GLENDALE, Ariz. — Will Venable remembers being on the end of tough conversations as a player. He’s now having to deliver that information as the Chicago White Sox manager. “It is difficult because guys just work so hard, and being in the big leagues is where they want to be,” Venable said be fore Monday’s Cactus League finale against the Athletics. “At the same time, I’ve been sent down, I’ve been released, I’ve been designated — all those things. And as tough as it might have been in the moment, you recovered pretty quickly and life goes on and you just continue to work. “I know it can be tough for them, but these guys are professionals. They understand.” Infielder Chase Meidroth was among those learning they would not be making the opening-day roster. Meidroth said the message was to “Keep doing your thing. I’m going to Charlotte. Keep playing the game and see you in a little bit.” Meidroth was one of the players the Sox acquired in the trade that sent pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox in December. He went 6-for-41 (.146) with nine walks and two RBIs in 17 Cactus League games. Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth during a Cactus League game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb) “He’s excited about the challenge, he’s excited about doing the work he needs to do in Charlotte to make his debut,” Venable said. “There’s no doubt that he’s going to do that.” Meidroth was competing for time at shortstop. The Sox are “still ironing out” the plan for the position, with Jacob Amaya among the possibilities. “He’s obviously a great defender,” Venable said of Amaya. “And we love that, just the stability that he brings to the defensive position. And he’s done a really nice job offensively, really kind of shortening down his stroke. He admittedly was trying to do a little too much early in camp, but I think he got back to kind of who he really is and has done a nice job offensively, as well.” Here are three more takeaways as spring training wrapped up on Monday at Camelback Ranch. 1. There is clarity behind the plate. Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee gets hit in his face mask on a wild pitch against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Sept. 27, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss will begin the season as the two catchers on the Sox roster, Venable said. Both had productive springs. Lee went 12-for-32 (.375) with five RBIs in 13 games. Thaiss went 12-for-37 (.324) with six doubles and two RBIs in 13 games. “I don’t envision it as a strict platoon,” Venable said. “You potentially could see (the left-handed hitting) Thaiss versus some lefties and (right-handed hitting) Korey versus some righties. Just depending on where these guys are at, depending on the pitcher-catcher matchup for the day. “But I think largely, it’ll be platoon-driven, but at the same time, we won’t be limited to that.” Lee made the most starts for the Sox at the position last season. The Sox acquired Thaiss in a trade with the Chicago Cubs in December. The Sox released veteran Omar Narváez on Monday. 2. Luis Robert Jr.’s play ranked among the spring highlights for Chris Getz. Luis Robert Jr. smoked a three-run home run to left in the fourth inning of Monday’s 8-5 victory. The center fielder finished tied with a team-leading four home runs this spring. “He’s not only driving the baseball but he’s having really good at-bats and laying off pitches and taking his walks (six),” general manager Chris Getz said Sunday. “So, we feel he’s well positioned to get off to a nice start. And physically and from a health standpoint, he’s in a good spot.” Getz pointed to Robert’s play as one of the highlights during camp. He also said, generally speaking, “pitching has been really well.” “We do like where our starters are at — our starting five,” Getz said. “We’ve got some uniqueness to the bullpen with left-handed and right-handed arms.” Offensively, Getz said, “it’s really about being able to create runs.” “We think we do have some players who can help us do that,” Getz said. “It’s an offense that is going to have to be balanced right-handed and left-handed to be able to optimize the group as a whole to score some runs.” Getz said Venable and the staff “have done a tremendous job.” “Look forward to opening day and getting things going for the 2025 season,” Getz said. “But there hasn’t been a day we haven’t looked forward to coming to the field, the player energy has been really high. I know they are excited to get the season going. Before you know it, we’ll be there.” 3. Up next: Opening day. Photos: What to eat at Chicago White Sox games this season The Sox were headed home after Monday’s game to prepare for Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field. “Some (roster) decisions to make in the next coming days,” Venable said. “And then, starting the advance process on the Angels. We’ve done a lot of good work already, played them (in a Cactus League last week) and did our little mock advance with them. And as they announce their roster and shape it up, we’ll continue to do our homework. “Just excited to get going.” Sean Burke will be on the mound Thursday for the Sox. The order of the rotation for the remainder of the series will be announced in the coming days. “I can imagine the stadium will be rocking a little bit,” Burke said last week. “Just trying to go out there and be calm and be in the moment and go out and execute pitches.” ...read more read less