Chicago White Sox News

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Shane Smith • SP • White Sox

Shane Smith is Named Opening Day Starter

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Shane Smith will get the honor of taking the ball on Opening Day. According to Scott Merkin, Smith will get the nod to begin the regular season. The selection of Smith makes it five consecutive seasons that the White Sox have started a different pitcher on Opening Day. The 25-year-old is deserving of the honor after posting a strong rookie campaign in 2025. He registered a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 145/58 K/BB ratio across 29 starts. His overall numbers don't scream ace pitcher, but Smith can be a capable big league arm. It's unlikely that he'll rack up a ton of wins on the South Side, which won't help his fantasy value. His current ADP is sitting around 260-270 range, which seems fair. He could be a decent depth option for fantasy managers with potential to get better.

Yesterday

Edgar Quero • C • White Sox

Edgar Quero Showing Improvement This Spring

Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero has looked impressive on both sides of the ball so far this spring, and the switch-hitter is tied for the Cactus League lead with nine RBI and nine hits after going deep against Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga on Sunday. MLB.com's Scott Merkin writes that Quero's "diligent offseason work focused on strengthening all areas of his game," but change with his swing "came especially within his hips." "Try to rotate a little better with my load, in my back hips, and it's working right now. Both sides, same thing. I figured it out in the offseason, and now it's working," Quero said. The 22-year-old Cuban backstop hit .268/.333/.356 with five homers, 17 doubles, and 36 RBI, but he hit .357 with an .851 OPS in 137 plate appearances versus lefties. The White Sox don't have a set DH, so both Quero and Kyle Teel could rotate time at DH if the Sox want to keep their bats in the lineup.

6 days ago

Andrew Benintendi • LF • White Sox

Andrew Benintendi Should be Back on Thursday

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (side) took swings in camp on Sunday and planned to do so again on Monday, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Benintendi said he would be playing if it were the regular season, but there is no reason to rush things on March 2. He is expected to be back in Grapefruit League action after Wednesday's off day. The 31-year-old veteran has been out since being scratched from Friday's spring game with right-side soreness, but he should be ready for Opening Day later this month, barring a setback. Benintendi has quietly hit 20 home runs in each of the last two seasons, but that is pretty much his ceiling, and he hasn't offered much else on one of the worst teams in baseball. He's outside of RotoBaller's top-100 outfield rankings despite being Chicago's starting left fielder.

7 days ago

Andrew Benintendi • LF • White Sox

Andrew Benintendi Scratched Due to Side Soreness

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi (side) was scratched ahead of Friday's Spring Training contest versus the Texas Rangers. Benintendi was pulled out of the lineup due to right-side soreness. For now, Benintendi is considered day-to-day, so hopefully, he has avoided any significant issues. The 31-year-old is coming off a decent campaign with the White Sox in 2025. He slashed .240/.307/.431 with 20 home runs and 63 RBI in 116 games. Darren Baker took over in left field on Friday and could see an expanded role until Benintendi returns.

Feb 27

Luisangel Acuña • 2B • White Sox

Luisangel Acuna Leaves Early With a Cut Above his Eye

Chicago White Sox infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuna (eye) left Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds with a cut above his left eyebrow, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Acuna is being evaluated for sutures. The 23-year-old was injured in the fourth inning while attempting to steal a base. As long as he doesn't also have a concussion, Acuna should be fine to return to baseball activities in a day or two. The younger brother of Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., hit .248/.299/.341 with a .640 OPS, three home runs, 14 RBI, 36 runs, and 16 stolen bases in 109 games with the New York Mets in his first two MLB seasons. Acuna has a path to become Chicago's Opening Day center fielder, but on one of the worst teams in baseball with limited power, he's only really a late-round target for his speed in AL-only leagues.

