Sean Newcomb to bullpen, Mike Vasil exits start Saturday with right elbow soreness

GLENDALE, Ariz. — With over a week left in spring training, the competition for the starting rotation is winding down.

Manager Will Venable said Saturday that left-hander Sean Newcomb would be starting the season in the bullpen. At his introductory press conference, Newcomb said he signed his one-year deal with the Sox to “get the ball as much as possible,” and that he carried a “starter’s mentality.”

It was likely that Newcomb was going to operate out of the bullpen. In 36 games with the A’s, Newcomb posted a 1.75 ERA, the seventh-best mark among relievers with at least 45 innings pitched.

"He was in competition for a rotation spot," Venable said. "We let him know as it’s shaping up, we really want to utilize him out of the bullpen.

“As far as [right-hander Mike Vasil] goes, he’s still in competition for a starting role. So, kind of day by day, we are collecting more information and getting closer to decisions.”

Vasil’s odds to crack the rotation took a hit Saturday after exiting his start with right elbow soreness. The Sox say he will undergo further testing.

Newcomb, a 2014 first-round pick by the Braves, began his career in the rotation. He started 49 of 50 games to begin his career with a 4.06 ERA before moving to the bullpen in 2019.

In 2025, Newcomb found success with his sinker, which he started to get a feel for in 2023 while working with director of pitching Brian Bannister when the two were with the Giants organization. Finding the sinker led to Newcomb getting a feel for his slider, which has allowed him to find success while pitching out of a lower arm slot.

Newcomb will still be valuable for the Sox in a multi-inning role — he struck out six over three innings on Friday. The rotation is low on experienced arms, and having his ability to eat innings will be needed once injuries inevitably rise, as was evident Saturday.

Lee stealing bases

Knowing where he placed in the catching pecking order, catcher Korey Lee wanted to add other elements to his game. Lee is gifted with a strong arm and above-average speed for a catcher, so he focused on stealing bases.

“I’m an athlete and just picking my spots to go and talking with our baserunning coach [Jose Leger], he’s been fantastic for me and talking to Venable and talking to our coaching staff and seeing what I can do,” Lee said. “Last year I was kind of in that pinch runner role and took it to heart this offseason.”

Lee appeared in eight games as a pinch runner last season but didn’t steal any bases. This spring training, Lee has already stolen four. He entered this offseason behind Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel on the catching depth chart, but after Teel’s Grade 2 hamstring strain, Lee became of even greater importance to the Sox.

White Sox 7, Dodgers 2

• Left fielder Tristan Peters had a two-run scoring single in the third inning and robbed Dalton Rushing of a three-run homer in the sixth.

• Second baseman Lenyn Sosa was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

On Deck: White Sox at Royals, 3:05 p.m., Sunday, Surprise, Hagen Smith vs. Cole Ragans