White Sox face roster call on Clarkin, 6 more

CHICAGO -- By all accounts, Ian Clarkin threw the ball well during recently completed White Sox instructional league action at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Even more important, the left-hander felt healthy through six or seven side sessions, after dealing with myriad injuries during his Minor League career. That combination, along with his raw talent, puts Clarkin in play to be added to the White Sox 40-man roster by the 7 p.m. CT deadline on Monday, protecting him from exposure to selection by the rest of baseball in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 14 at the Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Clarkin, Chicago's No. 22 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, was selected by the Yankees at No. 33 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft, one pick after Aaron Judge, the '17 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner and MVP Award runner-up.

"It's finally good to stay healthy for a period of time so I can see what I got instead of having to keep rebuilding back up," said Clarkin, who was one of four players acquired from the Yankees in the trade that sent Tommy Kahnle, David Robertson and Todd Frazier to New York. "It's good to feel like I'm finally starting to be who I am.
"Things are starting to click. [I'm] starting to throw the ball wherever I want to, no matter what pitch in any count. It's good to put a few good weeks together."
With the acquisition of hard-throwing right-hander Thyago Vieira -- now Chicago's No. 20 prospect -- on Thursday, the White Sox 40-man sits at 36. The team can make moves involving that current 40-man to open spots for needed adds or to give the White Sox room to maneuver during the Rule 5 Draft. Right-handed hurler Dylan Covey was added from Oakland in last December's Rule 5.

Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, per MLBPipeline.com. If that player doesn't stay on the 25-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000. For this year, an international or high school Draft pick signed in 2013 -- assuming he was 18 or younger as of June 5 of that year -- has to be protected. A college player taken in the 2014 Draft is in the same position.
Seven of the White Sox Top 30 prospects need to be protected. Here's a look at a few of them.
Eloy Jiménez, OF
No guessing game here. The White Sox No. 1 prospect and No. 4 overall in baseball will be added to the 40-man as he hits his way down an accelerated path to the Majors.

Casey Gillaspie, 1B
The No. 11 White Sox prospect, who is the brother of one-time White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie, could help the big league team in 2018.
Micker Adolfo, OF
This 21-year-old outfielder, ranked No. 14 for the White Sox, has never played above Class A Kannapolis. But he's a dynamic talent Chicago doesn't want to risk losing.
Luis Alexander Basabe, OF
Acquired from Boston as part of the Chris Sale deal, the 21-year-old Basabe (No. 17) falls in a similar category as Adolfo.
Lefty Jordan Guerrero (No. 21), right-hander Luis Martinez (No. 29) and infielder Jake Peter (No. 30 until Thursday) complete this list, along with Clarkin.
"If everybody develops what they need to continue to work on, this team's going to be scary," Clarkin said.