Pérez gets results after slight delivery adjustment

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Martín Pérez felt as if he’s back to dancing on the mound for the White Sox.

Thanks in part to a delivery adjustment made prior to his start in a 2-1 walk-off, split-squad victory over the Rockies Saturday at Camelback Ranch, Pérez allowed one run in four innings while striking out six. That adjustment had to do with the placement of his hands, moved from his chest down to his belt.

“I got better rhythm. Got more timing. I feel better and was trying to get back to 2022 with that rhythm on the mound,” Pérez said. “Today was really nice to feel what I feel.

“If you watch the video from last year, that was something I was working on late in the season. You have to be natural. I’m not like a mechanical pitcher. I like to have rhythm.”

Pérez's velocity was checking in from 87-89 mph during his last start on Monday, according to the southpaw, but was back around 90-91 mph Saturday, meaning his body was reacting more to the hand placement change. It was a suggestion made by pitching coach Ethan Katz during a bullpen three days ago and a return to where Pérez had his hands in that All-Star campaign from ‘22.

“It’s just like if you have your hands up, you are going to feel your upper body is a little tight,” Pérez said. “When I go down, I feel more relaxed. I feel I can breathe a little bit more and have rhythm with my hands. I feel that I just find my rhythm back.

“Spring Training is for things like this: doing adjustments every time and finding a way to feel comfortable on the mound. Me and [Katz], we talk about doing something different with my hands because I was not using my legs the way I have to use them.”

As for the sort of dance Pérez was now executing on the mound, he smiled and said, “salsa.”

“I’m hitting more of my spots,” Pérez said. “A lot of quality pitches. All my pitches have been getting better every outing and I feel I’m getting ready.”

Drury making a case
Infielder Brandon Drury had been impressive during Spring Training even before he launched two home runs, a double and drove in five during a 7-3 White Sox victory over the Reds on Friday afternoon. He added second base to his varied defensive repertoire as part of Chicago's 9-8 walk-off loss to the D-backs on Saturday in the other end of the White Sox split-squad day, knocking out his seventh double against the Diamondbacks, driving in a run and pushing hard to make the team as a non-roster invite.

“Hopefully, [I'll] just play all over: First, second, third, DH,” Drury said. “I just want to be in the lineup, so whatever I can do to be in the lineup, I’m all for it. Whatever it is, I don’t care.”

Drury, 32, had a combined 54 homers, 120 extra-base hits, 170 RBIs and an .808 OPS over the 2022-23 seasons with the Reds, Padres and Angels. In ‘24, while playing through hamstring and wrist issues, Drury dropped to a .169/.242/.228 slash line with four homers. He healed up for one month in the offseason and then went to work to fix his approach.

“I was chasing more after those two seasons,” Drury said. “More home runs, more exit velo, all the stuff we chase. It was the opposite because I couldn’t square the ball up. Just do what I’m doing.

“In ’22 and ’23, I was very good at getting the ball in the air to the pull side. Last year, with the injuries and swing changes I made, I couldn’t get the ball in the air. I was hitting ground balls on everything. It is just Spring Training, but to be able to lift the ball like that, I’m excited about that.”

Despite the past success, Drury feels as if he has a great deal to prove.

“I’m getting better,” Drury said. “Just keeping it as simple as I can and staying short to the baseball. I have enough power where I don’t have to move forward or try to create more by anything except just staying short.”

Third to first
• Left-hander Hagen Smith, the No. 3 White Sox prospect and No. 34 overall, per MLB Pipeline, will start Sunday’s Spring Breakout contest against the Rockies.

• Third baseman Josh Rojas left Saturday's game against the Rockies in the fourth inning with soreness in his right big toe. He’s day to day.