MLB Pitchers Visit San Angelo During West Texas Getaway

SAN ANGELO, TX — A group of Chicago White Sox pitchers spent part of their offseason in San Angelo, visiting San Angelo Central High School’s football stadium during a team-building trip centered around pitcher Davis Martin’s family ranch in West Texas.

The visit, detailed this week in a feature published by MLB.com, brought White Sox pitchers Jonathan Cannon, Sean Burke, Shane Smith and Drew Thorpe to the area following the end of the 2025 season.

Even without hunting licenses, the players were able to observe deer, turkey and pigs during their stay. Cannon told MLB.com he also spotted a bobcat. According to Davis Martin, the Martin brothers had seen four bobcats in the 23 years the ranch has been in the family before his teammates arrived.

“They ate ribeye steaks and plenty of desserts, all while sitting around the campfire and talking about baseball and life,” the MLB.com story reported.

While most of the gathering took place at Martin’s family ranch, the group made a stop in San Angelo to tour Central High School’s stadium — a visit that left a strong impression on the players.

“It seats 17,500 for a high school stadium,” Martin told MLB.com. “It kind of took their breath away a little bit.”

Cannon echoed that reaction.

“That was the biggest high school stadium I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” Cannon said. “I’m sure they have a nicer setup than some colleges. It was pretty cool, but we had a ton of fun there.”

The gathering, which took place from Nov. 17–21, was described as an offseason effort to build camaraderie among the White Sox pitching staff as the organization continues its rebuild. White Sox general manager Chris Getz told MLB.com the trip reflected the team’s emphasis on culture and connection.

“It’s just a byproduct of a healthy culture and guys wanting to work together to drive each other,” Getz said. “Very cool to learn they got together this offseason.”

Martin said the trip may become an annual tradition, though accommodations could become an issue if the group grows.

“Not to get too sentimental, but just to see — when my granddad bought this 20 years ago, it’s a really cool place that a lot of memories I have as a kid growing up — to share it with some of my friends, not only just friends, but your friends in the big leagues,” Martin said. “It’s a lot of fun, so we love to share that with everybody.”