62 Zach Burdi RP

Burdi (knee) threw his first side session of spring training Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ''He looked good,'' manager Rick Renteria said of Burdi's side session. ''The ball was coming out of his hand, and he was around the zone more, hitting the spot more than I thought he would be at this point. A lot of life. He threw the ball well.''

Burdi, a first-round draft pick in 2016, has endured two major injuries since draft day. Tommy John elbow surgery ended his 2017 season prematurely, and he spent 2018 recovering. A dislocated knee cut short his 2019 season. He's got a powerful, upper-90s fastball that fueled a 13.8 K/9 rate in 29 games at Triple-A Charlotte before the elbow injury. Given his lack of work over the last three years, Burdi is expected to start in the minors this season so the organization can monitor the right-hander.

Burdi (knee) had his contract selected by the White Sox on Wednesday.

Injuries have limited Burdi to just 29 innings over the last two seasons combined, but he's talented enough that the White Sox elected to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He didn't exactly showcase that talent while stumbling to a 6.41 ERA over 19.2 innings at Double-A Birmingham, but the team evidently is still holding out hope for his future.

Burdi will miss the remainder of the season with a tear in the ligament of his right patella.

He had a 6.75 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in 22.2 innings, primarily at Double-A, prior to the injury. Once seen as a future big-league closer, Burdi would now do well just to make it to the majors at all.

Burdi (lat) was promoted to Double-A Birmingham on Tuesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Recovery from Tommy John surgery limited Burdi to just 6.1 innings of rookie-league rehab last season, and he started this season on a rehab assignment at Low-A Kannapolis while dealing with a lat issue. He's now up at Double-A and should soon advance to Triple-A Charlotte, where he spent time in 2016 and 2017 prior to his elbow injury.

Burdi (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Kannapolis on Monday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in late July of 2017, and it has been a slow road back, as he was scratched from the Arizona Fall League roster due to fatigue and dealt with this lat injury in spring training. Once fully recovered, Burdi will join Triple-A Charlotte, and he could reach the big leagues sometime this summer.

Burdi suffered an aggravation of his latissimus early in spring training that delayed his work and will require him to participate in extended spring training, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox were already being careful with Burdi, a 2016 first-round draft pick who returned from Tommy John elbow surgery late in the 2018 season. "Worst comes to worst, maybe I stay here for a couple of extended [spring camp] games, because I probably won't get as many looks as these guys," Burdi said. "A week or two into the season, it's missing baseball, which sucks. But at the end of the day, I missed an entire year. It's not worth risking an entire other one." Burdi had reached Triple-A before the elbow injury and could work his way to the majors later this season.

Burdi (elbow) will not pitch again in the Arizona Fall League due to "general fatigue," though he's expected to be fully healthy prior to spring training, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Burdi missed a majority of the 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late July of 2017. He wound up pitching in seven fall league games in August and then returned for a few more appearances this past month before getting shut down for the rest of the year. He's expected to vie for a spot in the major-league bullpen this spring if he's back to 100 percent.

Burdi (elbow) is scheduled to pitch in an instructional league game Thursday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Burdi is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in July of 2017. The 23-year-old made seven appearances for the AZL White Sox in August, posting a 2.84 ERA with seven strikeouts across 6.1 innings. He's now set to throw a few innings in the instructional league before the Arizona Fall League kicks back up Oct. 9. Burdi is expected to transition to a pitching plan that resembles how he would be used in the big-league bullpen. He could compete for a high-leverage role next spring if his arm is ready.

Burdi (elbow) has made three rehab appearances for the AZL White Sox. He's allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three over 2.2 innings.

The results aren't important right now for Burdi, who is throwing in game conditions for the first time since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery 13 months ago. It's all about building up strength and throwing without restrictions. When he was drafted by the White Sox in 2016, Burdi was billed as a closer of the future. That role will be up for grabs next spring if Burdi's arm is ready for the competition and that type of workload.

Burdi (elbow) is throwing regularly off a mound, James Fegan of The Athletic Chicago reports.

Burdi is slowly working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in July of 2017. He's hoping to enter spring training without any restrictions, though he could conceivably return to action in the fall if all goes well.

