March 30--GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Drabek remembers the corn.
The right-hander had limited experience with the White Sox before he joined them Sunday as a waivers claim from the Blue Jays. His father, right-hander Doug Drabek, started 31 games for the Sox in 1997, and Kyle made the trip up to Chicago a few times to watch him.
"All I can remember is the corn they sold there was some of the best corn I've ever had," said Drabek, a Texas native.
Drabek, 27, didn't have much time to do more research on the city.
On Friday, with a week to go in spring training, he packed up his belongings in Florida to leave the organization he had pitched for since 2010. He arrived at Camelback Ranch on Sunday and already was gearing up to throw a bullpen that morning to try to latch on to a team with a few bullpen spots still in flux.
It was enough to leave his head "spinning a little bit," but he went to his father for advice, as he often has throughout his career.
"I'm a little confused on (how to approach this week)," Drabek said. "I talked to my dad some about it. He pretty much told me, just go out there, learn, get to know guys and just play baseball."
Drabek, a Phillies first-round draft pick in 2006, has been a starter most of his career, posting a 5.27 ERA with 118 strikeouts and 111 walks over 172 1/3 innings pitched in 39 games with the Blue Jays, including 30 starts, since 2010. He twice has had Tommy John surgery, most recently in 2012. He moved to the bullpen midway through the 2014 season while playing with Toronto's Triple-A team.
He said it was a struggle at first growing accustomed to pitching in relief, but he is now more comfortable and willing to do whatever the Sox need from him. This spring, he had a 2.57 ERA with a home run, three walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings pitched in relief.
"I didn't really have a certain role with Toronto, kind of just looked on the board and if my name was up there and I was pitching that day, I would take the ball," Drabek said. "So I'm kind of just sticking with that. Whenever they want me to go out there and pitch, I will."
ckane@tribpub.com
