Chicago White Sox News

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Munetaka Murakami • 1B • White Sox

Munetaka Murakami Could Return on Friday

Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring), who has been on the 10-day injured list since suffering a Grade 2 strained right hamstring on May 29, could return to the White Sox's starting lineup as soon as Friday for the series opener against the Athletics, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Murakami got three at-bats and played five innings at first base for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday night and received positive reports. The 26-year-old Japanese native took the league by storm earlier this year in his first taste of major-league pitching, hitting .240 (48-for-200) with 20 home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and a stolen base in 57 games and 246 plate appearances. "He means a lot for this lineup. He's a great hitter. Not just for the lineup but the clubhouse in general. He's a great leader. He's a guy who everyone here looks to. It means a lot to everyone here," third baseman Miguel Vargas said. In his two rehab games with the Knights, Murakami has gone 2-for-7 with a double and a walk. His impending return could cause rookie first baseman Jacob Gonzalez to be shipped back to Charlotte.

10 hours ago

Caleb Bonemer • SS • White Sox

Is Caleb Bonemer a Consensus Top Dynasty Shortstop?

Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer was recently promoted to Double-A following his promising start to the High-A regular season. Bonemer opened the 2026 season with High-A Winston-Salem, where he posted a .238/.381/.556 line with an impressive 18 home runs and 15 doubles over just 61 games. He also added 10 stolen bases. Given his high-end power production, the White Sox opted to move their top-ranked prospect to Double-A, where he has since gone deep three times (over 18 games) while carrying a .262/.385/.431 line. Dynasty managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status, as he should position himself to spend most of the 2027 season in Triple-A if he can maintain this power production. While he will not debut this season, Bonemer now ranks as MLB.com's No. 16 overall prospect and is solidifying his status as a high-end dynasty shortstop.

Yesterday

Hagen Smith • SP • White Sox

Is Hagen Smith Worth Stashing Despite Injury?

Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith (shoulder) was placed on the injured list back on June 16 with a shoulder impingement that was expected to keep him out for at least a month. That puts a return to the mound in late July looking like the most optimistic of scenarios, though a more realistic scenario may point to an August return. Even though his last start before the injury was his worst of the year (seven earned in 4 1/3 innings pitched), the southpaw had been showing well at Triple-A Charlotte before that, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 47 2/3 IP over the 12 starts prior to the last one. The White Sox even considered calling him up to make a start in June, so he could make his MLB debut later this season if he can get back on track upon his return. There is real strikeout upside here, with a career K% in the minors of 33.2 percent, although the walk rate of 16.2 percent still needs work. Even so, with an opponent batting average of .183, the former first-rounder could be a worthy stash option in deeper leagues once there is a clearer timeline for his return.

Yesterday

Tristan Peters • CF • White Sox

Tristan Peters Continues Breakout, Emerging as Strong Waiver-Wire Add

Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters continues to impress during his first season with the club, emerging as an intriguing waiver wire target in fantasy leagues. The 25-year-old is slashing .291/.347/.451 with a .798 OPS and five home runs across 86 games. He has been even better recently, hitting .314 with a .510 slugging percentage over his last 15 games while earning everyday playing time for the surging White Sox. Peters has provided consistent production at the plate and continues to create value with his all-around game. His 98th percentile fielding range should help keep him in the lineup on a regular basis. Fantasy managers looking for a productive outfielder should consider adding Peters before his roster percentage climbs.

Yesterday

Noah Schultz • SP • White Sox

Noah Schultz Struggles Again on Tuesday, Still Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Noah Schultz has struggled in his first taste of big-league action so far in 2026, recording a 2-5 record with a 6.00 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts across 48 innings (10 starts). After first earning an MLB promotion in mid-April, the 22-year-old was sent back to Triple-A in late May. However, Schultz was recalled by the White Sox in early July and has now allowed seven earned runs while recording 10 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings (two starts) since his return. The young left-hander has a major issue with command, as he's walked 13.8% of the batters he's faced in the big leagues. Still, Schultz is widely considered to be a high-end pitching prospect, and he showed off elite strikeout potential at Triple-A this season with a 38.6% strikeout rate. Schultz's fantasy profile is risky, but he could be worth stashing through his current struggles for his upside as a second-half breakout candidate.

2 days ago

Kyle Teel • C • White Sox

Kyle Teel a Power-Hitting Target in Two-Catcher Leagues?