Feb 25

Shane Smith • SP • White Sox

Shane Smith Locked into the Starting Rotation in Chicago After 2025 Emergence

After being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft heading into the 2025 season, starting pitcher Shane Smith emerged as a quality starting pitching option. Across 146 1/3 innings (29 starts), the 25-year-old posted a 7-8 record with a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 145 strikeouts. Smith's 23.5% strikeout rate and 14.1% K-BB rate don't jump off the page, and his 4.10 FIP could indicate that he is in line for some regression in 2026. However, Smith posted a much more impressive 29.6% strikeout rate across 94 1/3 Minor League innings in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2024. He will turn just 26 years old in April, so Smith could still have plenty of room to develop in his second big league campaign. The White Sox once again project to be one of MLB's worst teams, which limits Smith's potential to rack up wins. Still, Chicago will likely give him an extended runway in the starting rotation even if he suffers through some early-season struggles. With an average draft position of pick 268, Smith profiles as starting pitching depth with some upside for fantasy managers in 2026.

Feb 24

Hagen Smith • SP • White Sox

Hagen Smith to Face Hitters on Tuesday

Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect Hagen Smith (elbow) will face hitters in a live batting practice session on Tuesday for the first time this spring, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Smith has another live batting practice session scheduled and then expects to get into some action in Cactus League games. The 22-year-old southpaw, who was the fifth overall pick in 2024 out of Arkansas, had a 3.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 108:56 K:BB in 75 2/3 innings over 20 starts with Double-A Birmingham last year. He missed six weeks in the first half of 2025 due to elbow soreness, which is why the White Sox have slow-played him so far this spring. Questionable control has fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues pumping the brakes a bit on Smith being a high-end starting pitcher at the next level, although if he can lower his walk rate in 2026, he should make his MLB debut. Smith is dominant with his fastball and slider, but a lack of a real third pitch may push him to a high-leverage relief role down the road.

Feb 23

Lenyn Sosa • 2B • White Sox

Lenyn Sosa Likely Headed Towards Bench Role

Chicago White Sox infielder Lenyn Sosa is unlikely to have a defensive home to begin the 2026 season. According to Mark Gonzales, Sosa could be on the roster bubble due to the fact that he doesn't have a starting spot on the roster. Last season, Sosa played 99 games at second base, while playing 42 contests at first base. He also saw a few games at third base, but is mostly being used at two positions. Chase Meidroth should have second base locked down, and Murataka Murakami figures to push Sosa out of a role at first base. The White Sox could use Sosa at third base, but they seem committed to playing Miguel Vargas there full-time. Sosa isn't exactly a reliable defender, so his bat will likely need to carry him to a roster spot. Last season, Sosa slashed .264/.293/.434 with a career-high 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 140 games. The 26-year-old is unlikely to have consistent fantasy value if he does end up in a bench role in 2026.

Feb 22

Jonathan Cannon • SP • White Sox

Jonathan Cannon in Competition for Starting Role

Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Jonathan Cannon is in contention for one of the final roles in the starting rotation. Cannon made his MLB debut back in 2024 for the White Sox and logged 124 1/3 innings to the tune of a 4.49 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP. During this stint, Cannon showed minimal strikeout upside, tallying just 91. In 2025, the Georgia product took a further step back, posting a much higher 5.82 ERA with a 1.49 WHIP across 103 2/3 innings. He struck out just 86 hitters at a low 18.5% rate and held a modest 8.2% walk rate, a slight increase from the 7.7% walk rate he posted as a rookie. However, given Chicago's current lack of pitching depth, Cannon could still play a prominent role despite his rough 2025 season. Given his lack of strikeout potential, Cannon should only be viewed as a desperation streaming option in 15+ team leagues if he were to earn a spot.

Feb 20

Seranthony Domínguez • RP • White Sox

Seranthony Dominguez Named White Sox's Closer

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable said that right-hander Seranthony Dominguez will be the team's closer to begin the 2026 season, according to James Fegan of Sox Machine. The White Sox signed Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract last month. The 31-year-old veteran has only 40 career saves in seven big-league seasons with three different teams, with 16 of them coming in his first major-league season in 2018 with the Philadelphia Phillies. Dominguez struck out 30.3% of the hitters he faced and had an opponent's expected batting average of just .200, partly because of a new split-finger fastball that he introduced. In a career-high 62 2/3 innings pitched for the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays, he held a 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, two saves, 20 holds, 79 strikeouts, and 36 walks. Dominguez's splitter is nasty and regularly generates whiffs, but a career-high 13.8% walk rate is worrisome, and he's unlikely to see a ton of save chances on one of the worst teams in baseball.

