Despite the game having to go into extra innings, the Chicago White Sox won their home opener 5-4. Facing the reigning American League champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, a critical bunt by outfielder Derek Hill and a single by outfielder Tristan Peters sealed the victory.

More News: Chicago White Sox prospect’s performance may force a tough decision

The White Sox’s resilient win came on the heels of manager Will Venable saying his team “needed to be better.” The White Sox currently have a Major League-worst 2-5 record and had a terrible road trip (1-5) to begin the season.

TRISTAN. PETERS. pic.twitter.com/GaBlnobkNe

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 3, 2026

Sean Burke’s bounce-back performance was key for the Chicago White Sox to win

Sean Burke’s first outing against the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t go well. He allowed seven hits, four runs (three earned), walked one, and struck out five in 4.0 innings. However, Burke showed some growth pitching against the Blue Jays. Burke told reporters postgame that he’s “trying to stay on my plan.”

“I think it’s been big,” Burke said to the media postgame. “I think that this year, just trying to stay on my plan and continuing to attack hitters and not let a couple hits or whatever it might be rattle me, and just trying to continue to flood the zone and make good pitches every single time out, I think the focus component, just being super, super focused on what I want to do with each pitch, and just being intentful behind it has been helpful.”

The 26-year-old threw six strong innings, allowing one run (earned), walking none, and striking out seven. Burke pitched behind right-hander Grant Taylor, who was the opener.

Right-handers Jordan Leasure and Seranthony Dominguez and left-hander Sean Newcomb also pitched well following Burke. Combined, all three went 3.0 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs (three total), walked one, and struck out three. 

According to ESPN, Taylor is the probable pitcher for Game 2 on Saturday. Left-hander Anthony Kay will likely be the “bulk” guy. Kay is also coming off a tough outing against the Brewers — Kay went 4.2 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, four walks, and struck out five on 92 pitches.

The post Chicago White Sox’s strong pitching wins home opener vs. Blue Jays appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox got off to a poor start to begin the season.

More News: Chicago White Sox prospect’s performance may force a tough decision

Starting 1-5 on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Miami Marlins, manager Will Venable said his team “needs to be better.”

“However you want to characterize it, we fell short, right? And I think, you know, our message to the guys is that we need to be better,” Venable said before the home opener on Friday to 104.3 The Score.

White Sox manager Will Venable on his message after a disappointing start: “We’re moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/3n9OHfhu5k

— 104.3 The Score (@thescorechicago) April 3, 2026

The White Sox’s pitching staff pitched poorly and ranks as the worst staff in baseball (8.63 ERA). The White Sox also gave up the most earned runs in the early goings (47).

The road ahead won’t get easier for the Chicago White Sox

Despite being back home, the White Sox welcome in some tough American League East opponents. The White Sox open a three-game series on Friday versus the reigning American League Champions, the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2). The Baltimore Orioles come to town on Monday (3-3, April 6-8).

The Blue Jays’ starting rotation has been hit hard with injuries. Right-hander Cody Ponce sprained his right ACL on Monday and will miss time.
The Blue Jays were already without right-handers Trey Yasavage (right shoulder impingement), Jose Berrios (right elbow stress fracture), and Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation) to begin the year.

Maybe now that they’re back at home and the Blue Jays are down some of their better arms, the White Sox could finish the home stand at .500.

The post Chicago White Sox manager sends strong message after poor start appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Braden Montgomery is one of the future foundational pieces of the Chicago White Sox’s success

A center piece in the Garrett Crochet trade, Montgomery has shown he’s a future big leaguer. Ascending through three minor league levels last season — hitting .270 with an OPS of .804 and 12 home runs — Montgomery will likely start the season at Triple-A to offer him a challenge.

The post Chicago White Sox prospect receives high praise from Will Venable appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Sadly for Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable, he could be down one arm for the rotation and his bullpen, with right-hander Mike Vasil leaving Saturday’s outing with right elbow soreness. According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, Vasil will undergo further evaluation for his elbow.

More News: Chicago White Sox right-hander takes another positive step in recovery

Will Venable won’t commit to anyone else in his starting rotation other than right-hander Shane Smith. Smith will be Venable’s Opening Day starter on March 26 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Vasil had an outstanding rookie season out of the White Sox bullpen, going 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 47 games (three starts), and had four saves and 82 strikeouts in 101.0 innings. The 25-year-old had been doing well this spring, going 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in four games. However, Vasil had eight walks and nine strikeouts in 11.0 innings.

Upon being lifted from the game, Vasil went 3.2 innings, giving up two hits, two walks, and struck out three.

Mike Vasil has left the game with a trainer.

3.2 IP. 2 H. 2 BB. 3 K. 0 R pic.twitter.com/HdLJtqziFs

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) March 14, 2026

Mike Vasil is the latest Chicago White Sox player to have an arm injury

The White Sox are no strangers to arm injuries, as they have had a couple of arms last spring, right-hander Drew Thorpe and left-hander Ky Bush, losing all of 2025 to Tommy John surgery. Hopefully for Vasil’s sake, it is just a soreness.

Vasil was one of the White Sox’s stars out of the bullpen last season and was going to be relied on to take down high-leverage innings this season. Right-handers Grant Taylor, Seranthony Dominguez, Jordan Hicks, and left-hander Sean Newcomb will make up the rest of the White Sox bullpen.

Dominguez (40 career saves) and Hicks (35 career saves) will get the first shots at closing games for Venable.

Potentially losing Vasil for even a short period of time would hurt the White Sox bullpen, as there aren’t many better options to replace his production. Non-roster invites: Right-handers Lucas Sims (0.00 ERA, four games), Adisyn Coffey (3.00 ERA, three games), and left-hander Ryan Borucki (0.00 ERA, five games) offer suitable replacements for Vasil.

