Three Pitching Prospects Who Should Make The Chicago White Sox Opening Day Roster
By Todd Welter
Nick Nastrini
Nastrini was the other pitcher obtained in the Lynn and Kelly deal. He is rated as the 8th-best prospect in the White Sox farm system.
Nastrini is having a strong spring too as he has allowed just one earned run in nine innings pitched. He threw in four games for Triple-A Charlotte after he was acquired by the Sox and posted a 4.12 ERA. It would not hurt to get him some more innings at Triple-A since those were the only four games he pitched in.
At the same time, the Sox rotation does not have a good option to be the fifth starter right now.
Nick Nastrini with a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP this spring and that goes down to a 0.69 ERA when you factor in his one B game start in between ST games.
— Elijah Evans (@ElijahEv8) March 18, 2024
Even without his best stuff today command wise, he got through 4 scoreless. Simply no reason for him not be in the rotation.
Michael Kopech has been banished to the bullpen permanently. Jared Shuster has been sent to minor league camp after a bad spring. Touki Toussaint has had a terrible spring. Brad Keller is a non-roster invitee, but he has never been very good at the major league level.
Service time be darned, the Sox need a fifth starter and right now Nastrini has earned the job.