On Monday, the Chicago White Sox designated the 25-year-old utility player for assignment.
Workman was initially taken from the Tigers by the Chicago Cubs in last December’s Rule 5 Draft, which permits teams to grab unprotected players from other clubs’ minor systems. Rule 5 choices must stay on the active MLB roster all season or be offered back to their original organization.
Workman was selected for assignment in late April after making the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, and he was then dealt to the White Sox across town. Workman had to remain on the 26-man roster or risk waivers because Chicago inherited the same Rule 5 obligations.
Workman finished just 0-for-2 during his stint, spending the majority of time on the disabled list, and the White Sox were unable to find a job for him.
Workman will now be put on waivers or traded. The White Sox will have to return him to the Tigers for $50,000, which is half of the purchase price, if he is not claimed. Since the Tigers could send him to the lower leagues and would not have to add him to the MLB roster, they are almost certain to accept.
Workman was a fourth-round choice by the Tigers in the COVID-shortened 2020 draft out of Arizona State, where he was a college teammate of Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick that year. Despite spending portions of three seasons with Double-A Erie, he was never promoted to Triple-A.
He just finished a fantastic season in which he recorded 556 plate appearances, 18 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and an OPS of.843.
Workman, a left-handed batter, has played all over the field and is mostly a shortstop and third baseman, but he has the potential to become a fantastic utility player in the major leagues.
This spring, Workman went 3-for-14 with six strikeouts in nine games with the Cubs.
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The Tigers lost two players in the draft last December, including Workman. The other is Liam Hicks, a catcher for the Miami Marlins.