The post Chicago White Sox reliever leaves outing with concerning injury appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox and manager Will Venable planned to go into 2016 with a three-catcher mix. However, that will change with catcher Kyle Teel missing four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

More News: Chicago White Sox starter officially out for Opening Day with injury

With Teel down and missing the beginning of the season, catchers Edgar Quero and Korey Lee will get the bulk of the duties.

Quero showed that he could be an everyday catcher last season — batting .268 with an OPS of .689 in 111 games. Quero is also going off this spring — .367 batting average and .920 OPS in nine games.

Venable has a couple of other options if he wants to start with three catchers.

Two choices to be Will Venable’s and the Chicago White Sox’s third catcher

Catcher Drew Romo | Non-roster invite |

Drew Romo, like Quero, is a switch-hitter and was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets in January. A former first-round (35th overall) draft pick of the Colorado Rockies, Romo has 19 big league games under his belt. In 15 games behind the plate in 2024, Romo had 21 defensive runs saved.

Romo has a great chance to be the White Sox’s third option at catcher, given his defensive skills and having a great spring. In 12 games, Romo is batting .385 with a 1.145 OPS, a double, a triple, and five RBI.

Catcher Michael Turner | Minor Leaguer and non-roster invite |

Michael Turner is a 27-year-old catcher from Warren, Ohio, and is a former ninth-round draft pick of the White Sox (2022). In four minor league seasons, Turner showed promise offensively, having a .262 career batting average and .730 OPS.

Turner was limited to 35 games in 2025 due to injuries, but batted .279 with a .720 OPS between Rookie ball and Double-A. Turner and Romo would need to get added to the White Sox 40-man roster, which is at capacity. 

The White Sox don’t necessarily need to carry three catchers to start the season

With Teel starting the season on the injured list, wasting a roster spot to carry three catchers doesn’t make too much sense. The smart move would be to add another pitcher, as injuries are a factor to begin the year.

Teel could likely be mid-April, missing the White Sox’s first 17 games. Teel could likely return during the White Sox series with the Tampa Bay Rays, or meet them in Sacramento (April 17-19) when they play the Athletics.

The post Chicago White Sox: Two options to be Will Venable’s third catcher appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox will be a team to watch this season, improving in 2025 (60-102) after setting the all-time loss record in 2024 (41-121).

More News: Chris Getz has confidence in the Chicago White Sox’s future

The White Sox and general manager Chris Getz did well to supplement the roster, and it will be on manager Will Venable to get the most out of his players. In his second year as the White Sox skipper, Venable is excited about establishing a new team identity with the players he has, but emphasizing that they’ll need to remember to do the little things to win games.

“It’s been exciting, you know, one we were all just excited to get back together after a long offseason,” Venable said on MLB Network Radio. “These guys did a great job being connected during the offseason and going about their offseason the right way. Our staff did a great job continuing to help them develop. And yes, we’re just excited to be here, and this is extremely competitive group that’s just itching to get going.

Obviously, wins and losses matter, and they’re going to matter every year. But for us, it’s going to be at the process. And really, like we have identified these things, you know, up front that we want these guys to create habits around. You know, the first step on defense, you know, the first step out of the box, simple things like covering first base, you know, things that you have to do to win games, knowing that there’s more layers to it, and these guys will figure the rest out. But That for me is, you know, as we experienced 2025 towards the end of the year, that’s what we were pounding our fist on the table for. We imagine that it’s going to be more of the same, but hopefully we just get a couple more wins.”

After an 102-loss season, the #WhiteSox are looking ahead to establishing a new team identity within the clubhouse:#SpringTrainingTour
https://t.co/WG5zyiVTKm pic.twitter.com/D44WDRZefd

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 23, 2026

The Chicago White Sox have a chance to make some noise in the American League Central

The White Sox’s offseason moves, which include signing Japanese Slugger Munetaka Murakami to a two-year deal ($34 million), offer more power (246 home runs in the NPB) to a team that finished 23rd (165) in the league last season. Second baseman Lenyn Sosa (22) and shortstop Colson Montgomery (21) were the team leaders in home runs last season, with Sosa almost tripling his home run total from 2025 (eight).

The White Sox, with its lineup, could make waves in the American League Central in 2026, but the starting rotation will need to step up. The White Sox finished dead last in innings pitched last season (758.2).

With right-hander and the White Sox’s lone All-Star, Shane Smith, likely leading the rotation, right-handers Davis Martin, Erick Fedde, Sean Burke, and left-handers Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb will fill out the rest of the spots. White Sox top pitching prospect Noah Schultz (MLB No. 49 prospect) could potentially debut this season to offer another arm in the rotation, but that will depend on his success in the minor leagues.

With talent surrounding the roster and the potential to add more through call-ups and trades, the White Sox could make some noise next season.

The post Will Venable is excited for the Chicago White Sox’s new identity appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have had few bright spots halfway through this long season, but the ones they do have are worth noting. The White Sox have allowed their young players to come up to the big leagues to play and gain experience, which will be valuable in building a contender for the future.

Some players like Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel, Shane Smith, and Grant Taylor look like building blocks for the future and will certainly be back next year. Others, such as Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Brooks Baldwin, and even Luis Robert Jr., are question marks to be on the team next season, with some having better chances than others.

Of those players, Baldwin, Sosa, and Vargas have the best chances of having a spot on the roster next season. Of those three, Vargas has had the hardest time finding success, as he went from the best team in baseball last season to the worst.

Chicago White Sox third baseman receives a memorable gift from the Dodgers

The White Sox are on a six-game road trip that has taken them out west, with them opening things up against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This series with the Dodgers marked Vargas’s first trip back to Dodger Stadium since he was traded last season and since they won the World Series.

As a member of the Dodgers in the first half of last season, Vargas was entitled to a World Series ring, which was presented to him before last night’s ballgame. Vargas commented on his return to Dodger Stadium and what it was like to receive the World Series ring and seeing his old friends, saying to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin that it “felt good” and he was “happy to have one.”

Vargas via Merkin of MLB.com:

“It feels good, you know? I feel a lot of players dream about something like this. I’m very happy to have one,” said Vargas after receiving his championship ring. “It’s always good to have that type of reward. Happy to see my old teammates and to be back here at Dodger Stadium.”

Vargas (25) tweaked his swing over the offseason, which has helped raise his average by 76 points, going from .150 last season to .226 this season. Vargas is also seeing career highs in his on-base percentage (.308) and slugging percentage (.405), which has led to him being close to an average player (from an OPS+ standpoint) for the first time in his career.

Vargas’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, as his manager, Will Venable, saying to Merkin, that Vargas is becoming the player that he and the organization had envisioned he’d be, and that he has taken notice of how hard a worker Vargas is.

Venable on Vargas:

“Just the way he’s worked through that early part of the season where, the organization and myself and Vargy, have a vision about the kind of player that he can be,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “He’s had to work really hard to get there.

To see that in the early part of this year where he’s worked through some adjustments, made those adjustments and stuck with them and gotten results is really cool to see. He’s a really good player and we’re watching him become that on a daily basis here.”

Vargas could be a part of the White Sox’s future

Vargas has a good chance to be a part of the White Sox’s future since he’s improved so much. If Vargas can’t become an everyday player with all the chances he’s being given, he could end up being a nice bench bat, given his versatility and having some pop in his bat.

Vargas’s versatility could also come in handy if the White Sox decided to move on from him over the offseason. For now, Vargas will have many more opportunities this season to further prove why he’ll be worth keeping around.

The post Chicago White Sox 3rd baseman receives a memorable gift from the Dodgers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox may be going through hell in the 2025 season, but they got a bit of a heavenly hello from the Vatican on Wednesday. Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, was photographed wearing the team’s hat during a public appearance.

Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the role after his predecessor, Pope Francis, passed away in April, is a Chicago native. Born Robert Francis Prevost in 1955, he grew up in the city’s south side. So, needless to say, the Pontiff grew up pulling for the Pale Hose.

It was certainly an event in the history of America’s Pastime. And while an endorsement from the club’s most famous fan likely won’t turn around the team’s fortunes this year, they know that there’s always at least someone out there praying for a White Sox win.

White Sox happily surprised by ‘praise’ from the Pope

“I read something about that,” White Sox manager Will Venable said when asked about the Pope’s gesture. “Yeah, I mean, it’s great. I love the support. Need it…If he’s a fan and locked into who the manager is, hopefully. But I’m just glad that he’s supportive of the White Sox. That’s awesome.”

Pope Leo XIV is wearing a White Sox hat at the Vatican pic.twitter.com/otKQk2lHfJ

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 11, 2025

The ChiSox (23-45) are having another down year and are destined for another last-place finish in the American League Central Division—this, following a disastrous 2024, where they set a Major League record with 121 losses.

However, the team has several rapidly rising prospects, offering a glimpse of hope for the future. One of those young stars is rookie pitcher Grant Taylor, who gave his reaction to the Pope, sporting the team’s legendary logo.

“It’s pretty cool,” the White Sox right-hander stated. “Worldwide, baseball is growing a lot more. But in Europe, it’s not very big. So if he’s over there in the Vatican wearing a Chicago White Sox hat, maybe all of them will become White Sox fans. Grow the fan base a little bit.”

Taylor, who made his Major League debut on Tuesday night in the team’s 4-2 win over Houston, joked that he might not be famous enough yet for the Bishop of Rome to recognize him.

“The thought did come across,” Taylor mused. “I was joking with my family today, I was like, ‘I wonder if the Pope knows my name.’”

Pope Leo XIV and the Chicago White Sox have a close connection

The Pope will be honored at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the White Sox, on Saturday, June 13. However, he will present his message remotely. The last Pontiff to visit the Windy City was Pope John Paul II in 1979, who delivered mass at Grant Park. At the time, an estimated 1.5 million people were in attendance.

This weekend’s event was organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago to celebrate the election of the new pontiff. According to press reports, the event should fill the stadium’s capacity of around 40,000 participants.

The city’s native son has always had a special connection to the Pale Hose. 20 years ago – when he was an archbishop in Chicago – the cameras caught him in attendance at the 2005 World Series that saw the White Sox sweep the Houston Astros (then in the National League) 4-0, overcoming Bagwell, Biggio, and the boys to capture the crown. And while divine intervention probably wasn’t what finally broke the Curse of the Black Sox, it certainly didn’t hurt to have a little bit of help from above.

As the years pass and the White Sox rebuild the team and the franchise, there’s always the hope that the Pope could see his favorite MLB team win another World Series title. And somewhere in the middle of the celebration parade… who knows? You just might see the popemobile go rolling by.

The post Pope Leo XIV dons a Chicago White Sox hat at the Vatican appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Entering the 2025 season, Chicago White Sox rookie Chase Meidroth seemed like a man without a home. Known for his hitting prowess, one of the only questions the club seemed to have about him was: “What position should he play?”

At the plate, the 23-year-old rookie is currently hitting .296 with an on-base percentage of .385 and 21 runs scored. But his offensive output wasn’t what befuddled the big club. Last season at Charlotte, Meidroth played all three infield positions on a fairly regular basis. He made 98 appearances at third base, 74 at shortstop, and 65 as a second baseman. So, there was some question about where he would be most effective.

