GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox right-hander Mike Vasil left his start in a 7-2 win over the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday with right elbow soreness.
He will undergo further evaluation, according to the team and Vasil’s comments made in the White Sox clubhouse Sunday morning.
“At this moment, we’re going to look over scans, more tests, try to figure out some more stuff and look at the imaging and go from there,” Vasil said. “Something just didn’t feel right.
“Anytime with an elbow, you just want to be precautionary, especially this time of year. If something’s not feeling right, you gotta speak up, gotta say something. Had them come out there, and we just decided it was best not to push.”
In Saturday’s start against a lineup featuring six regulars from the two-time defending World Series champions, Vasil allowed two hits and walked two while striking out three over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Those two walks were issued back to back to Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy with two outs in the fourth, before Vasil had a mound discussion with a White Sox trainer, the White Sox infield and catcher Edgar Quero and then departed for Zach Franklin to take over.
Vasil was a key piece within the 2025 White Sox bullpen, posting a 2.50 ERA over 47 games and 101 innings pitched. The right-hander has been stretched out during Spring Training with a chance at joining the ’26 starting rotation, a possibility reaffirmed by manager Will Venable before Vasil took the mound and eventually suffered the setback.
“So, kind of day by day, we are collecting more information and getting closer to some of these decisions,” Venable said. “[Vasil] has just got to attack the zone. He knows that.
“It’s something that really is a separator for him when he’s pitching well and when he’s not pitching at his best. So, regardless of what role he pitches in, it’s something that’s going to be No. 1 on his list of things to accomplish.”
Shane Smith will be the Opening Day starter for the White Sox on March 26 in Milwaukee, facing his original Brewers organization. Venable wouldn’t commit Saturday to any rotation spots beyond Smith, although Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Erick Fedde and Sean Burke seem to be the favorites.
Southpaw Sean Newcomb will be working out of the bullpen for the ’26 White Sox after being stretched out during Spring Training. The White Sox had that particular talk with the veteran Saturday morning.
“He was in competition for a rotation spot. We let him know as it’s shaping up, we really want to utilize him out of the bullpen,” said Venable of Newcomb. “We are still working it out, especially because a number of guys are still in the running for competition.
“We are getting to some ideas. But we still haven’t made any final decisions.”
Venable spoke earlier in camp of the White Sox stretching out nine pitchers in Arizona, while not factoring in the top pitching prospects who weren’t going to break camp with the team. Vasil has gone from being one of that large crew to waiting for answers following Saturday’s appearance being cut short.
“Maybe towards the end, it progressively got a little bit worse. At the start of the outing, I definitely felt better than towards the end,” Vasil said. “It’s not like I had one massive jolt or anything … It was very upsetting yesterday to have to leave an outing, especially where I felt so good and so locked in against a very good lineup.”
“It’s unfortunate,” Venable said. “Mike’s one of those guys that just stays really positive. He’ll just continue to work and will be evaluated, and we’ll see what we’ve got.”
Murakami's return
First baseman Munetaka Murakami returned to Arizona on Sunday following Team Japan’s elimination in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals by Venezuela Saturday night.
Murakami will be back in White Sox camp Monday, as Venable told reporters.
“We’ll see how he feels,” Venable said. “But whether we see him in the game or not will kind of depend on how he recovers from the flight. Just want to make sure that he’s in a good spot before we put him back out there.”