The Chicago White Sox have released 23 year old right-handed pitcher Norge Vera.
Vera, began his career in Cuba, played one season with Santiago de Cuba in the Cuban National Series at 18. That season, he posted a 3.79 ERA with 37 strikeouts over 54.2 innings, including one complete game and one shutout in 11 starts. He defected from Cuba in the summer of 2019 and signed with the White Sox in 2021 for $1.5 million, being regarded as one of the top pitchers in that international class.
In 2021, during his first year with the White Sox organization in the Dominican Summer League, Vera pitched 19 innings across eight games. He struck out 34 batters and didn’t allow a single earned run.
In 2022, Vera played at the Single-A, High-A, and Double-A, posting a combined 3.31 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. At that time, he was considered one of the White Sox’s top five prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
However, 2023 saw a decline in Vera’s performance as he struggled with injuries. He dropped to 13th in the White Sox prospect rankings and managed only 15 innings between High-A and Rookie Ball, finishing with a 6.60 ERA.
In 2024, Vera pitched just one inning in the Arizona Complex League before being released.