Without having a ‘natural position’, Sox management had concerns about where he fit best on the diamond. Thus far, Meidroth has played 14 games at second, but he’s currently settled in at short, appearing in 41 games at the position. The former University of San Diego standout has easily exceeded expectations in the field, committing three errors in 154 total chances. He has a .986 overall fielding percentage. Not too bad for a guy who was mostly known for his bat.

Chicago White Sox management has high hopes for Chase Meidroth

When a player can hit like Meidroth, a smart manager will always find a place for them. It’s more than likely that he will eventually be settled at second or third base, as fellow youngster Colson Montgomery is expected to be the long-term solution at short for Chicago.

For now, Meidroth gives the team some defensive flexibility and looks to be a cornerstone of the team for the next several years. In the meantime, he’s also settled in quite nicely as the team’s leadoff hitter.

“If there’s one thing that I’ve been on him about is just letting it loose in the heart of the plate more and being more aggressive at times,” Venable said earlier this season. “At the same time, that’s just in his DNA to be a selective hitter. I don’t want to change who he is, but I think in time that he’ll learn that he needs to be aggressive and get some good swings off early in the count on pitches over the heart.”

Chase Meidroth is part of an impressive White Sox youth movement

It’s well-documented how things have gone on the Southside over the last several seasons. The club’s decline hit its lowest depths last season, when the team set an MLB record for the most losses in a season with 121, and home games looked like a wasteland.

But help is on the way, and a much brighter future looks to be on the horizon. Alongside Chase Meidroth, the Sox have some top-line starting pitching prospects, like right hander Grant Taylor, who made his MLB debut this week and threw a dominant inning against the Houston Astros. Standing right there with them are left handed pitchers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, outfielder Braden Montgomery, and catcher Kyle Teel. So, the cupboard certainly isn’t bare.

The Pale Hose don’t want to push their prospects too soon, but that may end up being Chicago’s best option in the end. The club is focused on winning now, according to their skipper. But if a young player can help the lineup, he will most likely be on Will Venable’s lineup card.

“That’s the bottom line,” Venable stated. “For us, regardless of the results, we’re going to focus on the things we believe are going to help contribute to wins.”

The post Chicago White Sox rookie has passed the test defensively appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With former top prospect Andrew Vaughn struggling mightily to open the 2025 season, the Chicago White Sox were forced to demote him to Triple-A. However, Will Venable hasn’t taken his eyes off Vaughn since the demotion.

The manager is still a big believer in Vaughn and still considers him to be apart of the White Sox’s core. Sending him down was a way for the first baseman to clear his head and re-find his swing.

Vaughn went 4-for-20 over his first five games in Triple-A before going 3-for-5 on Saturday. Venable is eager to see him continue to find his stride and ultimately work his way back up to the big leagues, via Kade Heather of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“For him, it was about having the opportunity to press pause on the pressure of performing here and give him a chance to regain himself without any major swing adjustments or anything,” Venable said. “Just take a little break and go down there and find yourself again.”

Andrew Vaughn’s run with Chicago White Sox 

Vaughn came to the White Sox as a highly touted prospect, being selected No. 3 overall in the 2019 MLB Draft. By 2021, he was the No. 1 overall prospect in the organization, via MLB Pipeline. That same season, Vaughn made the jump to MLB.

As a rookie, the first baseman hit .235 with 15 home runs and 48 RBI. One year later, he’d set a new career-high in batting average at .271 while hitting 17 home runs and 76 RBI. Vaughn’s 2023 season is when he truly broke out, though. Hitting .258, Vaughn hit a career-best 21 home runs and 80 RBI.

His numbers would drop slightly in 2024 to a .246 batting average, 19 home runs and 70 RBI. However, it wasn’t as bad as things got in 2025. Through his first 48 games, Vaughn was hitting .189 with five home runs and 19 RBI. He drew seven walks compared to 43 strikeouts, which still rank as third-most on the team despite him now being in the minors.

Still, the White Sox have seen flashes of greatness from Vaughn. They’re hoping to extract a bit more consistent out of him. If he is able to get on the right path, Vaughn will return to being a staple in Chicago’s lineup.

Vaughn’s road back to big leagues 

How Vaughn responds at the Triple-A level will ultimately dictate how quickly he returns to the major leagues. If his three-hit performance on Saturday is any indication, Chicago won’t be waiting long before he is back in the lineup.

The White Sox aren’t alone in employing this strategy. The Texas Rangers recently sent down Jake Burger during a slump. He is now back in MLB, and while his batting average is still at the Mendoza line, Burger has three home runs in his last 12 games.

Vaughn and Burger are two completely different players, and their development plans won’t look similar. But both franchises had the same goal in mind. Switching back to the White Sox, Venable and company simply want to see Vaughn find his stride again.

At this stage of his career, Vaughn should have no problem handling Triple-A pitching. The White Sox moreso want him to find his confidence and return to mashing baseball at the big league level.

The post Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn gets eye-opening Will Venable update amid demotion appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There are not many players in the Chicago White Sox lineup who are doing well, but one player who has been putting together a productive season is White Sox infielder Lenyn Sosa. Sosa enters his fourth season in the big leagues and has been an average big league player up to this point.

Sosa got an opportunity last season to play a lot more, playing in 100 games where he hit .254/.283/.359 with an OPS and OPS+ of .642 and 83. Sosa, a 25-year-old infielder from Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela came into this season with a great opportunity to be in the mix for some of the open infield spots the White Sox had available.

Sosa has made the most of his opportunities so far this season and appears to be having a breakout season, which has caught the eye of manager Will Venable, who couldn’t help but praise his young infielder.

Lenyn Sosa’s high level of play draws praise from manager Will Venable

Through 54 games, Sosa has seen his average jump 32 points as well as seeing his OBP and SLG be over .300 and .400 for the first time in his career (.286/.304/.402 OPS and OPS+ .706 100). Sosa’s .286 average is good enough to be the leader for the White Sox, and his 54 hits are also a team lead.

