Mariners Game #119 Preview and Discussion, 8/9/26: SEA vs. TBR

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 08, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

So the Mariners’ 50th anniversary celebratory weekend hasn’t gone as planned on the field. Are any of that that surprised? Thankfully, both the alumni home run derby on Friday and the pregame ceremony last night reminded us that yes, there can still be joy in baseball. The M’s will look to salvage the series against the Rays this afternoon in their last home game for a bit before starting the long-dreaded mid-August road trip of facing the Yankees, Astros, and Brewers.

Lineups:

The Rays have not yet put out a fancy lineup graphic, so an MLB dot com screenshot for them it is. Lefty Ian Seymour will get the start for them today, which means we’re treated to Weston Wilson manning the hot corner and hitting eighth as Brendan Donovan continues to work back to full strength after coming off the IL last week. Despite it being a day game after a night game, Cal Raleigh is once again behind the plate to catch Emerson Hancock while hitting seventh. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged, and hey, maybe ten total bases last night was just what Josh Naylor needed to catch a spark down the stretch.

Game Info:

First Pitch: 1:10pm PDT

TV: Mariners TV

Radio: Old Reliable

D-backs vs. Dodgers Discussion

TEMPE, AZ. - MAY 16, 2022. Boaters navigate Tempe Town Lake, an artificial lake that contains Colorado River water conveyed through the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct. The lake is a popular place for waterside recreational activities. It holds about 977 million gallons of water and loses about 1.7 million gallons a day to evaporation in the hot and dry climate. Growth in the greater Phoenix area is fast outpacing the supply of water. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Today’s Lineups

DODGERSDIAMONDBACKS
Shohei Ohtani – DHGeraldo Perdomo – SS
Andy Pages – CFCorbin Carroll – RF
Freddie Freeman – 1BGabriel Moreno – C
Tommy Edman – 2BKetel Marte – DH
Mookie Betts – SSNolan Arenado – 3B
Kyle Tucker – RFIldemaro Vargas – 2B
Teoscar Hernandez – LFTim Tawa – CF
Enrique Hernandez – 3BTyler Locklear – 1B
Ben Rortvedt – CRyan Waldschmidt – LF
Justin Wrobleski – LHPE. Rodriguez – LHP

We came into this weekend with the season series tied 5-5. The first two contests have been split, each being won by the narrowest of margins, and could have gone either way. And, so, we reach Sunday for the rubber game, both in this set and of the entire 2026 campaign. The good news is, if we see the Dodgers again this year, it’s going to be in the playoffs. I’m fine with that. Eduardo Rodriguez had a rough outing last time out, against the Padres, allowing 11 hits over five innings. However, he was victimized by a .440 BABIP, and it’s hard to blame him for that kind of thing. His FIP actually dropped in that start. Here’s to better this afternoon.

I’m kinda amused that, after last night, the number of “Why is Torey bunting?” complaints this year is probably about the same as the number of “Why isn’t Torey bunting?” complaints this year. Yes, bunting a runner from second to third is normally a waste of an out, now we don’t have to worry about pitchers coming to the plate. But it does increase your odds of scoring something – albeit at a decline in the chances of a big inning. When you’re down by one and must score or the game is over, it makes sense to maximize those odds. Now, Tawa failed to execute on his two attempts. But if it had worked, the tying run might well have scored on McCann’s infield single.

All told, this year there have been 39 actual sacrifice bunt attempts by Arizona (as classified by BR, which is only ones resulting in a ball in play, so Tawa’s last night would not count). Those have resulted in 27 successes, eight hits and four failures (where the lead runner was out). All told, they have contributed +50% to Win Probability, so you’d be hard pushed to call it a failed tactic. I’ve a feeling we all suffer from confirmation bias in this area, with people remembering the times their preferred tactic was not followed by Torey Lovullo, and in particular the occasions when things didn’t work out.

CorbinCarrollEnthusiast on the guest recap this afternoon. I believe he is unbeaten in that role this season, so I hope the streak continues!

8/9 Gamethread: Giants vs. Tigers

Logan Webb reaching back to throw a pitch.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 03: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Monday, August 3, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It’s rubber match time. The San Francisco Giants won on Friday, and the Detroit Tigers won on Saturday. Now we find out who wins the series!

