{"id":156812,"date":"2026-02-26T02:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=156812"},"modified":"2026-02-26T02:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:30:10","slug":"a-quiet-shift-in-chicago-the-white-soxs-strong-start-in-spring-training-might-not-count-in-the-standings-but-its-already-changing-the-tone-inside-the-clubhouse-and-that-e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=156812","title":{"rendered":"A QUIET SHIFT IN CHICAGO: The White Sox\u2019s Strong Start In Spring Training Might Not Count In The Standings, But It\u2019s Already Changing The Tone Inside The Clubhouse \u2014 And That Early Momentum Could Be The Spark This Franchise Has Been Searching For"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago White Sox<\/span><\/span> Finding Value in a Fast Spring Start After Three Brutal Seasons<\/h2>\n
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4<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 On paper, a 4-2 record in late February means very little. Cactus League standings rarely predict April momentum, let alone September relevance. But context changes everything.<\/p>\n

For a franchise that absorbed triple-digit losses in 2023, 2024 and 2025, even modest early positivity carries symbolic weight.<\/p>\n

The White Sox have been baseball\u2019s most battered organization over the past three seasons. Sixty wins against 102 losses in 2025 left scars that statistics alone cannot fully describe.<\/p>\n

So while four wins in six spring games may not move projection models, they matter internally.<\/p>\n

Manager Will Venable<\/span><\/span> emphasized process over results, but acknowledged that habits tied to winning still need reinforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWinning isn\u2019t something you just flip a switch,\u201d Venable said. \u201cIt\u2019s important that we finish these games and do the things up to the end that lead to winning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spring training often features split squads, minor leaguers filling innings, and veterans pacing themselves carefully. Outcomes rarely reflect roster strength.<\/p>\n

Yet beginning 4-2 beats opening 0-6 for a clubhouse attempting to rewire its identity.<\/p>\n

That 3-0 start marked the franchise\u2019s first since 2004 \u2014 a year before the White Sox captured their last World Series title in 2005.<\/p>\n

No one inside the clubhouse is drawing direct parallels, but historical echoes are difficult to ignore.<\/p>\n

Outfielder Andrew Benintendi<\/span><\/span>, entering the fourth year of his five-year deal, described this camp as the most optimistic environment he has experienced since arriving in Chicago.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is probably the most exciting it\u2019s been since I\u2019ve been here,\u201d Benintendi said. \u201cNo, hell no,\u201d he added when asked whether anyone wants to grow accustomed to losing.<\/p>\n

That blunt rejection reflects a deeper theme.<\/p>\n

Culture shifts begin subtly. A clean defensive inning. A late rally. A crisp bullpen frame. These small reinforcements compound.<\/p>\n

For the White Sox, incremental confidence is essential.<\/p>\n

Murakami Draws Global Attention<\/h3>\n

Much of the intrigue this spring surrounds first baseman Munetaka Murakami<\/span><\/span>, whose arrival has drawn international interest.<\/p>\n

Former White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi<\/span><\/span> visited camp this week, offering perspective on Murakami\u2019s transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very happy that he picked the White Sox,\u201d Iguchi said, noting the surge in Japanese fan engagement expected to follow Murakami\u2019s MLB journey.<\/p>\n

Murakami entered Thursday hitting .385 in limited spring at-bats, though without a home run and with five strikeouts across 13 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

In his penultimate tune-up before departing for the World Baseball Classic, he went 1-for-3 against Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

Iguchi\u2019s advice was simple: maintain identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe already has successful records in Japan,\u201d Iguchi said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t have to change anything. Just be yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The White Sox are banking on that authenticity translating.<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a\u2019s Scare and Defensive Adjustments<\/h3>\n

Center fielder Luisangel Acuna<\/span><\/span> briefly exited Wednesday\u2019s game after sustaining a cut above his left eyebrow while sliding headfirst into second base.<\/p>\n

Acquired from the New York Mets in the Luis Robert trade, Acu\u00f1a required four stitches but avoided structural damage.<\/p>\n

Before the injury, he continued an encouraging spring, going 3-for-7 thus far.<\/p>\n

Venable praised his early defensive reads in center field, a relatively new position at the major league level.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first-step stuff, pre-pitch positioning, we\u2019ve been working on it,\u201d Venable said. \u201cHe\u2019s been out there this winter fine-tuning things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Primarily developed as an infielder, Acu\u00f1a is also refining throws from multiple arm angles in the outfield.<\/p>\n

The versatility experiment underscores Chicago\u2019s emphasis on adaptability.<\/p>\n

Encouraging Pitching Signs<\/h3>\n

On the mound, right-hander Davis Martin made his first appearance of camp and described the outing as the most synchronized he has felt this spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt like the best version of myself so far in camp,\u201d Martin said after allowing one run in two innings.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Cannon may have impressed even more, delivering three perfect innings with one strikeout while competing for a rotation spot.<\/p>\n

Shortstop Colson Montgomery<\/span><\/span> returned from a brief illness and homered against Cincinnati, signaling regained rhythm at the plate.<\/p>\n

These are not definitive statements of competitiveness.<\/p>\n

But they are constructive building blocks.<\/p>\n

Resetting the Narrative<\/h3>\n

The White Sox understand the broader narrative remains skeptical.<\/p>\n

Three consecutive seasons of triple-digit losses erode credibility quickly.<\/p>\n

Yet spring is about recalibration.<\/p>\n

Winning habits are formed in mundane moments \u2014 backing up bases, executing cutoff throws, finishing innings with precision.<\/p>\n

A 4-2 record will not silence doubters.<\/p>\n

But it offers breathing room.<\/p>\n

For a roster attempting to reestablish self-belief, even modest success matters.<\/p>\n

The standings reset in April.<\/p>\n

So does perception.<\/p>\n

And for the White Sox, any early signal that the direction may be shifting \u2014 however subtly \u2014 is worth embracing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chicago White Sox Finding Value in a Fast Spring Start After Three Brutal Seasons 4 GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 On paper, a 4-2 record in late February means… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":156815,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-156812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nA QUIET SHIFT IN CHICAGO: The White Sox\u2019s Strong Start In Spring Training Might Not Count In The Standings, But It\u2019s Already Changing The Tone Inside The Clubhouse \u2014 And That Early Momentum Could Be The Spark This Franchise Has Been Searching For - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=156812\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A QUIET SHIFT IN CHICAGO: The White Sox\u2019s Strong Start In Spring Training Might Not Count In The Standings, But It\u2019s Already Changing The Tone Inside The Clubhouse \u2014 And That Early Momentum Could Be The Spark This Franchise Has Been Searching For - 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