These improvements that Sosa has made have Venable impressed with his confidence and decision-making at the plate.

Via Kade Heather of the Chicago Sun-Times:

“[He’s] just really confident out there,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “He’s done a really good job, and we’ve talked about him chasing and how that can kind of hinder his performance. You have to make good swing decisions and he’s made better swing decisions and the swings that he is getting off, he’s hitting the ball extremely hard.”

Venable also notes Sosa’s improvements in his chase rate, saying he’s shortened his stroke at the plate, and that even though he expands the zone from time to time, he still can hit a lot of pitches.

“He knows a moving bat is a dangerous bat and has shortened up the stroke a little bit with two strikes and [he’s] doing a good job of putting the ball in play,” Venable said.

“He does expand the zone from time to time, but I think because he can hit a lot of different pitches,” Venable said. “I think we’re seeing his ability to put good swings on a lot of different pitches.”

More statistics from the Chicago White Sox middle infielder

When looking at Sosa’s advanced metrics via his Baseball Savant page, he does rank in the 93rd percentile for landing the sweet spot of the bat on the ball, doing so at a 42.2% clip. Sosa has put together a solid first couple of months as well, having a .293 average and .686 OPS in April, and a .306 average and .769 OPS for May.

Sosa has also shown the ability to hit both lefties and righties this season, having virtually a mirrored slash line against both. In 31 games (58 at-bats) against lefties, Sosa is hitting .293/.305/.397 for an OPS of .702, while in 50 games (131 at-bats) against righties, he’s hitting .282/.304/.405 for an OPS of .709.

With still being young enough and under team control for another few seasons, Sosa could be playing himself into being a future piece of this organization. If that’s not in the cards, then Sosa could be a critical asset to trade at the trade deadline to improve the roster elsewhere.

The post Chicago White Sox manager praises 25-year-old infielder appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox looked like they had some life when they started the season 2-2. However, the White Sox are on a three-game losing streak following a disappointing showing in a 7-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Friday in front of 44,735 fans at Comerica Park.

The Tigers’ bats were hot for most of the game, as they scored runs in five separate innings. Detroit led the White Sox 7-1 by the end of the sixth inning.

Chicago didn’t lie down despite trailing six runs. The White Sox scored three runs in the ninth inning before Detroit finally put the game away.

Reason for the Chicago White Sox to be optimistic?

Following the contest, White Sox manager Will Venable was positive about the way the team finished the game.

“We weren’t able to get anything going, really off of (Detroit starting pitcher Jack) Flaherty, but we’re really happy with the way that guys continued to battle there,” Venable told reporters via CHSN. “And we got a leverage arm in the game, which is huge. And, you know, that can pay off later on in the series.

“So these guys kept grinding. Really happy with the way they finished the game.”

Will Venable on how the team continued to battle today.@ChuckGarfien | @OzzieGuillen | @yuenglingbeer | #SoxPostgameLive pic.twitter.com/RPtWTv6BDf

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) April 4, 2025

Venable on Luis Robert Jr.’s struggles

Venable was asked about the struggles of Luis Robert Jr. as the star center fielder went 0-of-4 at-bat (but did take a walk). He’s batting .190 to start the year. Venable gave Robert a moral victory by saying Chicago’s most valuable trade asset this season had a “good swing” against the Tigers.

“Yeah. I mean, a good swing today, hit that ball really hard,” Venable said. “I think he’s, you know, going to continue to work and put balls in play and play hard. Maybe the last couple games, he hasn’t had the results. But his process has been good. He’s been working really hard, and it’s going to happen for him here soon.”

The White Sox play their second game of the series on Saturday at 12:10 p.m. CST.

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

The post ‘Really happy’: Chicago White Sox manager optimistic despite 7-4 loss to Tigers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago White Sox fans were on cloud nine on Thursday when the Sox won the first game of the season, beating the Los Angeles Angels by a score of 8-3.

That elation quickly dissipated with the Sox dropping the second game, 1-0. Jonathan Cannon did well, keeping the White Sox in the game, pitching 5.0 innings, striking out five, walking three, and not allowing a run.

In the White Sox loss, the game featured one of the Sox’s young players Brooks Baldwin, making his first appearance in the outfield.

An infielder by trade, Baldwin’s versatility could help him see more playing time and manager Will Venable when it comes to matchups.

Baldwin adds to his versatility to help the Chicago White Sox

Baldwin made his first Opening Day roster this season after competing for a spot on the White Sox bench this spring.

The 24-year-old Baldwin had a decent spring posting, a slash line of .250/.313/.409, with an OPS of .722 in 18 games, which helped his chances. What also helped his chances was his ability to play all around the infield.

Baldwin last season played 24 games at second base while playing nine at shortstop. Now, Baldwin can add being an outfielder to his resume.

Baldwin was asked by Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times how it felt to play in the outfield, with Baldwin saying he liked it and adding a funny analogy to describe it.

“I like to say it’s like a dog playing fetch – if the ball’s up, go get it,” Baldwin said.”

Manager Will Venable also loves how versatile Baldwin is and can be.

“He just ends up making plays, it feels like,” manager Will Venable said. You can put him literally anywhere, and he’s a switch hitter. To be able to give guys days, to utilize him in-game to take advantage of his versatility and move him around really opens things up for us. Excited to see how it looks today.”

Opportunities for Baldwin

Baldwin adding to his versatility only helps his chances of seeing the field more and getting consistent playing time.

Baldwin’s versatility could help him remain on the roster if either Colson Montgomery or Chase Meidroth have a good showing down at Triple-A and get the call to come up to the big leagues.

In his first game of the season, Baldwin went 1-3 and eventually moved to shortstop as the game entered the later stages.

