White Sox’s Peyton Pallette Feels Good Again

Peyton Pallette is feeling good, finally.

That was welcome news for the 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthander, whom the White Sox drafted in the second round out of Arkansas last year.

“Honestly, I haven’t had a full season as a pitcher since high school,” Pallette said.

That was back in 2019, when he was a senior at Benton (Ark.) High.

Pallette dealt with arm issues the next two years and then missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Chicago assigned Pallette to Low-A Kannapolis this season, and the 22-year-old understandably struggled in his first two outings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings.

“The first couple starts were kind of just settling in,” Pallette said. “I wasn’t too happy with them, but I think I finally found my groove and I’m getting back into things. I’m feeling real good. I’m more than happy to be finally back and being able to pitch.”

Pallette allowed just five earned runs in 15.1 innings over his next five starts with Kannapolis.

“It’s just getting back to my old self . . .” Pallette said. “My command has been a lot better.”

Advancing to High-A Winston-Salem this season seems to be a logical aspiration, but Pallette isn’t looking too far ahead.

“Honestly, the biggest goal this season is just staying healthy and pitching good throughout the entire season,” he said. 

Pallette who was a third baseman until his senior year of high school, learned quite a bit about himself while dealing with arm injuries and recovering from Tommy John.

“I’ve definitely grown into a much more mature person,” he said. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot just in the aspect of handling adversity the right way instead of getting down on myself.

“At the end of the day, God’s in control. He’s going to lead you down the right path.”

CHI-LITES

— Lefthander Noah Schultz, the 2022 first-round pick, was ramping up in extended spring training after being sidelined with a left forearm strain. He should be pitching for Low-A Kannapolis at some point in June.

— Shortstop Colson Montgomery was still recovering from a back strain but was getting closer to reporting to High-A Winston-Salem and making his season debut.