White Sox: Who Will Be Future Closer on South Side?
White Sox don’t have a definitive closer for 2018 and beyond. Who will step up and become closer in the future for the South Siders?
One thing that has not changed on the South Side of Chicago in recent years is the inconsistency of the bullpen. White Sox fans have seen varieties of the bullpen in the last six to seven years. Not to mention the last bonafide closer was a member of the 2005 World Series team, and he went by the name of Bobby Jenks.
Of the many questions that come upon the minds of White Sox fans during this all-out rebuild is one that every potential World Series team must have answered. “Who is the closer?” Or, a more appropriate question in the case of the White Sox would be, “Who will be the closer?”
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With many options currently residing on both the major league roster and in the farm system, management has a good selection to pick from. They all differ greatly, as well. Some of them are 30-plus years old. A few just heard their name called in the draft within the last three years or so. Some are not products of the White Sox farm system. In fact, a truly potential option was just acquired within these past couples of weeks.
The White Sox are destined to be a great team within the coming years. If that’s going to happen, they need a reliable go-to guy at the back end of the bullpen. So let’s say the decision is in our hands. The following information that will be provided on each pitcher is what we have to go off of. If the decision were up to you, who would be pitching in the ninth inning for the White Sox?
Nate Jones
The hard-throwing, Kentucky born right-hander would be the most logical answer if not for a history of injuries. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall with a fastball in the triple digits, Jones is a very effective reliever. His unorthodox delivery has yet to be truly figured out by major league hitters. In six seasons, all with the White Sox, Jones has a career ERA of 3.12.
Because of his experience and prior success, Jones should be a unanimous decision for being the closer. However, due to a Tommy John surgery that he had in 2014 along with nerve surgery in 2017, both on his right elbow, Jones has thrown a total of 101 1/3 innings since 2015. On average, that is about 34 innings per season.
Despite the injuries, Jones posted ERA’s of 3.32, 2.29, and 2.31. Very efficient, yes, but inconsistent given that he has only contributed 34 innings per season. He is spending the 2017 offseason rehabbing his surgically repaired nerve, and an ideal scenario would be that he starts 2018 as the closer and goes on to have success and therefore hold onto the role
despite the up and coming future bullpen pitchers.
Gregory Infante
Infante is probably one of the lesser-known names in this list of potential closers. Although he was one of the most effective arms out of the bullpen in 2017, his success will go quietly given that the White Sox finished at the bottom of the AL Central. Though he has a little over a year of service time, Infante is 30-years-old. He had 12 stints with various teams in the minors, and 2017 was his coming out year as he posted a 3.13 ERA and a K/9 of 8.1 in 54.2 innings with the White Sox.
With the exception of Burdi, Infante has the least experience on the list. In fact, if the argument of Infante for closer were to be made a year ago on this day, the majority of people wouldn’t have known who he was. He did what he could to change that this past season, putting up good numbers with the Sox. He has experience as a closer, posting 57 saves in his minor league career.
Infante is worth a shot as he is seasoned and has been pitching professionally since 2006. It is not far-fetched to say he can start 2018 as the closer, given he is one of the few reliable arms available at the beginning of the season. If Infante can continue to perform efficiently, his chances at the closer role are as good as anyone’s.
Next: White Sox Sign Catcher Welington Castillo
With a bullpen that holds an uncertain future, all options must be surveyed. The White Sox have multiple applicable options to hold their closer’s role once they hit the full throttle stage of the rebuild. It is a matter of performance. With a race so tight, the only way to stick out is simply by performing.