White Sox invite 21 players to Spring Training

January 21, 2014

CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with right-handed pitchers Dylan Axelrod, Parker Frazier, Brian Omogrosso, Omar Poveda and Zach Putnam, left-handers David Purcey and Mauricio Robles, catcher Hector Gimenez, infielder Alex Liddi and outfielder Denis Phipps. All 10 players, in addition to 11 players within the White Sox system, have received non-roster invites to the club's spring training camp in Glendale, Ariz.

Right-handers Chris Bassitt, Chris Beck and Cody Winiarski, left-hander Scott Snodgress, catchers Miguel Gonzalez and Kevan Smith, infielders Micah Johnson, Mike McDade and Andy Wilkins and outfielders Blake Tekotte and Keenyn Walker all received invites to major-league camp from within the organization. Ten of the 21 spring training invitees have major-league experience, while two are rated among the organization's Top 10 Prospects by Baseball America.

Bassitt, 24, went a combined 11-4 with a 3.08 ERA (51 ER/149.0 IP) and 138 strikeouts over 26 starts between Class A Winston-Salem and Class AA Birmingham last season. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Bassitt led the organization in strikeouts, ranked fourth in ERA and tied for fifth in wins. He made two starts in the Southern League playoffs, going 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP) and 16 strikeouts to lead the Barons to the league championship.

Beck, the White Sox second-round pick in the 2012 draft, enters the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 9 Prospect and Possessing the Best Changeup in the organization. The 23-year-old combined to go 13-10 with a 3.07 ERA (50 ER/146.2 IP) and 79 strikeouts over 26 starts with Winston-Salem and Birmingham in 2013. He went 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) over two starts in the SL playoffs.

Johnson, 23, enters the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 6 Prospect, Best Hitter for Average and Fastest Baserunner in the organization. The 6-foot, 190-pounder led all minor leaguers with 84 stolen bases and was named the Most Valuable Player of the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. He helped guide the Barons to a SL Championship, hitting .368 (14-38) in the playoffs.

Smith batted .286 (110-384) with 26 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 73 RBI in 101 games with Winston-Salem in 2013. The 25-year old ranked among White Sox system leaders in RBI (T6th), runs scored (9th, 66), slugging percentage (9th, .464), hits (10th), extra-base hits (10th, 41) and total bases (10th, 178). He was selected by the Sox in the seventh round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Winiarski, 24, went a combined 1-2 with a 2.43 ERA (18 ER/66.2 IP), 85 strikeouts and 13 saves over 44 relief appearances between Winston-Salem and Birmingham in 2013. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Winiarski tied for the organizational lead and ranked fourth in the Carolina League in saves. He made four scoreless appearances (5.1 IP) in the SL playoffs and went 3-3 in save opportunities.

White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Saturday, February 15, with physicals and a workout scheduled for the same day. Position players will report and undergo physicals on Thursday, February 20. The first full-squad workout also will take place on that day.