Even GMs make mistakes: Getz says White Sox 'still love' Acuña ... even if he can't switch-hit

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Chris Getz made a mistake.

It wasn’t the first miscue or probably the last for the affable, personable general manager, who is working to build a winner on the South Side of Chicago. But in mentioning new acquisition Luisangel Acuña as a switch-hitter on a number of different occasions, including Monday’s Spring Training opening media session, he created some unwanted social media buzz on Wednesday.

“He has a lot of potential. He can play all over the diamond. He’s a strong defender, baserunner, switch-hitter,” said Getz when asked about Acuña. “He can do a lot of different things to help you win.”

Acuña, who doesn’t officially have to report to camp until Sunday with the rest of the position players, is a right-handed hitter and has no intention of hitting from the left side. The White Sox acquired the fleet-footed brother of Atlanta superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. from the Mets in an offseason trade for Luis Robert Jr., having targeted Acuña during the 2025 season. New York also took on the $22 million still contractually owed to Robert.

There’s a chance for Acuña to be the Opening Day center fielder for the White Sox, having played that position during winter ball. But he’s looked at as a player who can help all over the field -- and hitting from the right side -- as Getz made clear with a humorous statement put out by the team on Thursday.

“So I probably have been getting carried away describing his versatility,” Getz joked. “He can play every position on the field. Why does it have to stop there? I called Luisangel and told him that even though he’s just right-handed, we still love him.”

Regardless of the misspeak by Getz, who is back home in Chicago briefly, the White Sox are anxious to see what Acuña can do to help this developing group of talent.

“He had a really good winter ball [season],” said Getz, giving further detail on Acuña on Monday. “He is making some adjustments to his swing this offseason to get more of a line drive, ball in the air, ball off the ground swing plane. And he’s made a lot of strides doing that. So look forward to seeing how that plays out.

“We want to get him comfortable. He’s a guy that happens to have the ability to play everywhere, so he certainly is a guy to keep an eye on. We are excited about being able to work with him and he could be part of the winning formula here in Chicago.”

Thorpe encounters recovery 'road bumps'

Right-hander Drew Thorpe has yet to throw off a mound -- and he won’t for the next three weeks or so as he deals with flexor tendonitis as a by-product of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Thorpe, 25 years old and a centerpiece in the 2024 Dylan Cease trade with the Padres, missed the ‘25 season after having the surgery performed by Dr. Keith Meister at the end of Spring Training last year.

Meister re-examined Thorpe last week after he experienced ongoing discomfort while throwing, but was told the ligament looks good.

“I haven’t gotten off the mound,” Thorpe said. “I got out to 120-ish [feet], was feeling it a little bit, so went and saw Meister last week. Dealing with some flexor stuff so slowing it down a little bit. We’ll see how the next couple of weeks go.

“Nothing structurally wrong in there. Everything looks good in there. So, obviously a good sign. It just slows me down a little bit which is frustrating but day by day we’ll get there.”

Thorpe is throwing three times this week, as he slowly ramps up things.

“Every surgery is a little bit different,” Thorpe said. “You can’t really look at other guys and say ‘Why am I not in that position?’ The body heals differently. I don’t think it's a worry.

“Just a slower pace, which sucks. I would rather slow it down and be fully ready to go when I’m ready instead of trying to push through it and have some problems once we get closer off the mound.”

Southpaw Ky Bush and right-handers Prelander Berroa and Mason Adams, who all had Tommy John surgery around Spring Training 2025, threw bullpens Tuesday.