February 27, 2026 | Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ | 2:05 PM CT | MLB Network, NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White Sox (63–99 last year) face the Texas Rangers (92–70, World Series champions) today, and this is going to be painful. They just won the World Series. They have Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Adolis García. We have Luis Robert Jr. when he’s healthy, Colson Montgomery hoping to become a star, and Drew Thorpe trying to prove he belongs.
The Rangers won it all last year. We lost 99 games and were historically terrible. They’re defending champions. We’re defending… nothing. We’re just trying to not lose 100 games again.
This is the kind of spring training game that shows you exactly how far you have to climb. And for White Sox fans who suffered through last season, it’s a brutal reminder that we’re years away from competing with championship-caliber teams.
But our young guys still need to compete. Colson Montgomery still needs at-bats against elite pitching. Drew Thorpe still needs to test himself against a World Series lineup. And Luis Robert Jr. still needs to stay healthy.
Let’s see what happens.
Where the White Sox Stand (Still Rock Bottom)
2025 Record: 63–99
Ninety-nine losses. We were awful. The pitching was a disaster. The defense was embarrassing. And offensively, we couldn’t score runs consistently to save our lives.
The front office tore it all down—traded veterans, stockpiled prospects, and committed to a full rebuild. It’s brutal watching losing baseball, but if Montgomery, Thorpe, and the rest of our young core develop into stars, it’ll be worth it.
Key Players:
- Luis Robert Jr. (CF): Elite talent when healthy—30-homer power, Gold Glove defense. “When healthy” is the key phrase.
- Colson Montgomery (SS): Our top prospect, the franchise cornerstone we’re banking everything on.
- Erick Fedde (SP): Veteran arm who mentors young pitchers.
Top Prospects:
- Bryan Ramos (3B): Power bat trying to prove he’s ready
- Drew Thorpe (RHP): Gets the start today against the defending champs
- Edgar Quero (C): Young catcher with offensive upside
Drew Thorpe vs Nathan Eovaldi and the Rangers’ championship lineup is a massive test. Can Thorpe compete with Seager, Semien, and García? Or will they expose him as not ready?
The Texas Rangers: What Champions Look Like
2025 Record: 92–70 (World Series Champions)
The Rangers won the World Series last year. They’re everything we’re not—elite talent, organizational depth, championship experience, and a front office that knows how to build winners.
Key Players:
- Corey Seager (SS): World Series MVP, one of the best shortstops in baseball
- Marcus Semien (2B): Consistent All-Star, championship veteran
- Adolis García (OF): Power bat who shows up in big moments
Rotation:
- Nathan Eovaldi (RHP): Playoff-tested ace, getting the start today
- Jack Leiter (RHP): Top prospect who’s close to contributing
Top Prospects:
- Wyatt Langford (OF): Emerging star with legitimate upside
- Owen White (RHP): Pitching prospect with potential
The Rangers won the World Series by executing in every phase of the game. That’s what championship teams do. We’re nowhere close to that level.
The Talent Gap Is Enormous
| Position | White Sox | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Center Field | Luis Robert Jr. | Adolis García |
| Shortstop | Colson Montgomery | Corey Seager |
| Starting Pitcher | Drew Thorpe | Nathan Eovaldi |
Luis Robert Jr. vs Adolis García in Center
When healthy, Robert has elite talent. But García just won a World Series and showed up in the biggest moments. That playoff experience and clutch gene is the difference between talent and proven championship performance.
Colson Montgomery vs Corey Seager at Shortstop
Montgomery is our top prospect trying to prove he’s ready. Seager is a World Series MVP and one of the best players in baseball. The gap is massive, and Montgomery’s about to get a harsh reality check.
Drew Thorpe vs Nathan Eovaldi on the Mound
Eovaldi is a proven playoff ace with championship experience. Thorpe is a prospect hoping to earn a rotation spot. The difference in pedigree, experience, and stuff is enormous.
