New Faces on the 2022 White Sox
At the end of last year, I put together some CliffsNotes for you as we headed into the playoffs. And to start this year, I’m doing the same with the new faces on the Chicago White Sox.
Position Players
AJ Pollock
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Pollock was traded to the Sox from the Dodgers for Craig Kimbrel.
What should you expect?
Pollock is a solid defensive outfielder and is still probably capable for playing CF if needed. Though he will primarily play RF for the Sox. He hits well against both right and left handed pitching. The biggest concern with Pollock is his ability to stay healthy and play day in and day out.
More on Pollock
Josh Harrison
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Harrison signed a 1 year contract with the Sox with a team option for 2023. He’s previously played for the A’s, Nats, Tigers, and Pirates in his 11 year career.
What should you expect?
Harrison is a defensive upgrade at 2B. He’s also a low strikeout, high contact hitter. He doesn’t hit for power, but his line drives do produce enough doubles (33 last year) to make him a threat.
Reese McGuire
How’d he get to the White Sox?
McGuire was recently traded to the Sox from the Blue Jays for Zack Collins
What should you expect?
Backup catcher. Solid defensively, which is a major upgrade for the Sox. Left handed bat, but it does not produce much. Look for the gains here to be mainly on the defensive side.
More on McGuire
Johnny Cueto
How’d he get to the White Sox?
White Sox signed him to a minor league deal with a $4.2M possible major league contract shortly after Lance Lynn went down.
What should you expect?
He’s had a great career, but he’s definitely on the downside of it. That said, once he’s ramped up in a few weeks, I’d expect him to make some starts at the end of the rotation and be just fine. His varying deliveries are something else, if you have not seen it:
Don’t expect the world from Cueto, but he is still a good pitcher.
Vince Velasquez
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Velasquez signed a 1 year, $3M deal with the Sox this off-season.
What should you expect?
Velasquez has been, for the lack of a better term, bad. However, he was a highly touted prospect and his abundance of pitches could be something that Ethan Katz slims down and turns him into a productive starting/relief pitcher for the Sox.
More on Velasquez
I got a chance to ask Vinnie Duber about him on the CHGO podcast:
Kendall Graveman
How’d he get to the White Sox?
The White Sox signed him to a 3 year $24M contract way way back before the Lockout began. Graveman started last year on the Mariners where he racked up 10 saves before being traded to the Astros.
What should you expect?
Graveman is a starter turned reliever who has ratcheted up his fastball a few MPH. However, he’s not a big strikeout guy. Expect him to throw a good amount of groundballs. The Sox expect him to play a big role in the bullpen, hence the contract.
More on Graveman
Joe Kelly
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Joe signed a 2 year $17M contract with the Sox this off-season that includes an option for 2024. He most recently pitched for the Dodgers, including the 2020 World Series.
What should you expect?
Kelly is a very solid reliever, just good across the board. Nice strikeout rate, good walk rate, when he does get hit it’s a lot of groundballs. He is not going to give the Sox a lot of innings and he is starting the season on the Injured List. If the name sounds familiar, you probably remember him from his exchange with Carlos Correa.
Kyle Crick
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Former 1st round pick for the Giants in 2011, was a non-roster invitee for the Sox for this year’s spring training.
What should you expect?
Crick will likely have a minor role in the bullpen. It’s unclear how he’ll be used, but with the exception of 2021, he has been able to strike batters out at a pretty nice clip. He looked great in Spring Training, but we’ll have to wait and see how that translates to the Regular Season.
Bennett Sousa
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Drafted by the White Sox in 2018
What should you expect?
Bennett will be the left handed reliever in the pen that is not named Aaron Bummer. So expect to see him used to put out lefty batters, especially if there are a few in a row or if there is a lefty up with 2 outs.
Tanner Banks
How’d he get to the White Sox?
Drafted by the White Sox in the 18th round in 2014.
What should you expect?
I have no idea what you should expect, but it’s pretty awesome that a guy who was an 18th round pick 8 years ago has gutted it out and made the big league roster for a World Series contender.
Happy Opening Day everyone!!!
-Chorizy-E
About The Author
chorizy
Section 108 Row 13, Bassist for Barren Plains, Acclaimed drunkard