GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zach Bove is in his first season as the Chicago White Sox pitching coach.
He sees a group that is “hungry.”
“They’re open to suggestions,” Bove said Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. “They want to get better. It’s been great. Just build that relationship, guys want to continuously improve.”
Photos: An inside look at Chicago White Sox spring training
Count leverage has been a big emphasis at camp, and Bove said the Sox are in a good spot when it comes to getting ahead with first-pitch strikes.
Bove provided an overview of how the pitchers are coming along as competition continues for spots in the rotation and bullpen.
Shane Smith, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Erick Fedde, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy and Mike Vasil are among the pitchers the Sox have stretched out while evaluating rotation options.
“We experienced that with Kansas City, it’s good for everybody,” said Bove, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant pitching coach with the Royals. “(It) raises the standard across the board.
“Guys still want to help each other with whatever is best for the White Sox. But the more competition, it’s going to bring out the best in everybody.”
He doesn’t have a specific date in mind for when the Sox want to get the list down to five.
“Just working through it,” Bove said. “Things shake out. Hopefully everyone is healthy and we have to make some tough decisions. We are kind of seeing, building stuff out and maybe regroup in a couple of weeks and see where we are at.”
White Sox starter Shane Smith pitches during live batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Smith is coming off a successful rookie season. Bove said the focus for the right-hander has been getting the slider in consistent shape.
“Other than that, it’s just repeat,” Bove said. “Obviously he had a great year last year, so make sure everything is in a good spot. The consistency of the fastball is something we worked on the last outing.
“He’s in a really good spot.”
Bove said Kay has been “awesome to be around” as he readjusts to the big leagues after spending the last two seasons pitching in Japan.
“The velo has been really good,” Bove said. “You see the shapes, the hitters’ reactions. Very impressive with him so far and he’s been great, easy low motor.”
Bove also was asked about the next steps in development for Burke and Cannon.
“Cannon has been good,” Bove said. “It’s unique because hearing the perspective of people who have been here, seeing him, they think he’s made a big step — which I totally agree with that.
“We tried to get him back to, ‘This is where you are really good, don’t try to overcomplicate it, don’t try to do too much.’ You’ve seen that, he’s just attacking the zone.”
White Sox pitcher Sean Burke speaks with catcher Korey Lee during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 17, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
He added that Burke “has been awesome too.”
“He is moving in the right direction,” Bove said. “Every outing, you can see building.”
Bove is excited about how the bullpen has been shaping up, with Seranthony Domínguez a key addition.
“He’s done it at a high level, feeling confident,” Bove said. “The ninth, experienced that with Carlos (Estévez, who had 42 saves with Kansas City) last year. Definitely creates some calmness.
“(Domínguez) has been awesome off the field with the guys, with everybody. Go to him to maybe to put some messages through the guys. He’s been awesome on and off the field.”
Overall, Bove sees the makings of a bullpen that can be effective in a variety of ways.
“We have some velo, we have some uniqueness from the angles and stuff like that,” Bove said. “You’ve seen it across the board. There’s not one team that is doing it a certain way — having multiple options working through lineups, lefties, righties, splits.
“(It’s) understanding what guys do really well. We want to incorporate that as much as possible. You feel good about the options we have in the pen right now.”
Starter or reliever, Sox manager Will Venable sees the bonds Bove is making with the staff.
“He has a really interesting background, having not been a pitcher and really just recently turning to pitching coaching,” Venable said Tuesday. Bove played first base in college and was first a hitting coach in college before switching to work with pitchers.
“He has this ability to connect with the guys, he understands the objective stuff, how to get guys better,” Venable said. “For somebody who hasn’t pitched, you wouldn’t know it if you see how he communicates with players and creates buy-in on the things he wants them to do. A really interesting skill set, but it’s been great.”
Bove sees it as a collaborative effort.
“It’s the team approach,” Bove said. “I don’t have all the answers. I want to surround myself with good people and we definitely have that here with the White Sox. It’s utilizing every department, every resource to help the guys.”