Mathias LaCombe’s path to the White Sox has already covered a lot of ground, and it keeps stretching farther. From Pineuilh in southwest France to Arizona, then on to Birmingham, Alabama, the right-hander has turned a rare baseball upbringing into a real prospect’s track.
LaCombe was born and raised in the commune of Pineuilh, a place that spans 6.7 square miles, and he started playing baseball at 8 years old. After training at the National Academy in Toulouse, he had to look outside France to keep moving forward.
Comparable options simply weren’t there, so he headed to Cochise CC in Douglas, Arizona, which had built a connection with the French academy. That trip covered 5,576 miles.
The White Sox saw enough in two seasons of college ball to take him in the 12th round of the 2023 Draft, pulling him away from a verbal commitment to Louisiana-Lafayette. In the process, LaCombe joined Joris Bert as just the second native of France ever selected in the MLB Draft. Bert went in the 19th round to the Dodgers in 2007 and spent a couple of seasons in Rookie ball before exiting the Minors.
LaCombe’s pro debut was slowed by a shoulder impingement and lat issues, but once he got on the mound, he moved quickly. He reached Single-A in his first season and made it to High-A in May.
For Winston-Salem, he was steady: a 2.88 ERA over 25 innings, a .159 batting average against, 35 strikeouts and 12 walks. His fastball has been clocked as high as 98 mph.
The jump to Double-A Birmingham on July 17 brought some bumps early, with a couple of rough outings affecting the overall line. Even so, he settled in during August and posted an 0.87 ERA over 10 1/3 innings, giving up one run across eight games.
Chicago now lists LaCombe as its No. 18 prospect, and he’s chasing another small piece of French baseball history. He could become one of only two French-trained players to reach Triple-A, alongside Ernesto Martinez Jr., who was born and raised in Cuba before moving to France at 15 to train. If LaCombe keeps climbing, he could be on an MLB mound as soon as 2027, giving French baseball something it has never quite had before.
In Other News...
Luis Robert Jrs Latest Move Says Plenty About The White Sox
Luis Robert Jr.s latest transaction says plenty about where his market stands and how the White Sox will be watching the ripple effects from afar. After being claimed by the Orioles off waivers from the Mets, the former White Sox outfielder is moving again, and Baltimore will take on part of what remains on his deal as well as the 2027 option or buyout attached to it.
For Chicago, it is another reminder of how quickly a players path can shift once he is no longer part of the organization. Roberts name still carries real recognition because of what he meant to the White Sox, but the fact that the Mets declined the 2027 option before this latest move underscores how complicated his value has become. The Orioles are stepping into the middle of that picture now, while the White Sox can only watch how the next chapter unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Catcher Decision Raises New Questions As Kyle Teel Returns
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Romo will stay on the taxi squad, which keeps him close in case the White Sox need to pivot again. For a position group that has already required some shuffling, the setup gives Chicago a more defined look for now, even if the club has left itself an easy path back to Romo if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Sent A Clear Message About Tyler Gilbert
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For Gilbert, the trip back to Charlotte reflects a difficult 2026 campaign and the reality of a bullpen that can turn over in a hurry. The White Sox are not closing the door on him completely, but the move makes their current stance clear: they want him in the system, just not on the active major league roster right now. What comes next will depend on whether he can steady things and work his way back into the picture. [Read more 🡒]