This could become the norm for Baldwin, who could be used as a defensive replacement or a pinch-runner, with 41 stolen bases for his career in the minor leagues.

The rubbermatch between the White Sox and Angels will be played tomorrow, with the Sox sending Davis Martin to the mound to face Angels righty Jack Kochanowicz.

The post Chicago White Sox: One player’s versatility could help him see the field more appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago White Sox fans can rejoice after the team got their first win of the season on Thursday when they crushed the Los Angeles Angels 8-1.

The White Sox are over .500 for the first time since 2023 when they beat the Houston Astros.

Sean Burke got the start for the Sox and was dominant, going six strong innings and striking out three. This strong start from Burke could help him in his next start when he appears against the Minnesota Twins.

The White Sox will send right-hander Jonathan Cannon to the mound today to go against the Angels and win the series for the Sox.

The lineup against the Halos features Miguel Vargas at the top once again, which could help him turn things around offensively.

Chicago White Sox new leadoff hitter?

Vargas will be leading off for the second straight game to start the year, and that could be a sign that manager Will Venable wants him to see more pitches to help him become the offensive force the Sox think he’ll be.

Cannon on the bump! pic.twitter.com/1TwvomqKkq

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 29, 2025

In game one Vargas went 2-4 with an RBI double, scoring one run, and striking out once.

Vargas’s RBI double came in the second inning when Angels starter Yuesi Kikuchi threw a slider in on his hands that he muscled to shallow left-center field, which dropped in to score Korey Lee and Jacob Amaya.

“Miguel Vargas tacks two more on for the Sox”

Miguel Vargas tacks two more on for the Sox pic.twitter.com/U3BPvKbtHA

— White Sox on CHSN (@CHSN_WhiteSox) March 27, 2025

Vargas being in the leadoff spot is a little unorthodox given he hasn’t shown to be a high-on-base percentage guy in his career. For his career, Vargas has a .275 OBP and last season posted a .249 OBP.

Vargas is also playing third base, which calls for power, and the leadoff spot is left for high OBP and speed guys.

Possibly an under-the-radar move by Venable

This move to bat Vargas in the leadoff spot could be an under-the-radar move for Venable and help the Sox in the long run.

So far, to start his young career, Vargas hasn’t been the offensive force he was supposed to be.

Perhaps getting Vargas more at-bats in the leadoff spot could help him have a breakout season.

The post Chicago White Sox third baseman could benefit from batting leadoff appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are dealing with quite a few injuries this spring, with the most notable coming to their highest-paid player, Andrew Benintendi, who is dealing with a broken hand.

Other than Benintendi, the White Sox have a few of their players who are dealing with injuries. Those players are outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Austin Slater, with Slater being the latest White Sox to go down with an oblique strain.

In the case of Slater, manager Will Venable gave an update on his status that could turn into something to be concerned about.

Chicago White Sox get an update on Slater’s injury

After being removed from the lineup yesterday with an oblique strain, and now, according to manager Will Venable, per Scott Merkin, Slater will be out for 2-3 weeks, and it could affect his status for Opening Day.

“Will Venable said Austin Slater is out from 2-3 weeks after having imaging on the strained left oblique. Hopeful for Opening Day but no certainty.”

Will Venable said Austin Slater is out from 2-3 weeks after having imaging on the strained left oblique. Hopeful for Opening Day but no certainty.

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 5, 2025

This update is somewhat concerning, given that there is uncertainty that two of the White Sox outfielders could miss Opening Day.

Slater signed a one-year $1.75 million deal with the White Sox this season and will either platoon out in rightfield with Mike Tauchman and get some time at DH. The 32-year-old native of Jacksonville, Florida, had the worst season of his career last season, where he hit 209/.321/.266 for an OPS and OPS+ of .586 and 73 in 84 games.

Opportunities for others

The injuries to Benintendi and Slater free up opportunities for others like Joey Gallo, Oscar Colás, and Brandon Drury, to name a few, to make the major league roster and get more reps this spring.

Oblique strains have been popping up all around baseball lately, and the White Sox appear to be the latest to suffer the injury and miss an extended period.

Hopefully, all goes well in the rehab, and Slater doesn’t suffer any setbacks that would cause him to miss Opening Day.

Possibly having two of their starting outfielders to start the season puts the White Sox further behind the eight-ball than they are, but it could be a blessing in disguise to give some of their younger guys a chance to make the club.

The post Chicago White Sox manager gives an unwelcoming injury report appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox enter spring training in the second year of their rebuild, which should feature them playing their young players to see what they got.

The White Sox have a few open spots in their infield that should feature some competition that could come down to the wire.

One spot currently up for grabs is third base and will feature a few players looking to capture the starting job. According to manager Will Venable, one player has a leg up over the rest and will get more chances to win the job.

Chicago White Sox manager names a third baseman

The White Sox appear to have their starting third baseman for this season, and they have only played one game this spring. According to James Fegan of Sox Machine, Venable has named Miguel Vargas as the team’s starting third baseman.

“Will Venable said the White Sox view Miguel Vargas as their primary option at third base. He’s worked a little at first base this camp but the bulk of his time will be at third.”

Will Venable said the White Sox view Miguel Vargas as their primary option at third base. He’s worked a little at first base this camp but the bulk of his time will be at third.

— James Fegan (@jrfegan.soxmachine.com) 2025-02-24T19:17:09.976Z

Vargas will get a lot of opportunities to win the position this spring with his competition being Bryan Ramos and Josh Rojas, who the White Sox signed earlier this offseason. Out of the three, Rojas has the best chance statistically to win the job, but having the manager in your court doesn’t hurt your chances.

A tough road to win the job

The 25-year-old Varges came over to the White Sox last season after being a part of the three team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. In 42 games after being traded over, the native of La Habana, Cuba was not great offensively hitting .104/.217/.170 with an OPS and OPS+ of .387 and 14.

