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.
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The heat is on.
No, this Newsletter is not a tribute to the great Glenn Frey or the equally great Eagles, although I can’t believe I’ve missed out on them performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
It’s also not a commentary on the sweltering temperatures in Arizona, with Thursday’s game-time temperature at Camelback Ranch checking in at 100 degrees. This is an alert focused on Cactus League action coming to an end and the 2026 regular season beginning this Thursday in Milwaukee for the White Sox.
With that conclusion coming Monday, let’s look at three White Sox stories before games officially count in the standings.
Helping Hand
Gordon Beckham was Colson Montgomery long before Montgomery arrived in the Majors last season.
As a rookie and highly touted prospect in 2009, Beckham joined the team on June 4 and finished with an .807 OPS, 14 home runs, 63 RBIs and 28 doubles while playing third base. So, Beckham, who was in camp and in uniform with the White Sox for one week in March, is a reliable source of advice concerning what’s next for Montgomery, who hit 21 homers in 71 games as a rookie.
Beckham addressed the highs and lows from his 11-year career, as well as what worked and what didn’t work.
“I remember going into the second year and how there were some struggles for me,” Beckham told MLB.com. “But it was mainly because I kind of focused on the mechanics of my swing vs. going out and competing.
“We had what I think was a good conversation about going out and competing. It was about being who he is and allowing that to play out and not overthink it.”
Montgomery focused purely on getting ready for the upcoming season and getting better overall during this Spring Training, with a roster spot never in question. He appreciated the talks with Beckham and learned from the conversation.
“One of the biggest things he kind of helped me with was, don’t get away from who you are type of thing. You have success,” Montgomery said. “A lot of the time, it’s not even you. It’s just the pitchers are making adjustments on you. And they are pitching you a different game.
“Just keep adapting to what the pitchers are doing and stay within yourself. It was good hearing that from him, being a really good player and just having him around.”
Sandlin Temporarily Slowed
There are some in the White Sox organization who thought a healthy David Sandlin, the team’s No. 18 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, could have challenged for a roster spot out of camp.
Unfortunately, the right-hander acquired from Boston along with Jordan Hicks was hampered by back issues coming into Spring Training and right elbow soreness once he arrived.
White Sox director of player development Paul Janish said Sandlin is progressing. But there’s no set timetable for him to get into games on the Minor League side.
“He’s doing fine,” Janish told MLB.com of Sandlin. “He’s throwing off the mound. We’ll probably take it easy with him in terms of the buildup. All signs are pointing up.
“I wouldn’t feel totally comfortable sharing the timeline in terms of his return to play just yet. He is doing well relative to a little speed bump.”
Running with Korey
Darren Baker leads the White Sox with five Cactus League stolen bases as a call-up from the Minors in 18 games. But catcher Korey Lee is in a three-way tie for second at four.
Lee had an outstanding camp behind the plate and is a strong clubhouse voice. He gives the White Sox a pair of solid catching components with Edgar Quero while the equally solid Kyle Teel works back from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. He also adds to an athletic trio at the White Sox catching position.
“Yeah, we are in a different boat,” Lee said. “We are all pretty young. We are all pretty agile. We all like to hit. We all like to throw. We all like to be an athlete at the end of the day rather than just a baseball player.
“You kind of see that happening around the league. Speed wins. Speed kills. Speed gets you runs and runs win you games. So, that’s the type of baseball we are going to be playing in Chicago. I’m lucky to be a part of it.”