White Sox pitchers and catchers don’t officially report to spring training until Tuesday, but a promising development has already emerged from Camelback Ranch. Right-handed pitcher Prelander Berroa, who underwent Tommy John surgery last March, is already throwing again at the White Sox facilities, per an Instagram story he posted a few days ago.
Prelander Berroa is already throwing again at the White Sox spring training facility 👀 pic.twitter.com/K49F79BJ8a
— Mike (@ChiSoxFanMike) February 7, 2026
Originally acquired in the February 2024 trade that sent Gregory Santos to the Mariners, Berroa showed promise in his initial stint with the White Sox in 2024. In 17 appearances at the major league level that season, he recorded a 3.32 ERA and struck out 26 in 19 innings. Opponents hit .173 in 60 plate appearances against his slider, with his four-seam fastball averaging 97.4 MPH. Even as a rookie, he proved that his stuff played against big league hitters.
Injury Issues
Coming into 2025 spring training, Berroa looked primed to build off his strong finish in 2024 and earn a job in the White Sox bullpen. Unfortunately for him, he went down with an elbow strain in his first appearance of the spring and underwent Tommy John surgery a couple of weeks later. The injury represented a big blow for both Berroa individually and the team as a whole. He lost a year of development time, while the team lost what appeared to be an integral piece of the bullpen. His absence was noticeable all season. The White Sox had one of the worst bullpens in MLB in 2025 and a lack of high-leverage relievers, a role in which he likely would have occupied if he had been healthy.
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On The Upswing
Thankfully, it appears as if his injury problems are a thing of the past. He didn’t have his surgery until the beginning of March last year, so it hasn’t even been a full calendar year and yet he is already throwing again. Even with him seemingly recovering well, it seems unlikely that he will be ready to go by Opening Day. With Tommy John recoveries varying from anywhere from 12-18 months and the team not expected to compete this season, the organization will likely take a cautious approach with him. A return to the White Sox bullpen sometime in the early summer seems reasonable, assuming he doesn’t experience any setbacks.
Revamped White Sox Bullpen
The White Sox have a revamped bullpen heading into the 2026 season. Seranthony Domínguez, Grant Taylor, and Jordan Leasure all have high-octane stuff, with Berroa joining that group as soon as he returns. What was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses last season could now be a strength. He is one of a number of White Sox pitchers who are on the upswing of their Tommy John recoveries, along with Drew Thorpe, Ky Bush, Mason Adams, and Blake Larson. At 26 years old with five seasons of team control, Berroa figures to play a significant role in the bullpen both later this season and moving into the future. His recovery is worth keeping an eye on.
