Chicago White Sox left-hander Shane Drohan (shoulder), the team's Rule 5 pick, underwent left-shoulder surgery on Thursday morning. Drohan is expected to start a throwing program by the end of spring training. The 25-year-old is probably going to be sidelined for a while before he's cleared to pitch in minor-league games in 2024. The former fifth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox out of Florida State in 2020 went a combined 10-7 with a 5.05 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 72 walks and 129 strikeouts in 123 innings over 27 appearances (25 starts) with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. While Drohan has served as a starter in Boston's farm system, it's possible the White Sox will utilize him as a multi-inning reliever when he's healthy, especially now that he'll be recovering from surgery in 2024.

Chicago White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz said that reliever Corey Knebel (shoulder), who didn't pitch at all last year while working his way back from right-shoulder surgery, is a bit behind the team's other relievers in camp. Knebel will need to throw a few more bullpen sessions before he's cleared to pitch in a Cactus League game. The 32-year-old hard-throwing relief pitcher had surgery in August of 2022 and is still working his way back. When healthy, he could become a high-leverage option for what is one of the weakest bullpens in baseball. Knebel was an All-Star in 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers and has 72 career saves in eight major-league seasons, but he's thrown only 83 2/3 innings since the shortened 2020 season and is a pretty big health risk.

Chicago White Sox relief pitcher John Brebbia (calf) suffered a right-calf strain in a live batting practice session that he threw on Wednesday. Manager Pedro Grifol said the team is hopeful Brebbia will be ready for Opening Day. An already weak White Sox's bullpen might have just lost their expected close for the start of the 2024 season, depending on how he bounces back from the injury over the next month. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 3.99 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 14 walks and 47 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings pitched. Brebbia has just two career saves (back in 2018) and will likely have a short leash in the closer's role in Chicago on a team that may not give him many save chances to begin with. If Brebbia's Opening Day availability is in question, veterans Jesse Chavez and Bryan Shaw could be in live for saves to open the season.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater (elbow) is throwing at a distance of 150 feet and said he has been cleared to play in spring training games. He did cutoffs and relays in camp on Thursday for the first time since having elbow surgery in October, which also included moving his ulnar nerve. Barring some sort of a setback this spring, Slater is expected to be ready to roll defensively for Opening Day in late March. After two straight seasons with over 100 games played, the 31-year-old made it through only 89 games with the Giants in 2023, slashing .270/.348/.400 with five homers and 20 RBI in 207 plate appearances. He's been a lefty killer in his career, which means he's expected to fill a short-sided platoon role yet again in San Fran in 2024.

Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez (finger) said he had a little cut on his right middle finger during Thursday's live batting practice session. The cut was formed due to his changeup grip, but it wasn't causing him any pain and he's not concerned moving forward. Perez might be held back a bit before his next throwing session at camp, but this shouldn't be an injury that will put him in any danger of not being ready for Opening Day. The 20-year-old is ranked as the No. 23 fantasy starting pitcher by RotoBaller after he went 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 31 walks and 108 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings over his first 19 major-league starts for the Fish in 2023. The hype is real and the upside is through the rook, and Perez should see a slight innings jump in 2024 after pitching a career-high 128 frames in 2023.