LIVE: White Sox-Cubs Spring Breakout
The Cubs and White Sox will renew their rivalry in a unique format on Friday, when the Spring Breakout pits the cross-town teams’ top prospects against each other. The showcase is a first of its kind exhibition featuring highly-touted prospects from each farm system. Here’s everything to know about the game and this exciting new event.
What is Spring Breakout?
MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates the sport’s budding talent.
What time is the Cubs-White Sox game?
The Cubs and White Sox have two games on Friday, March 15, including the Spring Breakout showcase at Sloan Park (home of the Cubs). The Spring Breakout game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. CT, while the North Siders and South Siders will have their Cactus League clash at 3:05 p.m. CT at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
How can I tune in?
MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com, MLB App), Marquee Sports Network, ESPN+, Gameday.
Which position player prospects are expected to play?
WHITE SOX
Colson Montgomery, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 9 overall, likes hitting at Sloan Park, having won the Fall Stars Game Most Valuable Player four months ago on the heels of a long home run. He’ll be the featured attraction for the White Sox in Friday’s contest. Tim Elko also seems to enjoy the Sloan environment, with a long opposite field home run during the first Cactus League contest of 2024. Both players are currently in big league camp. Jacob Gonzalez, the White Sox top pick in the 2023 Draft, also is on the roster, as are third baseman Bryan Ramos (No. 4 White Sox prospect), catcher Edgar Quero (No. 5) and outfielder Samuel Zavala (No. 6), who was acquired Wednesday in the blockbuster Dylan Cease deal.
This browser does not support the video element.
CUBS
The North Siders have a trio of outfield prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list in Pete Crow-Armstrong (No. 16), Owen Caissie (No. 47) and Kevin Alcántara (No. 65). All three are included on the Cubs’ Spring Breakout roster. Crow-Armstrong is one of baseball’s best defensive center fielders, Caissie is one of the top slugging prospects in baseball and Alcántara has five-tool potential. Two more Top 100 infielders -- Matt Shaw (No. 54) and James Triantos (No. 73) -- are also on the roster. Shaw was Chicago’s first-round Draft pick in ‘23 and was already impressing the Cubs in his first Major League camp this spring.
This browser does not support the video element.
Which pitching prospects are expected to play?
WHITE SOX
Right-hander Jairo Iriarte (No. 8 White Sox prospect), who also was picked up in the Cease deal with San Diego, will be available to pitch in Spring Breakout. Righty Alex Speas has garnered positive attention in big league camp and has put his name in play to fill bullpen spots. Jared Kelley, a second-round pick in the 2020 Draft who is trying to regain top form after being ranked as high as the No. 5 White Sox prospect in ‘21 also will be on the pitching staff. Full roster can be found here.
This browser does not support the video element.
CUBS
Righty Cade Horton -- one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball -- is currently listed among the Cubs’ Breakout participants. The 22-year-old is currently No. 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the North Siders and is ranked No. 26 on the Top 100 list. A first-round Draft pick (seventh overall) in 2022, Horton had a 2.65 ERA with 117 strikeouts and 27 walks in 88 1/3 innings across Single-A, High-A and Double-A in his pro debut last year. Among the other pitchers on the roster are right-handers Michael Arias (No. 14) and Porter Hodge (No. 29), who were both added to the 40-man roster over the offseason. Full roster can be found here.
This browser does not support the video element.
Why are certain top prospects not listed on the rosters?
Noah Schultz would have been an entertaining edition, with the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 50 overall impressing everyone who watches his electric mound repertoire. The 20-year-old southpaw, who has earned very early comparisons to Chris Sale and Randy Johnson and was the team’s top pick in the ‘22 Draft, threw his first live bullpen Saturday as the team carefully brings him along after a dominant first season with Class A Kannapolis. Righty Prelander Berroa (No. 19), who was acquired from Seattle with outfielder Zack DeLoach in the Gregory Santos deal, will be on hand for the game but will not pitch. Ten of the Top 30 White Sox prospects are available to play in Spring Breakout.
The most notable omission on the Cubs’ side is infielder Michael Busch, who is ranked No. 4 on the North Siders’ Top 30 list and No. 51 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings. The Cubs acquired Busch over the offseason from the Dodgers, but there is a good reason he is not listed on the Spring Breakout roster. The Cubs reeled in Busch with the plan of handing him the keys to first base. He is expected to have that big league job when Opening Day arrives.