Striking Gold With Brad Goldberg

CHICAGO—A big man at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Brad Goldberg has a big fastball to match.

“I know everyone is kind of infatuated with velocity,” said Goldberg, who can run his fastball up to 99 mph. “I try to use it to my advantage but at the same time, you’ve got to get people out. No one cares how hard you throw if you’re not getting people out.”

Goldberg, the White Sox’s 10th-round pick in 2013 out of Ohio State, made a steady climb through the system his first three seasons. After adding a split-finger fastball last spring, the righthanded reliever took off.

Crediting J.R. Perdew, Richard Dotson and other coaches in Chicago’s system, Goldberg was promoted from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte after just four relief appearances. The 26-year-old was a combined 3-5, 2.70 with 10 saves and 31 strikeouts in 56.2 innings for the season.

“I try to throw it in the zone and let it bottom out,” Goldberg said of the splitter. “It’s another look, another pitch they have to have in the back of their heads.”

Goldberg, who also throws a slider, had his contract purchased by the White Sox and he’s thrilled to be on the 40-man roster.

“A lot of emotions, man,” Goldberg said. “Happy, a little bit relieved. The calls to my parents, my grandparents, my friends, it was just a good feeling. Essentially, nothing has really changed immediately, but it was a lot of hard work just to get there and now the real work has to start. It’s just exciting overall.”

Goldberg will head for his first spring training in major league camp, and he’ll go in with a chance to make the Sox’s 25-man roster.

“I haven’t set any goals at this point,” Goldberg said. “Obviously, one is to be healthy, and two, have a great showing in front of everyone at camp. I’d like to work on my fastball command a little more, work on everything. Stay in my mechanics, throw the ball downhill and just be ready to go every night.”

CHI-LITES

• The White Sox sold Anthony Ranaudo’s rights to the Samsung Lions in Korea. The righthander was 0-1, 8.46 in seven games (five starts) with Chicago last season.

• The White Sox outrighted righthander Brandon Brennan to Triple-A Charlotte after he cleared waivers. He went 3-12, 6.79 combined at high Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham.