(670 The Score) White Sox veteran manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Ethan Katz are separated by nearly four decades in age, but they view the craft through a similar lens.
"It has been wonderful for me,” said Katz, who was hired by the White Sox last November after previously working for the Giants. “The knowledge and stories you get are ongoing. It's pretty incredible to be in that room with him. He is a detailed person and makes sure everything is precise. That is the same way I view pitching. The preparation aligns hand and hand. There is a lot to learned and a lot of dialogue we have. It's been great."
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Katz, 37, is overseeing a staff that’s headlined by three established frontline starters in Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn. While he’s new to the role, Katz is also working with a familiar face. Katz was a high school coach of Giolito’s at Harvard-Westlake School in California, and the two have maintained a close relationship through the years.
Now, Katz is thrilled to work again with Giolito, who was a first-time All-Star in 2019 and then followed that up with a strong 2020 in which he posted a 3.48 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 12 regular-season starts in the pandemic-shortened campaign.
"I have seen Lucas grow from a kid who was a hard thrower without any knowledge of what his body was to do to and falling down a lot to now commanding three quality pitches,” Katz said. “He has developed a ton. I have now been able to see it every step of the way for 12 years. He is the same person but has gotten stronger and is more attuned to his body. It has been great to watch his development over the past decade.”
Katz’s biggest task is perhaps fostering the growth of Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodon, who are in line to fill the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the White Sox’s rotation, respectively. Cease should lock down the No. 4 spot in the rotation, and Rodon appears to have the inside track at earning the No. 5 slot.
“Dylan has had two good outings,” Katz said. “Everything we have thrown his way as far as hurdles he has done wonders with. For right now, he has met all expectations.”
Rodon had rough 2020 season as he came back from Tommy John surgery, but the White Sox have liked what they’ve seen out of him this spring.
"Carlos has really bounced back well this spring,” Katz said. “We had put a program together for him from the strength and conditioning and medical side to maximum everything he does. The results you are seeing we hope to continue to see.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.