In order to win the job and surpass Rojas and Ramos, Varges will have to take a major leap forward offensively if he want to win the job. Entering what will be his fourth year in the league, this season will be a big test for 6-2 right-hander who so far has a career batting average below the Mendoza line (.200).

Varges’s job to lose

Having Venable in his corner will help Varges chances in winning the job, but its ultimately on him to go out and win it.

Barges will have many opportunities to show if he is capable of stepping things up offensively. If he can do that, then he shouldn’t have a hard time winning the job.

The post Chicago White Sox manager carves out a path for this promising infielder to win a job appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox enter spring training with a great group of players who should all be key contributors to helping the White Sox rebuild.

The White Sox have one of the more exciting camps to follow, with the White Sox having so many young prospects looking to make the roster. There will be plenty of competition, with the White Sox having openings at three infield spots and in right field.

The White Sox also enter camp with a bountiful group of starting pitchers, giving the White Sox a ton of depth at the position.

The Chicago White Sox have a lot of depth

The White Sox enter camp with plenty of starting pitching depth. The new White Sox manager, Will Venable, has a good mix of veterans and potential rookies to choose from, and three guys who could be the Opening Day starter for the White Sox.

Entering camp the White Sox will have 18 starting pitchers in camp. Of those 18, 11 are on the 40-man roster, and 7 are nonroster invitees. The two biggest names to follow from the nonroster invitees are the White Sox’s top left-handed pitchers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. Both Smith and Schultz have chances of making the team if they can perform this spring.

Potential options for the White Sox three, four, and five spots in the rotation are Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, Sean Burke, and Bryse Wilson. Iriarte is the most interesting of the bunch making the jump from Double-A to the majors last season.

Jairo Iriarte throwing heat. Some good early buzz about him in camp. He’s competing for a starting spot in the rotation. pic.twitter.com/l15kEMGpmM

— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) February 15, 2025

Iriarte was impressive with the White Sox Double-A affiliate, making 22 starts and had a 5-7 record and a 3.71 ERA in 126.0 innings. The 23-year-old did make his Major League debut with the White Sox last season, where Iriarte made six relief appearances and had a 4.50 ERA.

Potential Opening Day starters

Topping the list to be the White Sox starter for Opening Day are Jonathan Cannon, Martín Pérez, and Davis Martin. All three pitchers have a good chance of being the guy, depending on how well they do during camp. Pèrez has the best chance, given he’s the veteran on a young White Sox pitching staff. However, Cannon had a great season last year, given the overall struggles the White Sox had.

In his first season, Cannon made 21 starts, accumulating a 5-10 record with a 4.49 ERA, and striking out 91 batters in 124.1 innings pitched. Pérez between the Pittsburg Pirates and San Diego Padres, had the same season as Cannon, making 26 starts tallying a 5-6 record and a 4.53 ERA in 135.0 innings.

Martin enters this season two years removed from, having Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss the 2023 season. Last season Martin made 10 starts, tallied a 0-5 record and a 4.32 ERA in 50.0 innings pitched. MLB.com Scott Merkin caught up with Martin and asked him what he thought of being one of the pitchers in the mix for the job.

“I said, ‘You better bring it,’” said Martin with a broad smile. “I want it. I know he wants it. And I know Martín wants it. You are not a competitor if you don’t want to be the No. 1 guy and the responsibilities that come with that.

“You see the responsibilities Garrett [Crochet] held, that [Dylan] Cease held. You need to be the guy who goes out there and executes 33 starts on the year and the whole team looks to you to be successful. This is the guaranteed one day we are going to have a really good shot of winning. So, you dream about that opportunity, to cherish that role.”

Plenty of options

The White Sox are proving the adage true, that you can never have enough starting pitching.

New manager Will Venable won’t have a hard time filling in gaps whenever an injury occurs, with having so many guys to choose from.

Hopefully too sooner rather than later the White Sox will call up Schultz and Smith given they’re both so close to being ready to debut.

The post Chicago White Sox bountiful group of young starting pitchers appeared first on ChiCitySports.

There’s an aura of optimism surrounding the Chicago White Sox as they open up their facilities, and begin their preparations for the start of the season.

The main goal for the White Sox this season will be to be better than they were last season and to play as many of their young prospects as possible to see who can compete for a roster spot.

New manager Will Venable, will have his hands full this season trying to give equal playing time to both his veterans and the young guys and getting the most out of each of them.

The DH spot will be a fluid situation

Not only will Venable have to juggle the time of his vets and prospects, but he’ll be responsible for constructing the lineup day in and day out. According to Venable per Scott Merkin, the new skipper will look to the designated hitter spot as a tool to play the matchup game and get guys off their feet.

“Venable on his view of the White Sox DH: “We are not going to have someone designated for that role. We are going to use it to get guys off their feet, to be able to match up defensively and to kind of leave that open as a way to do all those things.”

Venable on his view of the White Sox DH: "We are not going to have someone designated for that role. We are going to use it to get guys off their feet, to be able to match up defensively and to kind of leave that open as a way to do all those things."

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 13, 2025

This is a brilliant idea for the first-time manager to implement with having a few veterans on his roster.

The Chicago White Sox options for the job

A possible platoon situation could emerge with Venable stating he wants to play the matchups game. The most likely candidates to get a look from the right side would be Austin Slater or possibly Brandon Drury (if he makes the roster). For left-handed options, the White Sox have: Mike Tauchman, Nick Maton, Omar Narváez, Kyle Teel, or Tristan Gray. Andrew Benintendi is the current starting left fielder, but Benintendi could be one of the guys Venable utilizes the DH spot for rest.

