White Sox sign Michael Gemma after impressive pro day showing

The Chicago White Sox added a new arm to their pipeline when they signed right-hander Michael Gemma to a minor-league contract after the pitcher turned heads at a recent pro day. Gemma, a product of Northeastern, posted a four-seam fastball that touched the mid-90s and showcased a pitch mix that included a mid-80s slider and a low-90s sinker, giving the organization multiple weapons to develop.

At the top of the story is simple roster economics: the White Sox picked up a low-cost, high-upside arm who can start his climb in the complex or lower minors and earn promotion with consistent performance. For a club balancing contention goals with the need for organizational depth, signing an undrafted or overlooked college arm like Gemma is a pragmatic bet. If he harnesses his velocity and refines his secondary offerings, there is a credible path for him to reach Triple-A and become a bullpen or spot-rotation option.

Performance-wise, Gemma presents a profile familiar to modern evaluators: above-average fastball velocity paired with a breaking pitch that can be sharpened into an outlier weapon. The mid-90s four-seam provides a baseline of explosive stuff, while the low-90s sinker offers a complementary approach to induce ground balls and multi-inning durability. The mid-80s slider is the secondary pitch that could unlock swing-and-miss potential if command and consistency improve. Success for Gemma will hinge on repeatable mechanics, strike-throwing, and the ability to sequence those offerings against professional hitters.

This signing sits within a larger industry trend. Clubs across baseball are increasingly mining pro days, college showcases, and independent circuits to unearth cost-efficient pitching. Teams value controllable velocity and pitchability, and minor-league contracts remain the low-risk mechanism to stock systems with arms that can be flipped into major-league help. For college programs outside the traditional Power Five conversation, Gemma’s move underscores that strong pro-day results can translate into concrete opportunities.

Culturally, the pickup highlights baseball’s meritocratic, if precarious, pathway from college to pro ball. For players who fly under the radar in the draft, pro days offer a second look and a way back into the pipeline. For fans, the signing is a reminder that rosters are built as much in gyms and showcases as they are on draft nights.

What comes next is straightforward: Gemma will likely begin in the complex or lower minors and must translate pro-day tools into game-day performance. For the White Sox, he represents inexpensive depth with upside; for Gemma, it is a foothold in professional baseball and a chance to climb the ladder.