Feb 19

Luisangel Acuña • 2B • White Sox

Luisangel Acuna Searching for More Power With Mechanical Tweak

Chicago White Sox infielder/outfielder Luisangel Acuna has made swing tweaks this offseason to "stay loaded in his back leg more" to "allow him to elevate the ball for consistent power," according to James Fegan of Sox Machine. Acuna, 23, is trying to make the move to center field and carve out a regular role in his first year with the White Sox in 2026. The Venezuelan has appeared in the outfield twice in 109 career major-league games, but he split time more evenly between center and short in recent Venezuelan Winter League action. Acuna hit .282/.397/.542 with eight homers in a small 39-game sample size in his native country, but he batted .234/.293/.274 with no homers, eight RBI, and 16 steals in 95 games last year with the New York Mets. Making more contact should be a top priority for Acuna, who is favored to start in center field for the Pale Hose on Opening Day. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues will want to take a wait-and-see approach with the younger brother of Ronald Acuna Jr.

Feb 17

Kyle Teel • C • White Sox

Kyle Teel to be Chicago's Everyday Catcher?

It sounds like the Chicago White Sox view catcher Kyle Teel as their everyday catcher. "We do view Teel as an everyday guy. But at the catching position, we know that doesn't mean you're actually in there every day. It's a demanding role. And Edgar is a guy that we like the bat against lefties, so there's DH opportunities for him. He's going to be able to catch, too, so there should be plenty of at-bats for those guys," manager Will Venable said when asked about splitting at-bats for Teel and Edgar Quero in 2026. Teel, a 23-year-old left-handed-hitting backstop, made his major-league debut last year and held his own with a .273/.375/.411 slash line, .786 OPS, eight home runs, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, and even three steals in 78 games played in Chicago. Teel didn't look great against left-handed pitchers, but he's clearly the team's preferred catcher, and the rest of his profile makes him an attractive low-end starting catching target with upside.

Feb 13

Munetaka Murakami • 3B • White Sox

Munetaka Murakami Will Primarily Play First Base, Could See Some Time at Third

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami is expected to get some run at third base over the course of the season, per manager Will Venable. Chicago's skipper stated that the Japanese slugger will play mostly first base, though, as the complementary pieces around him fit better that way. The 26-year-old's main position over the last few seasons has been the hot corner while playing for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), however, he played mostly first base during his first two years in the NPB (2019-20). He's eligible for both positions in Yahoo! leagues. The left-handed slugger is known for some big power that also comes with a lot of swing and miss, so he represents a high-risk, high-reward lottery ticket toward the end of 2026 fantasy drafts. Murakami is currently ranked 222 overall in RotoBaller's latest rankings, right around his NFBC ADP of 220.

Feb 13

Drew Thorpe • SP • White Sox

Drew Thorpe has Hit "Road Bumps" in his Recovery

Chicago White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe (elbow) has hit what he described as "road bumps" in his recovery process, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Thorpe visited Dr. Keith Meister last week and was told that his ligament looks solid. Doctors believe his pain is coming from some tendinitis in his elbow. The 25-year-old was placed on the 60-day injured list last March and missed all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The former second-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2022 out of Cal Poly made his major-league debut with Chicago in 2024 and had a 5.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 44 1/3 innings over his nine starts. Thorpe wasn't very sharp in his first taste of the majors, which wasn't exactly a surprise after he skipped Triple-A. While he could be ready for the start of the 2026 season, fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues shouldn't expect Thorpe to contribute until maybe the second half.

Feb 12

Noah Schultz • SP • White Sox

Noah Schultz's Knee Not an Issue, Expects to Make MLB Debut in 2026

Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect Noah Schultz (knee) believes that he will make his major-league debut in 2026 and also said his right knee "feels great." "Having no issues. It's been great. Did PT through the offseason and in a good spot, and it's not an issue," Schultz said about his knee. The 22-year-old southpaw, who is ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, was shut down last September due to tendinitis in his knee, but he's expected to be a full-go for the start of this season. Schultz had a 3.34 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 36 walks in 12 starts (56 2/3 innings) at Double-A Birmingham before struggling to a 9.37 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Charlotte to end his 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-10 hulking lefty was the 26th overall pick in 2022. Schultz will go undrafted in single-year leagues, but he's a firm stash and hold in dynasty/keeper formats.

