February 25, 2026 | Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ | 1:05 PM CT | MLB Network, NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White Sox (63–99 last year) face the Cincinnati Reds (73–89) today, and this is actually a fun matchup. Both teams are rebuilding. Both have exciting young talent. And both are trying to figure out if their prospects can actually turn into major leaguers.
The headliner? Colson Montgomery vs Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. Montgomery is our top prospect and the guy who’s supposed to save this franchise. De La Cruz is already a proven star—one of the most dynamic players in baseball with ridiculous speed and power.
Drew Thorpe gets the start against Hunter Greene, which is basically “young prospect with upside” vs “established flamethrower with 100 mph heat.” Luis Robert Jr. plays center against TJ Friedl, assuming Robert can stay healthy long enough to matter.
This is the kind of spring training game that tells us whether we’re headed in the right direction or if we’re still years away from competing.
Where the White Sox Stand (Still at the Bottom)
2025 Record: 63–99
Ninety-nine losses. We were terrible. Historically, embarrassingly bad. The pitching collapsed, the defense was a disaster, and offensively we couldn’t score if our lives depended on it.
But that was the plan—tear it down, stockpile prospects, and rebuild from scratch. It sucks 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. The problem is staying healthy.
- Colson Montgomery (SS): Our top prospect, franchise cornerstone, the guy who’s supposed to change everything.
- Erick Fedde (SP): Veteran arm who mentors young pitchers and provides stability.
Top Prospects:
- Bryan Ramos (3B): Power bat trying to prove he’s ready for the majors
- Drew Thorpe (RHP): Gets the start today, has frontline starter potential
- Edgar Quero (C): Young catcher with offensive upside
Drew Thorpe vs Hunter Greene is a massive test. Greene throws 100 mph with elite breaking stuff. If Thorpe can compete with that lineup, it shows he’s closer to being major-league ready.
The Cincinnati Reds: Young, Exciting, and Ahead of Us
2025 Record: 73–89
The Reds were bad last year, but they’re further along in their rebuild than we are. Elly De La Cruz is already a bonafide star—30-30 potential with jaw-dropping athleticism. Matt McLain is a solid young infielder. Hunter Greene throws gas and leads the rotation.
Key Players:
- Elly De La Cruz (SS): Dynamic five-tool player, already one of the most exciting players in baseball
- Hunter Greene (RHP): Triple-digit fastball, elite strikeout stuff
- Matt McLain (INF): Solid bat and glove, complements De La Cruz well
Top Prospects:
- Noelvi Marte (INF): Fighting for playing time, has upside
- Cam Collier (3B): Developmental third baseman with power potential
- Rhett Lowder (RHP): Pitching prospect who could see innings today
The Reds are what we’re trying to become—a team with a franchise superstar (De La Cruz) surrounded by developing talent. They’re not contenders yet, but they’re closer than we are.
The Matchups That Actually Matter
| Position | White Sox | Reds |
|---|---|---|
| Shortstop | Colson Montgomery | Elly De La Cruz |
| Starting Pitcher | Drew Thorpe | Hunter Greene |
| Center Field | Luis Robert Jr. | TJ Friedl |
Colson Montgomery vs Elly De La Cruz at Shortstop
This is the story of the game. De La Cruz is already a star—he stole 67 bases last year with 25 homers. Montgomery is trying to prove he can eventually reach that level. This is a measuring-stick game for our top prospect.
Drew Thorpe vs Hunter Greene on the Mound
Greene throws 100+ mph with a wipeout slider. Thorpe has command and pitchability. The talent gap is obvious, but Thorpe needs to show he can at least compete against elite lineups. Three solid innings would be a win.
Luis Robert Jr. vs TJ Friedl in Center
When healthy, Robert is the better player—more power, more speed, better defense. Friedl is solid and consistent. But the key phrase is “when healthy,” and Robert’s never healthy.
