3 other players who have surprised for the Chicago White Sox this season
The Chicago White Sox are playing much better baseball after starting the season 3-22. The team is 11-8 over their past 19 games and on track toward not being historically bad.
This will still not go well, but the Sox might just be fun bad, or just run of the mill not good.
White Sox win, 2-0. Finish 5-2 on this homestand, playing good baseball across the board. Improve to 14-30. Crochet wins his third straight start. They are 11-8 in their last 19
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) May 15, 2024
The Sox have gotten to this point thanks in part to three players who have surprised so far this season...
Korey Lee
The catcher did not look like a professional baseball player during his brief appearance with the team last season. His slash line was .077/.143/.138. Lee had a -27 wRC+ in 24 games last season.
This year he is shining with a .309/.341/.494 slash line and wRC+ of 138. Lee was not supposed to even make the team out of spring training. The only reason he cracked the roster on Opening Day was because Max Stassi got hurt.
Now he should be the team's everyday starting catcher.
Martin Maldonado has been an automatic out with a .101/.162/.159 slash line and a wRC+ of -8 with a -1.1 fWAR. Maldonado was brought in to improve the position defensively, but Lee has been better at practically every defensive metric than Maldonado.
The only thing Maldonado does well is know when to go for a mound visit. Lee can do that and even Chuckie Robinson can do that too. Why Maldonado has not been designated for assignment is beyond logic.
Lee has been productive at the bottom of the order, especially over the past seven days with a .467/.467/.667 slash line.
Erick Fedde
Fedde was so bad for the Washington Nationals that he had to go to Korea to reclaim his career. He was supposed to be an inning-eater on the cheap. Now he is the rotation's stopper.
He has a 2.60 ERA, 3.86 FIP, and a 0.9 fWAR this season. Opponents are hitting .203 over his past three starts. The White Sox have won five of his last six starts.
Fedde is signed through next season on a team-friendly deal. With his outstanding production and being under team control, he will be very attractive on the trade market.
Erick Fedde has been an excellent find and signing by GM Chris Getz. With a 2-yr deal, he’s an extremely attractive trade candidate for every contending team.
— Ryan McGuffey (@RyanMcGuffey) May 15, 2024
Ranks Top 10 in AL in wins, ERA & IP.
A key at top of #WhiteSox rotation, but a piece that could get a return too.
For a guy who had a high risk of not pitching well again in the majors, he is setting up to bring a solid return for the White Sox once they hopefully trade him. Although, it would be a good idea to maximize his return by pairing him up with Chris Flexen or Michael Kopech to get a return much like the organization got from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly.
Garrett Crochet
Crochet pitched 73 innings before being converted to a starter this season. He went from bullpen arm and pitcher who missed the 2022 season after Tommy John surgery. He also had last started a game in college.
He was amazing in his first three starts, struggled in the next three, and then returned to being the stud pitcher we saw at the beginning of the season.
Crochet is off to the best start of a first-year starting pitching since Chris Sale.
Garrett Crochet now has 70 strikeouts this season, the most in a pitcher’s first 10 career starts in White Sox history
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 15, 2024
prior record: 2012 Chris Sale, 68
Crochet keeps pitching like an ace and is under team control until 2027. He has pitched so well that the Sox should probably consider giving him an extension to buyout his arbitration years.
He has given up just one earned run this month and no runs over his past three starts. Expect Crochet to be treated with kid gloves during the season as he eases into being a full-time starter. The Sox do not want to ruin something this valuable.
feed