Seven 2011 Knights Invited to White Sox Spring Training

White Sox Invite Total of 18 Players to Major League Camp

Fort Mill, S.C.  - Earlier today, the Chicago White Sox announced that they have agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with right-handed pitcher Brian Bruney, left-handers Leyson Septimo and Eric Stults, catchers Damaso Espino and Hector Gimenez, infielders Dallas McPherson and Ray Olmedo and outfielder Delwyn Young. All eight players, in addition to 10 players within the White Sox system, have received non-roster invites to the club's spring training camp in Glendale, Ariz.

Right-handers Brian Omogrosso and Jacob Petricka, catchers Michael Blanke and Josh Phegley, infielders Jim Gallagher and Tyler Kuhn and outfielders Jordan Danks, Jared Mitchell, Brandon Short and Trayce Thompson, all received invites to major-league camp from within the organization. 

Seven of the 18 players invited to Major League camp spent time with the Knights during the 2011 season. Those players are Bruney, Danks, Gallagher, Kuhn, McPherson, Omogrosso, and Phegley.  

Bruney, 29, appeared in 19 games for the Knights in 2011 and posted a 1-0 mark with a 1.31 ERA. The Astoria, OR native also finished second on the club with seven saves.

Danks, 25, hit .257 with 14 home runs, six triples, 18 stolen bases, and 65 RBIs in 133 games for the Knights last season. Jordan, the younger brother of White Sox starting pitcher John Danks, is ranked by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Outfielder in the White Sox organization for the third time (also 2009 and 2011). 

Gallagher, 26, led the Knights in runs with 72, doubles with 39, and walks with 62. He also hit seven home runs and had 54 RBIs over 126 games.

Kuhn, 25, appeared in just 23 games for the Knights a season ago and hit .297. In all, he combined to hit .333 (168-505) with 32 doubles, 11 triples and 70 runs scored over 130 games between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte in 2011.

McPherson, 31, hit .283 with a team-high 20 home runs and 69 RBIs for the Knights in 2011.

Omogrosso appeared in 11 games for Charlotte last season and recorded a 1-1 mark with a 4.03 ERA. The 27-year-old also posted an 0-2 record with two saves and a 2.51 ERA in 31 games for Double-A Birmingham in 2011.

Phegley, 23, batted .241 with two home runs and six RBIs over 22 games with the Knights in 2011. The Terre Haute, IN native also hit seven home runs and drove-in 50 runs over 94 games with Birmingham in 2011.

White Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Thursday, February 23, with physicals and a workout scheduled for the same day. Position players will report and undergo physicals on Tuesday, February 28. The first full-squad workout also will take place on that day.