Burdi (elbow) is throwing out to 30 feet with 30 throws per session, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Burdi, who underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in July of 2017, admitted to being a bit stiff when he began throwing, but has since become more fluid, finding a "groove and rhythm." He's expected to move his distance out to 45 feet next week. The 22-year-old right-handed reliever faces a few more months of rehabilitation and could get back to pitching competitively late in the 2018 season. Burdi is known for his high-velocity fastball and is viewed as a future closer.

Burdi (elbow) successfully underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It seems like everything about the operation went off without a hitch. Burdi will now move into the rehab phase as he eyes getting ready for the start of the 2019 season.

Burdi will undergo Tommy John elbow surgery Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-TImes reports.

Burdi, a first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2016 draft, was being groomed as a closer at Triple-A Charlotte before his balky elbow got in the way. After Thursday's surgery, he'll be looking at a year-plus of rehabilitation. Realistically, you can expect Burdi throwing regularly for the organization in 2019.

Burdi (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John later this week, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The worst-case scenario will in fact come to fruition, as Burdi will now likely be knocked out of competitive game action until the 2019 campaign. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and a 51:17 K:BB in 33.1 innings pitched out of Triple-A Charlotte's bullpen this season, but he'll have to focus on rehabbing his injured elbow for roughly the next year and a half.

Burdi has been diagnosed with a tear in his UCL and will likely need Tommy John surgery, JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago reports.

The hard-throwing right-hander, who many have pegged as the White Sox's closer of the future, will likely not pitch again in a competitive setting until 2019 if surgery is indeed necessary. Burdi has posted a 4.05 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB in 33.1 innings with Triple-A Charlotte this year. His brother, Nick Burdi, underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this season.

Burdi, 22, has a 5.24 ERA and 33:12 K:BB in 22.1 relief innings for Triple-A Charlotte.

The 6-foot-3 righty has converted five of seven save opportunities, but he's been battered recently, allowing nine earned runs in his last four appearances. With David Robertson firmly entrenched as the White Sox closer and the big club sitting in last place, there does not appear to be a reason to rush Burdi to the show, although he could get a look after the trade deadline if Robertson and/or Nate Jones are sent elsewhere.

Burdi was reassigned to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, CSN Chicago's Dan Hayes reports.

Burdi was vying for a bullpen gig in spring training, but the White Sox decided that the hard-throwing youngster was better served gaining some more development time at Triple-A. His demotion means that Anthony Swarzak and Michael Ynoa have claimed the final two openings in the White Sox's bullpen.

Burdi allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over one-third of an inning Thursday.

Burdi's expected to the start the season at Triple-A Charlotte, but the fact he's still in major league camp is a good sign. The 2016 first-round pick (26th overall) should make it up to Chicago at some point this season, but first he'll work on commanding his 100 mph gas in Charlotte.

Burdi is seen as a closer-type, but manager Rick Renteria said the 22-year-old needs to improve his fastball command, Paul Skrbina of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Burdi, a non-roster invitee to major league camp, has allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out 10 in 7.1 innings over seven spring appearances. The 26th overall pick in the 2016 draft reached Triple-A Charlotte last season and is on the precipice of the majors in 2017. It will get really interesting if the White Sox eventually trade closer David Robertson. With Chicago in full rebuild mode, Burdi could ascend to the ninth inning role ahead of schedule.

Burdi is viewed by the organization as a potential closer, Scott Merkin of the White Sox's official site reports. "We view him as an elite reliever, but he has back-end-of-the-bullpen type of stuff," White Sox director of player development Chris Getz said. "Does that mean that's where he starts? Is he going to go right as a closer? Not necessarily, but he has the potential to become a closer."

Burdi, a 2016 first-round pick (26th overall), touched multiple levels of the organization last season, finishing out the season at Triple-A Charlotte. He fanned 51 batters over 38 innings, but also walked 20. So right there, we see command is something the 21-year-old right-hander needs to clean up before he's entrusted to a closer's role for the White Sox. He's expected to reach the majors at some point in 2017 and there could be a savior role available should Chicago eventually move closer David Robertson in a deal.