Report: White Sox's Sale on pace to return April 12

A successful throwing session Friday has Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale poised to make his season debut in mid-April. 

The left-hander threw five sets of 15 pitches to hitters and told reporters that the results were a real boost to his confidence. 

While Sale had been hesitant to set a return date earlier in his rehab from an avulsion fracture in his right foot, Bruce Levin of MLB.com reported that the three-time All-Star is on pace to start April 12 against the Minnesota Twins, barring any setbacks. 

Sale, who could start in a minor-league game in five days, posted a 12-4 record and 2.17 ERA in 26 starts last season while striking out 208.