this week.
Right-hander Mike Vasil revealed he has been told by the coaching staff that he will compete as a starter this spring.
Vasil described conversations with new pitching coaches Will and Zach Bove, framing the opportunity as both unexpected and motivating.
The statement was subtle, but it immediately reframed how the White Sox’s rotation battle is being interpreted internally and externally.
Last season, Vasil emerged as one of the most dependable arms in the bullpen, posting a 2.50 ERA across 101 innings.
Despite that success, his professional background tells a different story, as he developed almost exclusively as a starter in the minor leagues.
Seventy-three of his seventy-six minor-league appearances came as starts, and he even made three starts for Chicago in 2025.
Consistency has always been the concern, especially after a difficult 2024 season that ended with a 6.04 ERA and a bullpen transition.
What Vasil does possess is a deep arsenal, throwing six pitches and leaning on a sinker that generated an impressive ground-ball rate.
Control remains his biggest obstacle, with walk issues limiting the effectiveness of otherwise promising movement and pitch variety.
Even so, the White Sox seem open-minded, inviting multiple internal candidates to compete rather than locking into a rigid plan.
Several young arms are expected to get opportunities, all hoping to replicate the unexpected rise Shane Smith enjoyed last spring.
Still, relying entirely on internal development carries risk across a long season filled with inevitable injuries and workload strain.
The free-agent market remains slower than anticipated, leaving external rotation help more available than expected.
Whether the answer comes from outside or from a reliever-turned-starter, the White Sox once again appear poised for a rotation surprise.
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