Cody Asche makes a play for White Sox roster spot

Cody Asche thought he would be fighting for a roster spot with the Phillies this spring training, so he was “very surprised” when the club that drafted him and developed him since 2011 designated him for assignment in December.

Instead, the infielder/outfielder has welcomed a new challenge this spring — making a case for a place with the White Sox.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve matured a lot as a person and as a player,” Asche said Saturday. “Obviously things didn’t work out on the field out there. Things could have bounced my way a little differently, and we wouldn’t be standing here today, but they didn’t. The biggest thing you learn in this game is you can’t ever look back. … Once…