Kopech, Jimenez among White Sox NRIs

CHICAGO -- The 22 players invited by the White Sox to Spring Training, announced by the club on Monday, reads like a prospect showcase for the South Siders.
Sixteen players within the organization received non-roster invites. When coupled with the players already on the 40-man roster, nine of the White Sox Top 10 prospects will take part in big league camp at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Right-hander Michael Kopech, ranked as the club's No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and outfielder Luis Robert, ranked No. 3, top the group of non-roster invites from within the system. Those 16 also include right-handers Chris Beck, Dylan Cease, Tyler Danish, Dane Dunning, Alec Hansen, Jordan Stephens and Connor Walsh; left-handers Brian Clark and Jordan Guerrero; catchers Zack Collins, Alfredo González and Seby Zavala, infielder Jake Burger and outfielder Jacob May.

Outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the club's No. 1 prospect, is joined by other top young talent on the 40-man roster including second baseman Yoán Moncada, outfielders Nicky Delmonico, Micker Adolofo, Charlie Tilson and Luis Alexander Basabe; infielder Casey Gillaspie and pitchers Aaron Bummer, Ian Clarkin, Jace Fry, Carson Fulmer, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López and Thyago Vieira. Simply put, the White Sox future will be on full display in Arizona.
The White Sox agreed to terms on Minor League contracts with six free agents, bringing that Spring Training invite total to 22. Those players are right-handers Rob Scahill, Chris Volstad and Michael Ynoa, left-hander T.J. House and infielders Patrick Leonard and Matt Skole.
House has appeared in 29 career games (22 starts) with the Indians (2014-16) and Blue Jays (2017), going 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA and 90 strikeouts over 119 1/3 innings. Scahill has worked in 118 big league games over six seasons with the Rockies (2012-14), Pirates (2015-16) and Brewers (2016-17), going 5-7 with a 3.79 ERA.

Volstad spent most of the 2017 season with Triple-A Charlotte (27 games/18 starts), but he finished the season with the White Sox (six games/two starts).
White Sox pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Wednesday, Feb. 14, including physicals and a workout. Position players will report and undergo physicals on Monday, Feb. 19. The first full-squad workout also takes place on the 19th. The White Sox begin the Cactus League season on Feb. 23 as the visiting team against the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Chicago will play its first official home game on Feb. 25 vs. Cincinnati.
"We are going to get creative," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said during a recent interview on his preparation for Spring Training. "We are going to play 'B' games because the whole experience for everybody, especially the kids that we see as a big part of our future, this is like an investment in the bank. We just made a deposit here. We are going to hope that this pays dividends later because of the opportunity.
"Let them get the lay of the land, meet everybody, pitch in big league camp, Spring Training games, everything you can think of as a bonus that a kid receives by coming to camp. That's kind of the way I've always seen it. Now being in the spot we are in is even brighter."