Energy is building in Glendale.
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Hagen Smith during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As the calendar flips toward March, White Sox camp is starting to feel alive. Early Cactus League action has fueled optimism, and several key storylines — from elite pitching prospects to potential Opening Day roster battles — are beginning to take shape.
Here’s where things stand.
Schultz and Smith progressing on schedule
Two of the organization’s most valuable young arms, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, remain on a deliberate development path.
Neither is expected to break camp with the major league club, and neither has appeared in a Cactus League game yet. That’s by design.
Both pitchers are healthy and continuing their buildup on the back fields. According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, Schultz threw a live batting practice session on Sunday, while Smith followed Tuesday. Each is scheduled for one more live BP before making his Cactus League debut next week.
Manager Will Venable has already indicated they’ll begin the season in Triple-A Charlotte. That assignment isn’t a demotion — it’s preparation.
Charlotte’s hitter-friendly environment will provide a legitimate test. If Schultz and Smith dominate there, it won’t take long for Chicago to consider a call-up. Both are widely viewed as potential impact arms in 2026.
For now, patience is the priority.
Everson Pereira’s status worth monitoring
Outfielder Everson Pereira created early buzz in camp but has yet to appear in a Cactus League game.
Originally slated to start in Friday’s opener against the Cubs, Pereira was scratched with side tightness. Venable downplayed the concern, calling it precautionary soreness and labeling the outfielder day-to-day.
“Just really precautionary,” Venable said. “Wanted to make sure we didn’t put him in a tough spot.”
That’s encouraging — but the clock matters.
Pereira is out of minor league options, which complicates roster decisions. The White Sox traded for him with the expectation he could compete for a role immediately. If healthy, he has a legitimate shot at making the Opening Day roster.
Meanwhile, Colson Montgomery’s absence from Monday’s lineup was unrelated to injury. He simply felt under the weather after workouts — nothing more.
Roch Cholowsky is making it hard to look away
While spring unfolds in Arizona, another storyline is gaining national attention in Los Angeles.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky — widely projected as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft — is off to a blistering start. After a strong opening weekend, he elevated his performance against tougher competition from TCU.
The 20-year-old launched three more home runs and now owns an eye-popping .393/.486/1.143 slash line with six homers in just seven games.
That production hasn’t gone unnoticed.
White Sox special assistant Jim Thome was in attendance at Jackie Robinson Stadium this weekend, further signaling Chicago’s interest. With the first overall selection in July, the White Sox are positioned to secure a potential franchise cornerstone.
Barring injury or a dramatic shift in evaluations, Cholowsky appears to be separating himself from the field.
There’s still plenty of spring left.
But between the careful progression of Schultz and Smith, the cautious handling of Pereira, and Cholowsky’s explosive start in college baseball, the White Sox are balancing present competition with future promise.
For a team looking to climb out of a difficult 2025 season, that combination may be exactly what Chicago needs.
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