Crochet works with Maldonado in final tune-up; right field options
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The last to-do item for Garrett Crochet before leaving Arizona was to get in a real game with his main battery mate.
The White Sox Opening Day starter had never actually had Martín Maldonado as his backstop in a game, outside of some bullpen sessions. They finally partnered up Thursday in Surprise during his final Cactus League start in Chicago’s 3-3 tie with the Royals.
“He’s a big target. I felt like it went well,” Crochet said of the Gold Glove winner and 13-year MLB veteran, who won a World Series and two NL pennants with the Astros before signing with Chicago as a free agent this offseason. “There may have been some [pitches] up in the zone that I felt like he caught well that the umpire didn’t call. I don’t know if that has anything to do with either of us, I think it’s just one of those days.”
Crochet’s slider was working Thursday in his 31-pitch, 22-strike outing. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out two and walking one over 3 2/3 innings.
Outside of metrics and pitch selection, the matinee game was definitely as much about building chemistry between a pitcher making his first career start on Opening Day and a solid veteran who has caught more than 1,000 Major League games.
“It’s critical,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “That’s basically why Maldonado is here. His ability to handle a staff, his ability to navigate through a lineup, his ability to recall between at-bats.”
Crochet will have a full week before the season opener March 28 against the Tigers on the South Side. He’ll keep his normal routine, including side work, to break up the days in between.
With a lot of family expected in town for the biggest start of his young career, Crochet will be ready.
“I’m [excited],” he said. “Arm’s been feeling good, recovering well. Having seven days definitely doesn’t hurt.”
White Sox evaluating more than just big league roster
In other news, the Sox made no roster cuts Thursday.
“I use the whole roster. I did it last year 10, 15 times where I had nothing on the bench and told pitchers ‘put your spikes on.’ Every roster spot is critical for us,” Grifol said.
Evaluations go beyond just the guys headed for Chicago.
“We’re talking about having a little bit of depth, too, in Triple-A,” he added. “Nobody starts with 26 and ends with 26. Good organizations have depth and somewhere to pull from, and I feel like we have that.”
Right field options
The White Sox have a platoon option in right field with lefty Dominic Fletcher and righty Kevin Pillar who make for an interesting newcomer/veteran combo.
Pillar, 35, was signed to a Minor League deal in February after spending last season with the Braves. The White Sox are Pillar’s eighth team since 2019 after his seven-year run with the Blue Jays, and he’s batting .244 in 17 spring games.
Fletcher, 26, played 28 games as a rookie with the D-backs in 2023 and batted .301 until a fractured index finger ended his season early.
Acquired from the D-backs via a February trade, Fletcher has gotten a lot of opportunities this spring with 20 appearances. He has shown flashes, like going a combined 3-for-5 with two runs in back-to-back games earlier this month.
His .152 batting average doesn’t tell the whole story of a player the coaches like for his defense and confidence -- and his healthy hand.
“Everything feels good,” Fletcher said. “I’m just grinding it out, making adjustments, and trying to be the best version of me I can.”
Zach DeLoach, who will start the season in the Minors, started in right field Thursday and platooned with Pillar. Both recorded a hit and scored a run.
Final Starters
Still no word on which two pitchers will fill out the starting rotation for the White Sox on Opening Day.
Grifol named the starters who are scheduled to pitch in the season-opening three-game set with the Tigers on Wednesday: Crochet, righty Michael Soroka, and right-hander Erick Fedde.
While competition in camp is keeping those last two spots from becoming official, Grifol is mindful of making sure the eventual fourth and fifth options will be on five days rest before the regular season’s fourth game arrives when the Braves visit Chicago on April 1.