Jairo Iriarte

According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, White Sox pitching prospect Jairo Iriarte will work with the team as a starter during spring training. The seventh-ranked prospect in the system made his MLB debut last summer but was deployed exclusively out of the bullpen. During this short six-inning stint, the 23-year-old held a 1.50 ERA with a 1.83 WHIP. He tallied six punchouts and generated a solid 50.0 percent ground-ball rate. However, he also had a high 4.28 xERA, suggesting he may face some regression when he returns to the mound. During his time in the minor leagues, Iriarte spent most of his time in a starting rotation. Last season at Triple-A, Iriarte made 22 starts in 23 games and held a 3.71 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. He could contend for a spot in the Opening Day rotation if he performs well in spring training.