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel is still working through the swing-and-miss, but the power is real enough for deeper formats. The 24-year-old is hitting .220 with two homers, 10 RBI, five runs, and a .694 OPS through 11 games after a right hamstring strain delayed his season. His 18 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances are hard to ignore, so this is not a clean add in standard one-catcher leagues. Still, Teel has already barreled 17.4% of his batted balls in the small sample, which backs the power hook. The bigger reason to care is that he has hit before. Teel posted a .273 average, eight homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs, three steals, and a .786 OPS as a rookie last season. Rostered in just 17% of Yahoo leagues, he fits best as a 15-team or two-catcher league pickup.

2 days ago

Munetaka Murakami • 1B • White Sox

Munetaka Murakami Slated to Begin Rehab Assignment with Triple-A Charlotte

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) traveled to Charlotte on Monday and will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A on Tuesday, per Scott Merkin on MLB.com. Murakami has been sidelined since late May due to a hamstring injury, but it appears he has a chance to return to the big leagues before the All-Star break. The 26-year-old was having an electric rookie season before getting injured, hitting .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs, 41 RBI, 43 runs scored, and one stolen base across 246 plate appearances. With a 32.5% strikeout rate, Murakami's batting average upside is limited. However, he posted elite barrel (20.7%) and hard-hit (58.7%) rates. Once he returns, Murakami profiles as a must-start fantasy first baseman with immense power upside.

3 days ago

Chase Meidroth • 2B • White Sox

Chase Meidroth Still an Infield Target Off the Waiver Wire?

Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth had a strong month of June, putting himself on the map for a waiver-wire pickup in deeper mixed leagues for fantasy managers in search of infield depth. In 25 games last month, Meidroth went 27-for-94 (.287) with a homer, four doubles, nine RBI, and 14 runs scored across 106 plate appearances to boost his season line to .268/.339/.378 with a .717 OPS. So far in five games in July, he's gone 3-for-19 (.158) with a homer, two RBI, a run scored, one walk, and three strikeouts. The former fourth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 out of the University of San Diego made his big-league debut last year with the White Sox and hit .253/.329/.320 with a .649 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 122 games played. Meidroth is striking out at a higher 23.9% clip (compared to 14.3% last year), and he's also not running as much when he gets on base. He might be worth a look as a short-term waiver-wire option when he's hot, but Meidroth's xBA of .229 and xwOBA of .285 point to plenty of regression coming in the second half.

3 days ago

Munetaka Murakami • 1B • White Sox

Munetaka Murakami is Nearing Rehab Assignment

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) was able to run the bases without any issues for the second straight day ahead of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. Barring any setbacks, Murakami is expected to head to Triple-A Charlotte to begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week. The lefty slugger has been sidelined since May 30 due to a right hamstring strain. If everything goes well, Murakami could return to the White Sox lineup for the final series before the All-Star break against the Athletics. At worst, it sounds like the White Sox should have Murakami back after the break, which is huge for this offense. Murakami blasted 20 home runs with 41 RBI before landing on the shelf at the end of May.

4 days ago

Sean Burke • SP • White Sox

Sean Burke a Priority Waiver-Wire Pickup After 11-Strikeout Performance?

Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke is gaining steam as a priority waiver-wire pickup after another strong performance on Saturday in the team's 3-1 win over the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Burke allowed just one earned run on seven hits (a solo home run) while walking none and striking out a season-high 11 batters in six innings for a no-decision. The 26-year-old generated 16 swings and misses on his 95 pitches in the outing. Burke is now 5-4 in 2026 with a 3.56 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 1.22 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 33 walks in 98 2/3 innings over his 18 appearances (14 starts) for the Pale Hose in his third year in the big leagues. The former third-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Maryland has gone 3-1 with 12 earned runs allowed (3.24 ERA) with 15 walks and 46 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings in his last six starts. Burke has boosted his strikeout rate from 22.3% last year to 25.8% in 2026, and he also has a career-low 8% walk rate. Fantasy managers who need rotation help should look his way heading into the second half. Burke is rostered in 56% of Yahoo leagues.

4 days ago

Hagen Smith • SP • White Sox

Is Hagen Smith Still a Worthwhile Stash While on the Injured List?

Chicago White Sox top pitching prospect Hagen Smith is currently on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Charlotte due to a left shoulder impingement. However, before suffering this injury, the young southpaw appeared to be on the verge of earning the call to the big leagues and was viewed as a high-end pitching prospect to stash. Before allowing a season-worst seven runs on June 13, the left-hander logged 19 innings (four starts) with a 2.37 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 32:7 K:BB. This impressive stretch put him high on the stash radar as the southpaw posted a 4.45 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP over the first 33 2/3 innings of the Triple-A regular season. While his injury has delayed his MLB debut, managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could push for a promotion to the South Side in late July if he returns to the mound in the near future.

