White Sox: Dylan Covey Having Very Solid Spring Training

White Sox pitcher hasn’t allowed an earned run throughout Spring Training and could be in position for fifth starter spot in the rotation to start the season.

Dylan Covey hasn’t had the best start to his major league career. After being drafted by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft before the 2017 season, Covey has struggled at times as a starting pitcher with the team.

Covey did outduel former White Sox pitcher Chris Sale last season in Boston, but other than that outing, he hasn’t been the most effective starting pitcher on the south side. He did have some moderate success out of the bullpen last season as he compiled a 2.25 ERA in six appearances compared to a 5.50 ERA through 21 starts.

Currently, in Spring Training, Covey is pitching effectively and could be in line to battle for the fifth starter spot in the White Sox rotation to begin this season. Through 6.2 innings pitched this spring, Covey hasn’t allowed an earned run or any free passes to first base via walks. His WHIP sits at 0.60.

While there are other pitchers vying to be the Sox fifth starter this season such as Manny Banuelos and Ervin Santana, Covey has done a good job to put himself in position to be considered for a starting role. He’s well aware of his struggles as a starter from last season according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.

“I was just as good as I was bad last year. There was not too much of that middle ground for me, and that’s where that consistency comes into play. The games I had that were good, there was no struggle. And the games I had that were bad were bad. It was either pretty dominant or the other end of the spectrum, where I’m out of there before five innings.” Dylan Covey

If the White Sox are going to shock the world this upcoming season and have a winning season, Covey will need to be an effective pitcher either out of the bullpen or as a starter. The Sox had to carry Covey on the roster in 2017 as he was a Rule 5 draft pick and didn’t send him back down to the minors despite his struggles last season after he returned to the team in late-April. Although, he did fill a spot in the rotation until a certain former top prospect made his major league debut.

The Sox front office obviously sees something in Covey that they like. Whether Covey can live up to whatever potential the Sox front office envisions remains to be seen. However, if Covey can be an effective middle reliever or starting pitcher this upcoming season, it would help the Sox greatly as they continue with their rebuild.