According to FanGraphs, they have infielder Miguel Vargas slotted there, but he’ll most likely be competing for the third base spot or be a bat off the bench. Teel is coming into camp competing for the starting catcher’s spot. Teel could get some reps at DH to get him off his feet.

Tauchman could be the answer as a platoon option for Slater/Drury as he, like those two, will be competing for the job out in right. Maton, Gray, and Narváez, will first have to make the 26-man roster if they want a chance at the job.

An interesting conundrum for Venable

The White Sox’s new skipper has his hands full this spring as he’s looking to make a great first impression.

There’s a ton of talent flowing through camp, and the White Sox position players haven’t even arrived yet.

Even though this season may be a grind, and there will be a ton of highs and lows, there’s full confidence in Venable that he is indeed the right man for the job.

The post Chicago White Sox new skipper has an interesting idea on his lineup construction appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have one important question that looms over them for this upcoming season.

Coming into spring training the Chicago White Sox will have a lot of questions they will need to have answered like can their young starting staff give them a full workload for a full season, what will they get from their top prospects who figure to play a key roles for the Chicago White Sox in 2025, and what will they get out of their highest paid players and veterans in outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr.

The most important question however, which will fall into the hands of newly minted skipper Will Venable will be, how will he manage the balance of playing his veteran players as well as mixing in the young players who need their reps as well?

The offseason for the Chicago White Sox thus far

The White Sox and Senior Vice President and General Manager Chris Getz have had a very productive offseason up to this point. The Chicago White Sox biggest moves this offseason were trading away their most valuable asset in Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox for a package of prospect that will be key parts to their rebuild and could help the White Sox as soon as this year. As well as signing versatile infielder Josh Rojas to a one-year deal who will be in the running to be the starting third basemen and hope he can bounce-back offensively in the hopes of trading him at next year’s trade deadline.

The White Sox also added to their pitching depth by signing veteran Bryse Wilson to a one-year deal in the hopes he has a bounce back season. The White Sox also went out and made a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies acquiring lefty Tyler Gilbert to give them a look from the left side out of their starting rotation.

Spring Training 2025

The White Sox will look to enter 2025 having a better season than they did in 2024 which led them to having the worst loss record in MLB History at 121 losses. The White Sox set the record with a 4-1 loss to division rival Detroit Tigers in a game played back in September of last season. The likelihood of that happening again is very slim, but the White Sox still may be looking at over 100 losses, so they’re not fully out of the woods yet.

With that being said, there is something to be excited for when watching the 2025 Chicago White Sox and that’s the plethora of prospects they have coming up and having a young and hungry manager in Will Venable providing guidance to those young players along with having those key veterans in Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. looking to show they can come into spring healthy and ready go.

In particular Luis Robert Jr. and the question of his health which limited him to only one hundred games last year and affected him offensively. Both Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. need to have bounce-back seasons offensively so it can boost their trade value, which will be important for the Chicago White Sox.

The important question that needs to be answered?

The biggest question for the Chicago White Sox coming into this season will be, how will manager Will Venable balance playing his veteran players as well as mixing in his young players who will need their reps as well? Getting their young guys in is key for their development in order for the White Sox to see who will sink or swim. It is also important that the veteran guys like newly signed outfielders Austin Slater and Mike Tauchman to see time as well, being they need to have good seasons for the White Sox to get at least somewhat of a decent prospect in return for them in a trade.

Some of the young guys who will figure to be in the mix for some of the positions that the Chicago White Sox have open are number two overall prospect catcher Kyle Teel who could be in play to win the starting catching position. As well as number six overall prospect Edgar Quero who will start the season in Triple-A so he can work on his defense, but with his bat being ready to go, if an injury occurs at the catching position, could figure to be the first to get the call up.

Then there’s the White Sox top two pitching prospects in lefties Noah Schultz (No. 1 overall, MLB No. 16 prospect) and Hagen Smith (No. 3 overall, MLB No. 30 prospect) who will both start the 2025 season down in the minors. However, both Schultz and Smith could quickly force the hand of the Chicago White Sox and call them up if they prove to have success in the first month or two of next season.

Finding the balance will be key to being decent in 2025

The Chicago White Sox striking the balance of mixing in their veterans in with their young prospects will be key for them to at least be decent in for the 2025 season. Yes, it still could be a little ugly, but if both the veterans and the young guys can contribute better than they did last year, there are some bright spots coming down the way for the White Sox.

The post One important question that looms over the Chicago White Sox for 2025 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

According to Jon Morosi, the Chicago Cubs have discussed shortstop Starlin Castro with the San Diego Padres.

#Cubs have discussed Starlin Castro with #Padres, sources tell @Ken_Rosenthal and me. Cubs have inquired on San Diego starting pitchers.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 27, 2015

The most likely name associated with “San Diego starting pitchers” would lead you to James Shields, as Tyson Ross would presume to be astronomically priced. And as Morosi adds, financially speaking, a deal involving Castro and Shields would balance out.

Morosi also reports that the Cubs have interest in outfielder Will Venable (.247/.318/.390). Venable is no offensive stud, but, sadly, those numbers are actually better than Castro’s (.233/.268/.302).

Shields hasn’t been terrible for San Diego (8-3, 3.77 ERA), but hasn’t justified the money the Padres gave to him (4 years, $75 million), though Shields is only being paid $10 million this season. That number jumps to $21 million for the next three seasons.

What is strange about Shields is how different his numbers are from his normal output. He’s holding the highest K/9 of his career (10.23), but also the highest BB/9 (3.34). His FIP is over four (4.12) for the first time since 2010, and his WHIP is 1.32. Lastly, his WAR is a disappointing 0.9 –lowest of his career.

Despite the performance, Cubs fans would probably still consider it a deal if Castro was the only major piece that would have to move.

The post Chicago Cubs reportedly discussing Starlin Castro with San Diego Padres appeared first on ChiCitySports.