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  "path": "/white-sox/2026/02/16/mike-vasil-white-sox-rotation-shane-smith-will-venable-kyle-teel",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-16T23:23:08.351Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shane Smith earned well-deserved recognition as the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox\" >White Sox</a>’ lone 2025 American League All-Star, but fellow rookie Mike Vasil proved his own worth with a chance to continue his remarkable ascent.</p><p>Vasil, 25, will get an opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation after posting a 2.50 ERA in a predominant relief role without a blazing fastball.</p><p>“I have the higher velo in the tank,” Vasil said. “But I think for me, realizing that pitching is an art, I always learned how to pitch first, and the velo would come.</p><p>“Obviously, look, in today's game, there's guys throwing above 100 miles an hour, which is crazy, but it’s realizing what works best for you, and creating a plan.”</p><p>At first, it might sound like a stretch to move Vasil, 25, to the rotation. He saved a bullpen that posted a 4.16 ERA with 24 blown saves from further despair.</p><p>Vasil posted a 2.00 ERA in 44 relief appearances, including 14 of at least three innings. He was used exclusively as a reliever in late June after posting a 6.55 ERA in three consecutive starts in which he allowed three home runs in 11 innings.</p><p>But after being dispatched to the bullpen, Vasil threw a career-high 5 1/3 innings and allowed only one earned run in his next appearance after being demoted from the rotation.</p><p>Vasil showed no signs of fading, as he posted a 2.54 ERA in 22 appearances in the second half.</p><p>The key for Vasil, and the Sox, is his continued success with his 94 mph sinker that produced a 51.4% ground-ball rate, which plays well in hitter-friendly Rate Field and compensates for his 19.4% strikeout rate.</p><p>“I love ground balls and realizing that it's a weapon, especially in today's game where a lot of guys are obviously trying to hit the ball in the air,” Vasil said.</p><p>The Sox could use more efficiency from their rotation after their starters threw only 53.5% of the team’s 1,416 innings in 2025.</p><p>“He’s got the physical capability of doing it,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “We asked him to do a lot of different things last year — pitch a little bit of length, some shorter stints, and he was able to respond to everything and really earned that right to come to camp to compete for a starting job.</p><p>“We’re going to give him a shot to do that, and we also know that as this thing all comes together, he’s going to do a lot of different things for us.”</p><p>Smith, Davis Martin and Anthony Kay (who signed a two-year deal) appear entrenched in the Sox’ rotation, leaving two spots open. Erick Fedde signed a one-year deal last week but needs to regain his 2024 form before the Sox traded him to the Cardinals at the July trade deadline.</p><p>That leaves Vasil having a semblance of a shot for at least one spot in the rotation.</p><p>“I don't know what the team plans on having him do, but like as a catcher, you see him attacking hitters early and often,” said Kyle Teel, who caught Vasil at the University of Virginia and last year with the Sox. “That's a really great quality that he has.”</p><p>Vasil knows there are no guarantees, especially after what he experienced last spring. He was a Rule 5 pick of the Phillies in a pre-arranged pick before selling him to the Rays, who waived him shortly before the end of spring training before the Sox claimed him.</p><p>“I realized that I'm able to do a lot of things, and that's valuable,” said Vasil, who spent his first four seasons in the Mets’ organization. “But at the end of the day, I'm a team guy. It's team over me.”<br></p>",
  "title": "Mike Vasil has chance to earn spot in White Sox' rotation",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-16T23:23:08.351Z"
}