Guerrero Toys With Adding A Cutter — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

GLENDALE, Ariz.—Jordan Guerrero combined to go 13-4, 3.08 in 25 starts last season with low Class A Kannapolis and high Class A Winston-Salem.

Not only did the 21-year-old lefthander move up to 11th on the White Sox’s Top 30 Prospects list, he put himself squarely on the White Sox’s radar. Guerrero also received a non-roster invitation to Chicago’s major league spring training.

“Awesome,” Guerrero said. “Just being here and learning from the veterans, watching guys like (Chris) Sale, watching everything they do and taking it all in. It’s like a dream come true.”

Drafted in the 15th round in 2012 out of Moorpark (Calif.) High, Guerrero made seven relief appearances with Rookie-level Bristol that year. The following year, Guerrero was back with Bristol as a starter, but he appeared in just five games before being shut down for the rest of the season with a shoulder impingement

Guerrero was healthy in 2014, going 6-2, 3.46 while splitting time in the rotation and the bullpen. Feeling 100 percent last year, Guerrero settled in as a starter and dominated at Kannapolis and Winston-Salem.

“It really clicked for me last year,” he said. “I was finally healthy and I felt good all the way around. I did a lot of stuff in the offseason to get better. I worked on my command, throwing the ball over the plate, concentrating on keeping the ball down. I also worked on staying more focused on the mound and not rushing.”

Guerrero impressed scouts with his changeup and the life on his 90-92 mph fastball. He could start 2016 at Double-A Birmingham, but he knows he still has a lot of work to do. With a chance to work with the big leaguers, he wants to make this a very productive spring training.

“I want to improve my secondary pitches,” he said. “I want to throw better a breaking ball. And I talked to Coop (White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper) about adding a cutter, and I’m working on that. It’s a pitch that can help me.”

CHI-LITES

• Chicago signed veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins, giving top prospect Tim Anderson more time to develop at Triple-A Charlotte.

• Claimed off waivers from the Indians in December and likely ticketed for Charlotte, outfielder Jerry Sands impressed the White Sox with some big power early in spring training.