Feb 10

Colson Montgomery • SS • White Sox

Colson Montgomery Shows That His Power is Here to Stay

Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery made his MLB debut last season. While he logged a modest 71 appearances before the year came to an end, he wasted no time showing the world just how much power he possesses in his swing. Montgomery launched 21 homers across 71 MLB games -- more home runs than he had ever hit in a full minor league season. The thump was legitimate, but concerns persisted about his strikeouts; he posted a 29.2% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate down the stretch. Still, he finished the year with 129 wRC+ and 9.3 fWAR at the plate, as well as 7.0 fWAR in the field. Most of his defensive reps came at shortstop (6 OAA and 6 FRV), although he did log a dozen appearances at the hot corner. Montgomery could legitimately slug 40-plus home runs this year, so while it remains to be seen whether he can cut down on strikeouts, he offers intriguing fantasy upside nonetheless. As it stands, he ranks as the #21 shortstop and #116 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

Feb 9

Kyle Teel • C • White Sox

Kyle Teel to Share Time Behind the Dish?

Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that both young catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel will work exclusively as catchers in 2026, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Teel, a former 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia, has the higher fantasy baseball ceiling as a low-end starting catching option in single-catcher leagues. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter made his MLB debut in 2025 and hit .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight home runs, 35 RBI, and 38 runs in 253 at-bats. Quero was in the big leagues in Chicago before Teel, but Teel saw most of the playing time behind the dish against righties. Quero, 22, hit .268/.333/.356 with a .689 OPS, five homers, 36 RBI, and 31 runs in 365 at-bats. Teel should be a solid source of on-base percentage at the catching position against lefties in what could be a platoon in the Windy City.

Feb 9

Erick Fedde • SP • White Sox

Erick Fedde, White Sox Agree to One-Year Deal

Free-agent pitcher Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a one-year deal, pending a physical. The veteran saw some success in his return from the KBO in 2024, pitching to a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 14.0 percent K-BB%. However, he was unable to parlay that production into 2025. The 6-foot-4 hurler played for three different teams (Cardinals, Braves, Brewers) and registered an unsightly 5.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and just a 2.6 percent K-BB%. The former first-rounder tentatively slots in as the fifth starter, although he'll likely face competition for the job this spring from the team's top pitching prospects, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, as well as another offseason acquisition, Sean Newcomb. Still just 32 years old, Fedde could have something left in the tank, but he's off the season-long fantasy radar for now.

Feb 9

Mike Vasil • RP • White Sox

Mike Vasil to Compete for Starting Rotation Spot

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Vasil will get a chance to compete for a starting rotation spot in Spring Training. Vasil mostly pitched as a reliever last season, but recently said on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast that he'll get a chance to pitch as a starting pitcher. The 25-year-old registered a 2.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and an 82/52 K/BB ratio across 47 games (three starts) with the White Sox last season. He mostly worked as a multi-inning reliever and threw over 100 innings in 2025. The transition to a starting pitcher doesn't seem too difficult for Vasil, given he's already stretched out as a multiple-inning reliever. Before the 2025 campaign, Vasil was a full-time starting pitcher in the minor leagues with the New York Mets. The White Sox certainly need help in the starting rotation, so they might as well give Vasil a chance.

Feb 6

Grant Taylor • RP • White Sox

Grant Taylor to Transition Back to Starting Role in 2027?

Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has a goal of reaching 100 innings pitched in 2026 in his second big-league season, and MLB.com's Scott Merkin suggests that the 23-year-old could be an option to start again in 2027. "Having got through last year, adding [Seranthony] Dom nguez, being able to slot guys in different areas, we are going to have more freedom to use Grant to win games, as opposed to fulfill some innings limit," manager Will Venable said. The addition of Seranthony Dominguez to the bullpen should free Taylor up to work multiple innings more out of the bullpen this year after he threw 36 2/3 frames in his first taste of MLB in 2025. Taylor had 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster, and he topped out at 102.2 mph on June 22. He had 54 strikeouts but an ERA of 4.91. The 23-year-old threw a career-high 63 1/3 innings last year between the minors and majors. Although high-leverage opportunities could come, most of Taylor's work this year is expected to come in long relief. Taylor's strikeout upside is obvious, but durability is a concern.

Feb 4

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