What the White Sox Need to See Today
Drew Thorpe Competes Against a Real Lineup
The Reds have legitimate hitters—De La Cruz, McLain, and others who can punish mistakes. Thorpe can’t just throw fastballs and hope. He needs command, confidence, and the ability to mix pitches. Three innings with minimal damage would be progress.
Colson Montgomery Handles Hunter Greene
Greene’s going to challenge Montgomery with 100 mph fastballs and nasty breaking stuff. Can Montgomery lay off tough pitches? Can he make hard contact when he gets something to hit? This at-bat tells us a lot about whether he’s ready.
Luis Robert Jr. Stays Healthy
I’m a broken record, but that’s all that matters with Robert. Just get through the game without tweaking something. If he can give us a full season, he’s a game-changer. If not, we’re stuck hoping someone else steps up.
Bryan Ramos Shows He’s Ready
Ramos has power, but can he handle velocity and spin from guys like Greene? Show bat-to-ball skills, take smart at-bats, and prove you’re more than just organizational depth.
Defense Doesn’t Fall Apart
We ranked near the bottom in fielding last year. Against a team like Cincinnati that runs aggressively and puts the ball in play, we can’t afford sloppy defense. Make routine plays and don’t beat ourselves.
What the Reds Will Bring (And Why They’re Probably Winning)
Elly De La Cruz will do something ridiculous—a stolen base, a laser throw from short, maybe a moonshot homer. That’s what generational talents do. Hunter Greene will pump 100 mph fastballs and make our hitters look overmatched for a few innings.
The Reds’ young core is more developed than ours. They’re closer to competing. And in a spring training game between two rebuilding teams, that experience and talent usually wins out.
White Sox Fan Prediction: Close Game, We Fall Short
Final Score: Reds 6, White Sox 4
Hunter Greene dominates for four innings with eight strikeouts, making our hitters look overmatched. Elly De La Cruz goes 2-for-3 with a stolen base and makes a highlight-reel defensive play.
Drew Thorpe battles but gives up three runs in four innings—not terrible against that lineup, but not dominant. Colson Montgomery goes 1-for-3 with a hard-hit single and looks competitive, if not quite ready. Luis Robert Jr. crushes a solo homer because that’s what he does when healthy, then exits early as a precaution (of course).
The Reds’ depth and star power take over late, and they pull away. We show flashes—maybe Bryan Ramos drives one deep, maybe Edgar Quero throws out a runner—but it’s clear they’re further along in their rebuild.
And that’s fine. That’s where we are. They have their franchise star in De La Cruz. We’re hoping Montgomery becomes ours.
Why This Game Matters (Even in Spring Training)
The scoreboard doesn’t matter. But seeing Colson Montgomery compete against Elly De La Cruz does. Watching Drew Thorpe face a playoff-caliber lineup does. Hoping Luis Robert Jr. stays healthy does.
The Reds represent what we’re trying to build—a team with a superstar surrounded by developing talent. They found their guy in De La Cruz. We’re hoping Montgomery becomes that for us.
If Montgomery can hold his own today, if Thorpe can compete with Greene’s lineup, if Robert stays on the field—those are wins, even if we lose the game.
Spring training is about development, not wins. But against a team like Cincinnati that’s ahead of us in the rebuild, we need to see signs that we’re closing the gap.
The Harsh Reality of Rebuilding
We lost 99 games last year. The Reds lost 89. That 10-game gap matters. They’re closer to contention than we are.
But spring training shows whether we’re moving in the right direction. Are our prospects developing? Is our pitching improving? Can we execute fundamentals?
If the answer is yes, then maybe we’re competitive in 2027 or 2028. If not, we’re stuck in perpetual rebuild mode while teams like Cincinnati pull ahead.
For now, we’re watching Colson Montgomery audition to be our Elly De La Cruz. And hoping he gets there sooner rather than later.
Go Sox!!! Trust the rebuild (even when it’s painful).