SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox pitcher Justin Dunn had a special guest in attendance for Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
His brother, Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn, saw Justin pitch two scoreless innings in the 8-2 victory.
“That was the first time my brother had seen me pitch in two years,” Justin Dunn said Thursday morning at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. “He was on a journey when I was coming back (from injury) and it felt like when he was getting his college offers (is) when the start of my shoulder problems happened.
“So to have him out here is pretty special. That’s my best friend in the world. Just to have him there was amazing.”
Dunn allowed one hit and one walk while pitching the fourth and fifth innings. Ryan was joined by his teammate, Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
“I couldn’t be thankful enough that Kevin came,” Justin Dunn said. “If that’s not a leader and a good person, I don’t know what is.”
Dunn is in Sox camp as a nonroster invitee after signing a minor-league deal in the offseason. He has a 1.80 ERA in five innings during three relief appearances.
“Finally healthy,” Dunn said. “Still a little rusty in game situations, but getting back into it. I think I’m only going to get better. The guy I am now is not the guy that’s going to be at the end of camp. The guy that’s at the end of camp is not going to be the guy at the end of the season.
“I’m just excited and enjoying the process. I can’t thank God enough for this opportunity to just pitch.”
Dunn, 29, was a first-round pick by the New York Mets in 2016. He has a 6-7 record with a 4.44 ERA in 32 career major-league starts for the Seattle Mariners (2019-21) and Cincinnati Reds (2022).
“I think the crappy part for me was it was starting to click when I got hurt,” Dunn said. “I felt like I was starting to make the jump. I had some really good veterans around me. And then I was always just telling people I can’t wait to pitch with what I know now.
“I was just a kid out there before just trying to throw as hard as I could and I didn’t know anything. But now that I know what I’m doing, I’m healthy and I know what I’m doing. It’s going pretty well.”
Manager Will Venable noted: “The changeup is a real weapon for him.”
Dunn signed with the Sox shortly after throwing a pro day.
“There were about 13 teams there and the White Sox called first and we got it done fast,” Dunn said. “And that’s how I knew God was in the mix with this one. I couldn’t pass it up. This is where I was supposed to be. Great opportunity here.
“It’s the theme of camp and that’s all I need is an opportunity. I’ll do the rest and with God’s help I’ll be where I need to be.”
He also has had the chance to catch every Suns game he’s capable of attending.
“That’s my guy,” Dunn said of his brother. “For all he had to sacrifice for me to get to where I am today, any chance I get to support him, I’m there. It helps when it’s 30 minutes away and the Suns are a super welcoming organization and they do a great job of welcoming the family and making it easy for us to be around. I’m there whenever. It feels like I’m almost part of the team basically.”
Ryan Dunn, 22, is averaging six points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.5 minutes in his rookie season with the Suns.
“I’m very proud,” the Sox’s Dunn said. “I wish he would listen to me a little bit more and slow down. He’s doing great and taking a great mindset to this whole thing, day by day, very process-oriented and just going to get better.
“When you’ve got Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal saying come hang out with me after and watch film and see the game and get better, he’s going to be all right.”
He said Durant “loves the White Sox.”
“He wears a White Sox hat every day,” Dunn said. “I joke with my brother, ‘Tell him I’ll get him a fresh hat. His hat is dusty.’ We got him a fresh hat and next he wants a South Side jersey. I have to get with the team and get him one of those jerseys.
“He wants my jersey. He wants it when I get there. He said, ‘I want Dunn with whatever number you have.’ So we have to make that happen, and God-willing we can make it happen pretty soon.”
Roster moves
The Sox made five roster moves Thursday, including reassigning pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith to minor-league camp. The Sox also optioned pitchers Jake Eder and Jairo Iriarte to Triple-A Charlotte and Wikelman Gonzalez to Double-A Birmingham.
“The thing was even if they don’t have their best stuff, they can find ways to get to their secondary stuff, get back in the zone,” Venable said of Schultz and Smith on Thursday at Scottsdale Stadium. Both pitchers have three scoreless innings in two Cactus League outings.
“Excited for them to go do their thing and get built up for the year,” Venable said.
With the moves, the Sox have 66 players remaining in camp: 31 pitchers, six catchers, 18 infielders and 11 outfielders.
Injury updates
Right fielder Oscar Colás exited Thursday’s game against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning with a right wrist sprain. He suffered the injury while attempting to make a diving catch. The Sox said Colás is day to day.
Catcher Korey Lee is in line to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lee exited Wednesday’s game against the Brewers with a bruised right hand suffered when he hit Rhys Hoskins’ bat while attempting to throw out a runner at third base.
The Sox anticipate having Colson Montgomery back in action Saturday, Sunday or Monday. The shortstop has been recovering from back spasms.
