GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dominic Fletcher knows the White Sox outfield picture is crowded.
“There’s a lot of competition in camp,” Fletcher told the Sun-Times Thursday. “Excited to see where it goes.”
Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Benintendi, Mike Tauchman, Michael Taylor, Austin Slater, Joey Gallo and Oscar Colas are also out there with the left-handed Fletcher, who can more than hold his own at all three positions defensively but needs to improve on his .206/.252/.256 hitting line in his first year with the Sox.
“I made some adjustments going back to what I did well in 2023 and ‘22, going back to that,” said Fletcher, who batted .301/.350/.441 in 28 games for the Diamonbacks in 2023. “I changed my swing last year, and my focus is to get back to what I was doing in ’23. Get my bat more vertical, keep my balance better and being more athletic. I’m pretty happy with where I am right now.”
Fletcher ranked second among AL right fielders with 10 defensive runs saved in 2024, and he played 24 games in center field. He also has time on his side. At 27, Fletcher, Robert (26) and Colas (27) are the outfielders in the aforementioned group in their 20s.
While Colas added upper body muscle, Fletcher lost 12 pounds in the offseason and is down to about 180.
He feels lighter and faster.
“Imagine carrying a 10-pound weight vest,” Fletcher said. “The difference is like that. It takes some strain off my legs and should help me be healthy and maintain my legs through the season.”
Open for trade business
The outfield depth could alter before Opening Day with a trade, perhaps with Robert known to be a valuable trade chip. Lesser deals are a possibility, with general manager Chris Getz always on the lookout to add prospect talent.
“That’s a definite possibility,” Getz said. “First and foremost, you want to put together in the best club you can for an upcoming season. Knowing that we’ve got some really talented players in camp that are going to be watched and tracked by other clubs, and if there’s an opportunity to improve our long-term health, we’re going to do that.”
The Sox started camp with 70 players, many of them non-roster invitees with major league experience signed to minor league deals.
Korey and the catchers
The Sox feel good about their catching future with prospects Kyle Teel and Edgar Quaro knocking at the major league door. Korey Lee is the incumbent, with veteran Matt Thaiss at No. 2 on the depth chart. Veteran Omar Narvaez is in major league camp on a minor league deal.
But Lee is far from a finished product.
“Korey’s physical tools are off the charts,” catchers coach Drew Butera said. “Just needs to continue to grow in every phase. He plays the hardest position in the world and there’s a lot that goes into it. And he’s still learning at the big league level, which is hard to do. But he’s progressing in the right direction.”
Lee hit .210 with 12 homers in his first full season in the majors, fading offensively after a strong first two months. His pop times and arm strength helped him throw out 18.7% of base stealers.