We are just a week away from Opening Day and the Chicago White Sox will have a chip on their shoulder throughout the 2023 major league season.
Lucas Giolito will be one of the key guys pitching-wise that will need to provide efficient innings if the White Sox want to take back the AL Central.
Giolito is coming off of one of the worst years of his career and he is aware that he needs to improve in 2023 so that he can get back to where he was in previous years.
This is a contract year for him and whether he resigns with the White Sox or tests free agency after this upcoming season, the contact he receives will be based on what he provides on the hill this year.
The Chicago White Sox need a lot from Lucas Giolito going forward.
Lucas's most recent start against the Milwaukee Brewers was filled with an abundance of significant pitches. Giolito looked like himself for the most part and if you're a White Sox fan, you have to start believing in him again.
Six strikeouts, two walks, one hit allowed -- the Brosseau homer with a man on -- for Lucas Giolito in 4 1/3 innings.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 21, 2023
Lucas had the changeup going today pic.twitter.com/2gmNKVnVrz
— Southside Showdown (@SoxShowdown) March 21, 2023
When Giolito has the change-up working consistently, he solidifies himself as a massive part of the White Sox rotation. It makes him a valuable piece to the 2023 roster if he continues to throw the way he has during spring training.
Giolito spoke to the press about his start:
Lucas Giolito pic.twitter.com/IoVzGu1mn7
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 21, 2023
Giolito: "Making good pitches and throwing good sequences with all my stuff. I feel like that's when I'm at my best. I'm not really concerned with velocity anymore, to be honest. I like the way I'm throwing."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 21, 2023
Although his performance was enough to give the White Sox the win, Giolito still believes he's got more in the tank to show in 2023. He was frustrated about the two-run-homer he gave up and it was evident when he spoke to the media.
He also feels that he could have been more consistent location-wise but he believes he will get there shortly alongside his former high school coach and now White Sox pitching coach, Ethan Katz.
Lucas Giolito also talked about the new manager in town, Pedro Grifol, and he is enjoying the new approach to the game.
Pedro Grifol said Lucas Giolito had 14 swings and misses during his 4 1/3 innings of two-run, one-hit (home run) ball with six strikeouts vs. Brewers yesterday.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 22, 2023
"That was a great day for him," Grifol said.
Giolito: "I feel like keeping it present has been a much better mindset for me to take on. Obviously Pedro has been preaching it. I bought in. I feel like we all bought in and we’ve had a very productive camp."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) March 21, 2023
Lucas Giolito relies on the swing and miss, which will continue throughout the 2023 season. If Lucas gets 14 swings and misses per four innings of work, he will have a successful year and a significantly hefty paycheck waiting for him in the off-season.
The White Sox are buying into Grifol's culture and for Lucas Giolito, it has been effective thus far. Overall, the White Sox have had a lot of great things to take away from camp. Hopefully, their mojo will travel with them throughout the 2023 season.