4 days ago

Braden Montgomery • RF • White Sox

Braden Montgomery Worth a Waiver Claim for Power Upside?

Chicago White Sox right fielder Braden Montgomery has not delivered the home-run burst fantasy managers hoped for after his June 9 promotion, but there is enough here to justify a waiver claim. The 23-year-old is batting .244/.315/.415 with two homers, 12 runs, and eight RBI through 82 at-bats. He has also remained in the lineup, appearing 23 times in right field and once in center. Before the call-up, Montgomery hit .314/.422/.548 with 10 homers and 41 RBI over 210 minor-league at-bats. MLB Pipeline gives his power a 60 grade, and his first MLB sample includes a 90.0 mph average exit velocity and 43.5% hard-hit rate. The catch is a 62.9% ground-ball rate, which has kept too many hard-hit balls on the ground. Montgomery is rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues and is worth adding in 12-team formats, matching RotoBaller's latest recommendation.

4 days ago

Grant Taylor • RP • White Sox

Grant Taylor Earns Third Save for White Sox, Back on the Fantasy Radar?

Chicago White Sox reliever Grant Taylor rebounded Saturday by closing out a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. He issued one walk and struck out one in a hitless ninth inning, earning his third save in six opportunities. The assignment was encouraging after Brayan Rocchio hit a walk-off two-run homer against Taylor on Thursday. Manager Will Venable went right back to the 24-year-old with another ninth-inning lead, and Taylor lowered his ERA to 2.96 with a 1.12 WHIP and 65 strikeouts through 45 2/3 innings. Chicago has not handed the job to one pitcher. Seranthony Dominguez still leads the club with 12 saves, while Bryan Hudson and Taylor have three apiece. Taylor's ability to work earlier or cover multiple innings may also limit his chances. Still, RotoBaller recommends him in 12-team leagues, and the strikeouts help when he is not closing. At 17% rostered on Yahoo, Taylor is worth another look for managers chasing saves.

4 days ago

Sam Antonacci • LF • White Sox

Sam Antonacci a Must-Add, Multi-Category Contributor

Chicago White Sox rookie infielder/outfielder Sam Antonacci has made an immediate impact in fantasy baseball in his first year in the big leagues in multiple categories, and he should be rostered in more than 53% of Yahoo leagues. Through his first 67 games and 271 plate appearances, Antonacci is slashing .299/.394/.433 with an .827 OPS, five home runs, 12 doubles, two triples, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 45 runs scored for Chicago. The 23-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2024 out of Coastal Carolina University is one of many reasons the Pale Hose have had a huge turnaround in 2026. Since the start of June, Antonacci has been heating up, too, going 31-for-93 (.333) with four home runs, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 22 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 25 games across 109 plate appearances. His underlying metrics support his strong start in his first year in the big leagues, too, as he currently has an xBA of .301 and an xwOBA of .372 (wOBA of .370). Antonacci can help make your fantasy team better in a variety of ways, and he's eligible at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues.

6 days ago

Grant Taylor • RP • White Sox

Grant Taylor Blows Third Save for White Sox, Should Managers Consider Dropping?

Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor took the loss on Thursday and blew the save against the Cleveland Guardians after he allowed one hit, two earned runs, two walks, and two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Taylor isn't making his case for earning the ninth-inning work for the White Sox, even after Seranthony Dom nguez has been struggling himself, blowing back-to-back saves and has a 4.30 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. The White Sox are clearly trying to give Taylor the job, but he continues to stumble in his opportunities, as he now has two saves in five opportunities. On the surface, Taylor has been much more efficient than Dominguez, evidenced by his 3.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP and 34.8 percent strikeout rate, but the White Sox did sign Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract to be their closer, but at the end of the day, the White Sox are leading the AL Central (45-41) as of Friday, and don't have time to prioritize who they paid, rather who is performing. For the time being, this situation will likely remain a committee approach, but if Taylor can capitalize on a handful of his upcoming opportunities, he could easily run away with the job. Taylor is the one to roster out of these two closer options, so fantasy managers struggling to find a second or third closer may want to hold on for a little longer.

