Alexy? Yes.
If you'd noticed that the list of White Sox spring training non-roster invitees was a little short on spot starters, the club kinda addressed that today by claiming A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
But only kinda. Alexy hadn't distinguished himself in a couple cups of coffee with the Rangers, posting a 6.30 ERA over 30 innings comprising nine games and four starts.
His MLB certainly career couldn't have started any better. He opened with a couple of gems against the Rockies and Angels, allowing just two hits over 11 scoreless innings in a pair of victories. He made the kind of very specific history baseball fans love as the only pitcher to debut with a pair of one-hit outings lasting at least five innings.
Regression has hammered him since, as Alexy keeps hitting on 21 -- 21 hits, 21 walks, and 21 runs over 19 innings.
The White Sox are Alexy's fourth organization of the winter. The Rangers designated him for assignment when they signed Andrew Heaney in December. The Nationals claimed him, but then traded him to the Twins earlier this month. That set up an even shorter stay, as the Twins DFA'd him after only a few weeks to make room for Michael A. Taylor after their trade with Kansas City.
Drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round in 2016 out of the Pennsylvania prep ranks, Alexy weathered higher-than-preferred walk rates during his rise up the minor leagues thanks to a decent fastball-slider combo, which racked up strikeouts and limited hits. Alas, he bumped his head on his ceiling during his audition with the Rangers, and Triple-A was a struggle for him last year as well. Left-handed hitters pose a problem for him, which makes it hard to survive a lineup a second time through.
Alexy has an option remaining, and the Charlotte roster can use somebody like him, even if Alexy wouldn't want to see an environment like Charlotte at this stage in his career. Then again, nobody should really be making even medium-term plans for this chapter. The White Sox's 40-man roster is now at capacity, so Alexy could be on the move yet again if the Sox acquire somebody more compelling.
