(670 The Score) As the start of MLB spring training and the beginning of the regular season remain in limbo amid the lockout, minor league mini-camps have opened.
On Tuesday, the White Sox welcomed many of their top minor league players who aren't on their 40-man roster to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
"Our ultimate goal is to supplement our major league club," assistant general manager/player development Chris Getz said after the first day of workouts for 60-plus players. "We were very fortunate (last year) to have players like Gavin Sheets, Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez and Andrew Vaughn with a little higher profile. Even Seby Zavala, Ryan Burr and Yermin Mercedes stepped up from our minor leagues. They were not all high-profile from the rankings but were able to contribute to our major league club. That is the goal for your minor league system. It's to provide your major league club with good players when need arises but also use the depth for trades that strengthen the club and organization."
Manager Tony La Russ and his big league staff are in attendance at the minor league mini-camp, Getz said.
"The makeup of the camp is a mix of some upper-level players who would perhaps be backing up major league games in major league camp, and we have some young prospects either newly signed from the draft or international draft," Getz said. "There is an opportunity for some of our older players to mix in with the younger ones. Certainly, there is a leadership component added into it as well. Day 1 is in the books here, and I would say it was a successful one."
The 60-plus White Sox players at this mini-camp will stay in spring training until other minor league players report in early March, Getz said.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