6 days ago

Munetaka Murakami • 1B • White Sox

Munetaka Murakami "Day-to-Day," No Timetable for a Rehab Assignment

Chicago White Sox corner infielder Munetaka Murakami (hamstring) is on the road trip with the team and is considered "day-to-day," but there is no timetable for him to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Will Venable. Murakami landed on the 10-day injured list on May 30 with a strained right hamstring, and with no rehab assignment on the horizon, fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect him to return before the mid-July All-Star break. He's making progress, though, with Venable saying last week that Murakami was sprinting around "85 percent" intensity. In his first year in the States, the 26-year-old left-handed slugger has been a major value for fantasy managers, clubbing 20 home runs, driving in 41 runs, and scoring 43 bases in 200 at-bats while slashing .240/.378/.560 with a .938 OPS. Until he's able to return, Jacob Gonzalez should continue to see most of the playing time at first base for the Pale Hose.

7 days ago

Noah Schultz • SP • White Sox

Noah Schultz Back in Chicago's Rotation, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?

The Chicago White Sox announced that they reinstated rookie left-hander Noah Schultz (knee) from the injured list to start Wednesday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Schultz will make his return to Chicago's starting rotation after missing over a month with right-knee patellar tendinitis. The White Sox's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, made three minor-league rehab starts and shouldn't face any pitch-count limitations on Wednesday against an Orioles team that has the third-most strikeouts in baseball. Schultz was inconsistent in his first eight major-league starts covering 38 2/3 innings before his knee injury, going 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA (4.76 FIP), 1.34 WHIP, and 33:22 K:BB. The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder's bread and butter is a nasty slider that can dominate both lefties and righties, and he complements it with a mid-90s heater. The hulking left-hander has plenty of upside, but he's still a work in progress at the big-league level, and he'll need to lower his 13.1% walk rate to find more success. In deeper leagues, Schultz is worth stashing for his upside.

Jul 1

Kyle Teel • C • White Sox

Kyle Teel Remains a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Depsite Early Struggles

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel had the start of his 2026 season delayed by knee and hamstring injuries that held him out until June 22. Across 30 plate appearances since returning, Teel is hitting .231/.333/.346 with one home run, six RBI, and four runs scored. The 24-year-old has struggled to find his timing at the plate, striking out in 40% of his plate appearances. However, Teel was impressive after making his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .273 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, 38 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 297 plate appearances. Teel also dominated Triple-A pitching in his rehab appearances before returning this season, logging a 1.054 OPS across 34 trips to the plate. Once Teel finds his rhythm, he could provide top-12 catcher production for fantasy managers in the second half of 2026.

Jun 30

Grant Taylor • RP • White Sox

Grant Taylor Picks Up Fourth Win on Monday, Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?

Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor recorded his fourth win of the season on Monday, throwing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his team's 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Taylor has been one of MLB's best high-leverage arms so far in 2026, recording a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 62 strikeouts, and two saves across 43 1/3 innings (32 games). The 24-year-old is averaging 98.3 miles per hour on his fastball and owns an elite 28.2% K-BB rate. The White Sox have gotten serviceable production from veteran Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth inning so far this season and may not want to move Taylor out of his current fireman role. Still, Taylor may have value in deeper fantasy leagues as a multi-inning reliever who provides elite ratios, an elite strikeout rate, and solid win potential while picking up the occasional save.

Jun 30

Chase Meidroth • 2B • White Sox

Chase Meidroth Heating Up, Becoming Infield Waiver Target?

Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is quietly hitting .276 (83-for-301) in his second year in the major leagues for a resurgent White Sox club in 2026. Meidroth hit .253/.329/.320 with only five home runs, 23 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 54 runs scored in 122 games (505 plate appearances) in 2025 in his rookie season. He's only stolen two bases in his 80 games so far in 2026, but the 24-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2022 out of the University of San Diego already has a career-high six homers in 339 plate appearances. In 23 games and 97 plate appearances in June, Meidroth has gone 26-for-89 (.292) with a homer, three doubles, nine RBI, and 11 runs scored. The problem with adding Meidroth off the waiver is that he currently has an elevated 24.8% strikeout rate (up from 14.3% last year), and his walk rate is nearly identical to what it was last year at 8.6%. His xBA of .227 and xwOBA of .282 point to serious regression since he's not making nearly as much contact as he did in 2025. Meidroth might be in play as a short-term middle-infield boost while he's hot, but his underlying metrics say that it's not going to last. He's rostered in only 30% of Yahoo leagues.

Jun 29

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