This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- When Mathias LaCombe was growing up at his home near Bordeaux, France, people would ask what he wanted to do later in life.
And his answer? Play in the Major Leagues.
“People were either laughing or asking, ‘What do you really want to do? There’s no way you can do that,’” said the No. 27 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, during a recent phone interview. “I just want to also show new kids that it’s possible.
“It’s practicing for a purpose. If you practice hard enough to get your head into the game, then you will be able to do it.”
Making that baseball dream a reality is moving closer for the 23-year-old right-handed hurler. He was selected in the 12th round of the 2023 Draft but missed the '24 season due to a strained lat that plagued him a couple of times during the campaign.
After rehabbing in Arizona and making sure his right shoulder was ready for 2025, LaCombe posted a 2.52 ERA with 50 strikeouts against 11 walks over 35 2/3 innings for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League squad. He was promoted to Single-A Kannapolis on July 18 and struck out four in three scoreless innings in his debut for the Cannon Ballers on Friday night.
“I have so much fun just being on the mound. I’m doing what I love," LaCombe said while he was still in Arizona. “But I’m not satisfied. There are so many things I can improve.
“At the same time, I need to be happy with how I’m doing. I’m not going to be mad for missing the little things while I’m pitching well. I have many things to work on and I’m happy that I do. If I didn’t have anything to work on, that would be tough for the rest of my career.”
Based on our 15-minute phone conversation, it’s clear LaCombe is searching for baseball insight beyond improved pitches or better location. He spoke about the mechanics and machinations of improving his splitter from the physical side. LaCombe also talked about having trouble getting mentally into the game at the season’s outset.
“At the beginning of the season, I had a hard time having that rage to be like wanting to win, wanting to be better than the batter,” LaCombe said. “I was kind of on the mound, I was there, but had no emotions. I was just pitching and whatever happened, I was kind of like, ‘Oh well.’”
That issue turned around after a talk with White Sox mental skills coach Cristian Guzman, who does exceptional work throughout the organization. LaCombe had a very clear idea of what he wanted to create, with Guzman helping the hurler to add purpose and intention to his days and bringing in something to strive for and challenge himself.
“He really helped give me little keys,” LaCombe said. “I’m way more aggressive, I would say, on the mound, wanting to win and perform more. I feel like I’m more active.”
The geographic area where LaCombe grew up is known more for its rich red wines than baseball players. In fact, LaCombe laughed when adding rugby was the sport of choice for his region.
“Baseball is not popular at all,” LaCombe said. “People know what baseball is, but nobody knows the rules or anything. I started randomly. Nobody had ever played in my family. There’s a club team in my hometown and I was playing rugby before that. I didn’t really like it.
“My parents told me I had to do a sport: 'You do whatever sport you want, but you have to do one.' I tried different sports. I tried baseball and I liked it. I was 8 years old the first time I ever heard of baseball.”
Following a two-year stint at Cochise College, located in southern Arizona near the Mexican border, he’s thriving on the mound during his fourth year in the United States. If he continues to excel, LaCombe will not only be progressing for himself, his family and the White Sox, but also for his home country of France.
“Every kid loves to play in the big leagues,” LaCombe said. “But having a different story, I would represent my country here and I know that reaching the big leagues, I would make so many people proud in France and I would make so many kids see how their dream is possible.”