What the White Sox Need to See Today
Drew Thorpe Competes (Even If He Gets Hit)
The Rangers’ lineup is loaded with championship-level hitters. Thorpe’s going to give up runs—that’s expected against a team this good. What matters is whether he competes, executes his pitches, and shows he belongs at this level. Three or four innings with some competitive at-bats would be progress.
Colson Montgomery Handles Elite Pitching
Nathan Eovaldi is going to challenge Montgomery with mid-90s fastballs and elite breaking stuff. Can Montgomery lay off tough pitches? Can he make hard contact when he gets something to hit? This is the kind of at-bat that shows whether he’s ready for the majors.
Luis Robert Jr. Stays Healthy
I’m a broken record, but staying healthy is all that matters with Robert. Just get through the game without tweaking something. If he can give us a full season, he’s a difference-maker. If not, we’re stuck hoping someone else becomes our best player.
Bryan Ramos Shows He Belongs
Ramos has power, but can he handle velocity and spin from championship-caliber pitching? Show bat-to-ball skills, take smart at-bats, and prove you’re not just organizational depth.
Don’t Get Embarrassed
The Rangers are going to win. We know that. But if Seager, Semien, and García go a combined 10-for-15 with five homers, that’s a problem. Make them work for everything and don’t beat ourselves with errors.
What the Rangers Will Bring (And Why We’re Getting Destroyed)
Nathan Eovaldi will probably dominate for 4-5 innings. Corey Seager will do something MVP-caliber—a clutch hit, a smooth defensive play, professional at-bats. Marcus Semien will work counts and get on base. Adolis García will crush something.
The Rangers’ depth—both pitching and hitting—will overwhelm us. They’re defending World Series champions with proven playoff performers. We’re a 63-win team hoping our prospects develop.
This is the gap we’re trying to close. And it’s not happening in 2026.
White Sox Fan Prediction: We Get Dominated
Final Score: Rangers 7, White Sox 3
Nathan Eovaldi throws five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, making our hitters look completely overmatched. Corey Seager goes 3-for-4 with a homer and makes it look easy. Marcus Semien adds two more hits with professional at-bats. Adolis García launches a two-run shot.
Drew Thorpe battles but gives up five runs in four innings—not terrible against the defending champs, but not competitive. Colson Montgomery goes 1-for-3 with a single and looks overmatched at times. Luis Robert Jr. crushes a solo homer because that’s what he does, then exits early as a precaution (of course).
The Rangers’ championship depth takes over in the late innings, and they cruise. We show flashes—maybe Bryan Ramos drives one deep, maybe Edgar Quero throws out a runner—but it’s painfully clear they’re on a completely different level.
And that’s reality. They’re defending World Series champions. We’re trying to not lose 100 games again.
Why This Game Matters (Even Though We’re Losing)
The scoreboard doesn’t matter. But seeing our young guys compete against championship-caliber talent does.
Can Drew Thorpe hold his own against a Rangers lineup that won the World Series? Will Colson Montgomery show he can handle Nathan Eovaldi’s stuff? Can Luis Robert Jr. stay on the field?
The Rangers represent what we’re trying to build toward—championship talent, organizational excellence, sustainable success. They develop prospects into stars. They sign impact players. They execute in big moments. They win championships.
We need to do the same. If we can’t, we’re stuck in perpetual rebuild mode while teams like Texas celebrate titles.
The Harsh Reality of Where We Are
We lost 99 games last year. The Rangers won 92 and then won the World Series. That’s not a gap—that’s a canyon.
But spring training shows whether we’re moving in the right direction. Are our prospects developing? Is our pitching improving? Can we compete—even for a few innings—with championship teams?
If the answer is yes, then maybe we’re competitive in 2028 or 2029. If not, we’re looking at another lost decade.
For now, we’re watching Colson Montgomery audition to be our franchise cornerstone. We’re hoping Drew Thorpe becomes a frontline starter. We’re praying Luis Robert Jr. stays healthy.
Because without those guys developing into stars, we’re not closing the gap on teams like the Rangers.
Go Sox. Survive the rebuild. Trust the process (even when it’s brutal).