GLENDALE, Ariz. — Nick Nastrini remained even-keeled after surrendering a leadoff triple in the top of the second Monday against the Texas Rangers.
The Chicago White Sox prospect induced a grounder to first, which plated a run, and then a grounder to shortstop. He capped his first Cactus League outing this spring with a strikeout.
“It felt good, especially when I wasn’t able to get my slider into a chase zone for a majority of the outing,” Nastrini said of the strikeout. “To execute that slider after giving up a triple, staying even-keeled and not really speeding myself up, it meant a lot. Got to build on that.”
The right-hander, who was ranked the No. 6 prospect in the organization in 2023 by MLB.com, allowed the one run on one hit with one strikeout in two innings in the 4-2 loss. Designated hitter Eloy Jiménez had two hits and two RBIs for the Sox.
“It was fun,” Nastrini said. “Went out there, it was good to get the cobwebs out, get the first one underneath you. It was good to get the first one out of the way.”
Nastrini had a 1-2-3 first inning, with two groundouts and a fly ball to center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Nastrini allowed the leadoff triple in the second, but retired the next three hitters to complete his 29-pitch performance.
“I just wanted to have all my stuff in the zone,” he said. “The first inning, my breaking ball was around the zone but the fastball was one I was able to consistently get in the zone, command it in all four quadrants.
“The second inning I was able to have more feel for it, threw a curve over, got a couple changeups in there. So I’m happy with the way I ended it.”
Nastrini was acquired — along with pitcher Jordan Leasure and outfielder Trayce Thompson — last July as part of a five-player deal that sent pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Nastrini went a combined 9-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 25 starts for Double-A Tulsa in the Dodgers system, and in the White Sox system at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He struck out 139 and walked 54 in 114 2/3 innings.
Nastrini is looking forward to his first full season in the organization.
“The guys on the team have been awesome,” he said. “Being a non-roster invite, being a younger guy (24) as well, only being in the organization a half a year now, they’ve welcomed me with open arms. Staff has been great, learned a lot. And it’s been fun to really get to know all the guys in here.”
At Double A in the Sox system, Nastrini was 3-0 with a 4.22 ERA in four starts for the Barons, striking out 31 and walking seven. At Triple A, he went 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA in four starts for the Knights.
Overall, he’s 15-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 59 career starts during three minor-league seasons. He has 340 strikeouts and 116 walks in 254 1/3 career innings.
During the offseason, Nastrini said he wanted to focus on being “a little more sharp with everything.”
“I just wanted to be able to execute any pitch whenever I wanted to,” he said. “In past offseasons I came into spring training a little behind the eight ball as far as how sharp I was. I kind of used spring training to get feel for breaking balls in the zone, get feel for throwing with two strikes. But this offseason I put a major emphasis on coming into spring training already having those skills dialed in, sharpened.”
Before the game, manager Pedro Grifol said he was looking forward to seeing Nastrini, Leasure and Ky Bush — who was acquired as part of the four-player trade last season that sent Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the Los Angeles Angels — on Monday.
Leasure allowed one hit and had one strikeout in his one inning. Bush allowed three hits and struck out two in two scoreless innings.
Asked what has stood out about Nastrini and Leasure this spring, Grifol said, “It’s a talented duo that has some presence.”
“They’re fearless,” Grifol said. “They’ve got a good mix that plays in the big leagues. They don’t have any innings up there yet, but I’m excited to watch them against big-league hitters.”
Nastrini’s mindset as he continues this spring is “to control what I can control.”
“Whatever I can do to help the White Sox win, that’s what I’m here for,” he said.