And then there were 61.
One day after making their first round of roster cuts for Spring Training, the White Sox made give most roster re-assignments today:
Optioned RHP Juan Carela to AA Birmingham
Reassigned INF Jacob Gonzalez, C Adam Hackenberg, and OFs Braden Montgomery and Wilfred Veras to minor-league camp
Major league camp now has 30 pitchers, five catchers, 17 infielders, and nine outfielders remaining.
Much like yesterday’s round of cuts, none of these moves are shocking given that none of these players were expected to have a shot at the major league roster. Gonzalez, Hackenberg, Montgomery, and Veras will all be placed to different minor league levels to start 2025, with Hackenberg likely the only one to be above Double-A Birmingham. The catcher struggled in Charlotte last season in 185 plate appearances, hitting .188/.315/.253, and will likely remain there without take chances away from Edgar Quero or Kyle Teel between Double-A and Triple-A, depending on where they are placed. The five catchers remaining in camp are the aforementioned Teel and Quero, along with veterans Matt Thaiss, Korey Lee, and Omar Narvaez.
Braden Montgomery will get his first taste of professional action this season with the White Sox, so it will be interesting to see where the White Sox place him. He will likely start in A-ball, however. The 2024 draft pick was one of the key pieces of the Garrett Crochet trade this offseason.
Both Veras and Gonzalez, however, will likely return to Double-A after posting mixed results at the level in 2024. Gonzalez, the former first-round pick of the White Sox back in 2023, hit just .225/.284/.321 across 407 plate appearances in Birmingham, while Veras hit .267/.319/.424 – so, both still have some improvements to be made.
Finally, this is a promotion of sorts for Juan Carela, who will get to start this season in Birmingham after making seven starts there to end 2024. Carela came to the White Sox as part of the Keynan Middleton trade in 2023, and in his first full season with the White Sox, posted a 3.71 ERA between Winston-Salem and Birmingham in 23 starts.
Update: as of this morning, it has been reported that Juan Carela will need Tommy John Surgery and will miss the 2025 season.
As the White Sox continue to get their roster ready for Opening Day, we will continue to provide updates.
Follow us @SoxOn35th for more throughout the season!
Featured Image: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
