From: Michael Reaves (Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox have not been above .500 since 2021. Two years ago, they were made infamous for the worst record in MLB history. After three painstaking years as the laughing stock of the AL Central, South Siders can be excited about competitive baseball returning to Rate Field.
2025 was a step in the right direction after a disastrous 2024. A nineteen-win improvement saw the White Sox finish 60-102. Another 100-loss season, but the team flashed more reasons to be excited about the future of the organization. Young hitters like Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and Kyle Teel all showed promise. 25-year-old Shane Smith pitched to a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts. Other young arms like Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon had spurts of good baseball, but were largely volatile. The bullpen was shaky to say the least, but Mike Vasil turned in a 2.50 ERA in 101 innings. Following the 2025 season, GM Chris Getz made several moves that I believe can turn the White Sox into a 70-win ballclub.
Pitching Staff
The starting rotation is certainly the weak point of the 2026 White Sox. No rebuilding team is ever complete. Veterans like Eric Fedde and Anthony Kay should provide some stability compared to the young arms that will join them. Shane Smith flashed real potential in 2025 and will look to build on a solid rookie campaign. After a short stint in 2024 before undergoing season-ending surgery, Drew Thorpe looks to regain the momentum that propelled him to the major leagues. Thorpe was volatile in 9 starts, but when he was on, he dominated lineups for 6+ innings. I like the young righty to bounce back in 2026. Sean Burke pitched to a 4.22 ERA in 22 starts. Davis Martin rounds out the likely rotation on opening day. The White Sox have a couple arms in the minor leagues that could debut this year as well. Just Baseball's 58th-ranked prospect, Noah Schultz, should get at least a cup of coffee this year in Chicago. Hagen Smith could also get a chance at making a difference, depending on his performance in early 2026.
Bullpen
While who starts games may have question marks, I really like the additions made to an average 2025 bullpen. Seranthony Dominguez and Jordan Hicks join a bullpen that ranked 18th in ERA this past year. Both veterans add some fuel to a bullpen that did not have many flamethrowers in 2025. Dominguez turned in a decent 2025 campaign, pitching to a 3.16 ERA. The advanced metrics liked his 2025, ranking in the 93rd percentile for Expected Batting Average, and the 94th percentile for whiff percentage. After a disappointing 2025, Jordan Hicks will look to regain his form in a new clubhouse. Hicks still threw hard and excelled at getting ground balls, but struggled to strike batters out. These two arms should make the White Sox bullpen average in 2026, which I think is more than enough to provide for an offense that could make some waves.
From: Geoff Stellfox (Getty Images)
Lineup
The 2025 White Sox posted a team WRC+ of 88. If you are unfamiliar with WRC+, 100 is league average, meaning Chicago was 12 points lower than the league average. The lineup was largely comprised of young players getting their feet wet in the league. Miguel Vargas played the best baseball of his career in 2025 and should build upon that season as the everyday third baseman. The Sox boast an elite platoon of catchers if they choose to do it. Kyle Teel posted an .836 OPS against righties while Edgar Quero posted an .851 OPS against lefties. Both struggle with same-handed matchups, so I think Will Venable will largely platoon the two young backstops. On top of the young guns progressing, they signed the top Japanese free agent on the market, Munetaka Murakami. Murakami posted elite power numbers and holds the single-season home run record in the NPB. He will immediately slot in as the starting first baseman, and his power will provide enough value if his strikeout problems persist. Other bats like Austin Hays, Andrew Benintendi, and Chase Meidroth should round out the rest of the lineup.
From: MLB
The names listed look like they would be a middling to below-average offense. I wouldn't argue against that. I did leave someone out, though, one of my favorite breakout candidates for 2026. At 23 years old, Colson Montgomery ranked 6th in WRC+ (129) among shortstops with a minimum of 250 Plate Appearances. In his rookie year, he was 29 percent better than the league average hitter. In just 71 games, he tied for 8th among shortstops with 21 home runs. Montgomery possesses elite-level bat speed and has an innate ability to barrel baseballs. The young shortstop from southern Indiana was the team's best hitter once he was called up. I strongly believe Colson Montgomery can launch this lineup into a Top-15 offense in baseball.
Conclusion
The 2026 White Sox are still a rebuilding team. They have the longest odds to win the AL Central by a long shot. The team will not be competing for a Wild Card spot this season, but I do expect another substantial jump in wins. An interesting pitching staff with a decent bullpen should be enough to buoy a young lineup's ups and downs. The Sox will still struggle against the upper echelon of teams, but they can steal a series against anyone not named the Dodgers or Mariners. I will be tuned into the South Side for exciting baseball in 2026. Make sure you are too.