CHICAGO – When Yoelqui Céspedes, the No. 2 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, found out about his selection to the American League team for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 11 in Colorado, he took some time to digest the game’s name.

Future All-Stars.

“That's something that gives you chills,” said Céspedes, through interpreter Billy Russo, during a Thursday afternoon Zoom. “That's recognition for all the work and effort that I've been putting in, on and off the field.

“I’m going to do my best. It's definitely a good feeling and makes you feel pretty proud. I wasn't expecting that. I definitely didn't know about that game. It was a good surprise to me.”

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Céspedes, 23, was the No. 1 prospect in the last international signing class. He has played 10 games at designated hitter for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem and posted a .250 average with two home runs, five RBIs, three doubles and two stolen bases.

But Céspedes started 4-for-31 with the Dash and has gone 6-for-9 over his last two games.

“I’ve been feeling more calm, comfortable,” said Céspedes, who should get into outfield action by mid-July at the latest. “At first, I was swinging at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone. Now I’m being more aggressive and selective with pitches in the strike zone.

“It's been totally different, different lifestyle. But it hasn't been that traumatic. My brother [Yoenis] has his whole family and that has been good for me. Between Cubans, between countrymen, it's always easier to adjust and to experience new things.”

But Céspedes started 4-for-31 with the Dash and has gone 6-for-9 over his last two games.

“I’ve been feeling more calm, comfortable,” said Céspedes, who should get into outfield action by mid-July at the latest. “At first, I was swinging at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone. Now I’m being more aggressive and selective with pitches in the strike zone.

“It's been totally different, different lifestyle. But it hasn't been that traumatic. My brother [Yoenis] has his whole family and that has been good for me. Between Cubans, between countrymen, it's always easier to adjust and to experience new things.”

Fry returns
Jace Fry, who has a 4.75 ERA over 156 career games with the White Sox, has rejoined the big league team after recovering and rehabbing from a microdiscectomy performed on Jan. 7 of this year. The southpaw has felt a noticeable difference in his back almost immediately after the procedure.

“There’s no more nerve pain, which was the main issue,” Fry said. “There would be pitches where I would drive my leg, drive toward home plate and I’d have that nerve pain down my leg, and now that’s completely gone. Now it’s just getting the feeling back of power that I had the years prior to 2020.

“When you throw a pitch and you feel pain, the only thing you think about on the next one is: Is this going to hurt? You’re not thinking about getting anyone out. You’re just thinking of survival mode and you can’t do that at this level. You can’t really do that at any level. That clarity in my mind of knowing I can throw the ball, whether it’s 85% or 100, it is nice to have that relief.”

Fry made 13 relief appearances during a rehab assignment for Triple-A Charlotte and felt his velocity increase throughout the outings.

“I just feel so much stronger now,” Fry said. “The velo is still not 100% where I want it to be, but we’re still climbing and I’m in a good place. I didn’t really have any expectations, guidelines. I just took it day by day, try to do the best I could every day.

“It is slowly coming back, and we found some mechanical things that are helping in my legs so that I could actually utilize again. I think another month from now, I’ll probably be reaching those top velos and feel strong again.”

Programming note
ESPN picked up the White Sox game on Sunday, July 25 at Milwaukee, with first pitch moving from 1:10 p.m. CT to 6:08 p.m. CT. The game is an exclusive ESPN national telecast (no local TV). The White Sox-Minnesota game on Monday at Target Field will air on ESPN with a 6:10 p.m. CT start time, and it will also be available on MLB.TV. ESPN Radio has added the Sox-Brewers game on July 24 at American Family Field.