With Opening Day quickly approaching, the Chicago White Sox are entering the most difficult phase of spring training: final roster decisions.
Several spots remain unsettled, and the clock is ticking. Injuries could ultimately shape the position-player roster, while the starting rotation appears largely settled. The bullpen, however, remains wide open — and a wave of strong performances from unexpected names has only intensified the competition.
Chicago is expected to begin the season carrying 13 pitchers: five starters and eight relievers.
The Bullpen Foundation Is Already in Place
A number of bullpen roles already appear secure.
Offseason additions Seranthony Domínguez, Jordan Hicks, and Sean Newcomb are expected to be part of the Opening Day roster. While Newcomb has starting experience, he is likely to work out of the bullpen this year.
They will likely be joined by Grant Taylor, Jordan Leasure, and Mike Vasil, all of whom impressed during the 2025 season and remain important pieces of Chicago’s pitching plans.
With those six pitchers essentially locked in, the White Sox have just two bullpen spots still available.
Left-Handed Options Lead the Conversation
One of the biggest questions revolves around left-handed depth.
Among the six relievers expected to make the roster, only Sean Newcomb throws left-handed. That makes it almost certain the team will carry at least one additional southpaw — and possibly two.
Tyler Gilbert has emerged as a strong candidate.
The veteran left-hander posted a 3.88 ERA over 51 innings last season and no longer has minor league options remaining, which complicates the decision. This spring he has been solid, posting a 3.60 ERA while striking out seven hitters in five innings across five appearances.
Ryan Borucki is another intriguing option.
The Illinois native signed a minor league deal with the White Sox during the offseason and has impressed during camp, striking out six batters across five scoreless innings. Unlike Gilbert, Borucki can still be optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, but his performance has made it difficult for the team to overlook him.
Other Arms Are Making Noise
Brandon Eisert is also pushing his way into the conversation.
Eisert played a meaningful role in the White Sox bullpen last season, though his 4.39 ERA reflected some inconsistency. This spring, however, he has been dominant, recording nine strikeouts across 6.2 scoreless innings.
Because Eisert still has minor league options, Chicago could choose to start him in Charlotte while keeping him ready as a depth option.
Chris Murphy represents another possibility.
Acquired from the Boston Red Sox during the offseason, Murphy has been used in a multi-inning role during spring training and has posted a 2.70 ERA across four outings. Like Eisert, he also has minor league options remaining.
With four viable left-handed candidates — Gilbert, Borucki, Eisert, and Murphy — the White Sox front office has several different directions it could take.
Right-Handed Competition Still in Play
The bullpen race isn’t limited to left-handers.
Right-hander Lucas Sims, who joined the organization on a minor league contract, has looked sharp during his first three spring appearances. His velocity and overall stuff appear improved from last season, putting him firmly in the mix for a roster spot.
The team must also consider two Rule 5 selections: Jedixson Paez and Alexander Alberto.
Because of Rule 5 roster rules, either pitcher would need to remain on the major league roster throughout the season for the White Sox to retain their rights. Neither has had a particularly dominant spring performance so far, but the organization still faces a decision regarding whether to keep one of them.
It seems unlikely both will fit into the bullpen.
Tough Decisions Ahead
In many ways, the White Sox are facing a good problem.
The bullpen competition has revealed several intriguing options, giving the team more depth than it expected earlier in camp. Over the course of a long 162-game season, that depth will almost certainly become valuable.
But in the short term, difficult choices are unavoidable.
With fewer than two weeks remaining before the team travels to Milwaukee for Opening Day, Chicago’s front office must decide whether roster flexibility, spring performance, or organizational strategy carries the most weight.
For some pitchers, even an impressive spring may not be enough to secure a spot.
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