Righty Logan Webb takes the mound for the Giants, and makes his 21st start. The three-time All-Star is 7-7 on the year, with a 3.74 ERA, a 3.30 FIP, and 101 strikeouts to 31 walks in 125 innings. He’s coming off an excellent start in which he struck out eight Texas Rangers batters over six shutout innings.

For the Tigers, it’s right-hander Troy Melton, a 25-year old in his second season. Melton has been excellent in 12 starts, posting a 7-1 record with a 1.58 ERA, a 3.78 FIP, and 64 strikeouts to 23 walks in 74 innings. He’s pitched seven scoreless innings in each of his last two starts.

Enjoy the game, everyone!

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Game #118

Who: San Francisco Giants (49-68) vs. Detroit Tigers (57-60)

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California

When: 1:05 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Why Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected from Sunday's game

Chris Sale slept on it. It obviously did not help.

The Braves left-hander got ejected before the first pitch Sunday, Aug. 9, which takes some doing when he's not even playing in the game. Sale just could not resist when umpire Dan Merzel and the rest of the crew walked by the visitor's dugout at Yankee Stadium.

Sale started barking at Merzel as the umpires came out onto the field for Sunday's series finale. Mezel didn't waste much time, ejecting the Cy Young Award winner quickly. Before exiting the dugout, however, Sale had a few more words for crew chief Dan Bellino.

Clearly, Sale had not finished his argument from pitching on Saturday night.

In the fifth inning, Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones had just tripled home the tying run. Sale started his first pitch to Austin Wells and Merzel called him for a balk over a slight hitch in his right leg. It was the third balk of Sale's 16-year career. Jones jogged home. Sale and Walt Weiss argued it for several minutes before Weiss got run with the Yankees up 3-2. It was the first ejection of his managerial career.

Sale is what the league calls a hybrid pitcher, meaning he works from both the windup and the stretch and you can't tell which by looking at his feet. So he has to say which one is coming out loud to the umpire.

Bellino reiterated that rule after the game and pointed out that Sale had announced it before he struck out Jose Caballero. He did not before pitching to Wells.

Sale, 37, gave up three runs on five hits in six innings Saturday and took his first loss since June 28. He's 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA in 21 starts. Sunday was his fourth career ejection and his first in almost seven years. The last one came Aug.3, 2019, when Mike Estabrook ran him for arguing balls and strikes in a 9-2 Boston loss - also at Yankee Stadium.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected from Sunday's game

Ortiz hits 2nd career homer, Dion leads strong bullpen outing as Nationals beat Reds 7-1

WASHINGTON (AP) — Abimelec Ortiz hit his second career home run, Will Dion led a bullpen outing that allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings and the Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 on Sunday to sweep the series.

Dion (1-0), who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Guardians, earned his first win of the year after retiring the first nine batters he faced. He allowed one hit in three innings. Trevor Williams tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and maintained his 0.00 ERA since returning from elbow surgery on July 29.

Brad Lord surrendered the only run during his start, and Jake Bird worked a hitless ninth.

Jacob Young and Andrés Chaparro each drove in two runs for the Nationals, who have won four of their last five games.

The 24-year-old Ortiz opened the third inning with an opposite-field fly ball off Reds pitcher Brady Singer (5-11) that put the Nationals up 3-1. Chaparro capped the scoring with a two-run double.

Keibert Ruiz’s single in the second inning tied the game at 1, before Young gave Washington the lead for good with a sacrifice fly. Daylen Lile added a single to right field that plated CJ Abrams in the seventh.

Singer gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings.

Dane Myers hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning that gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead, but that was it and the Reds were outscored 20-6 in the series.

Up next

Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60 ERA) starts game one against the White Sox on Tuesday.

Nationals: Yet to announce a starter for a series opener with the Cubs on Tuesday.

Dodgers on Deck: Monday, August 10 vs. Royals

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: Tarik Skubal of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the dugout against the Boston Red Sox during the eigth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 02, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a dreadful road trip the Dodgers return home for seven games at Dodger Stadium. First up are the Kansas City Royals, beginning Monday night in Los Angeles.

Tarik Skubal makes his first Dodger Stadium start since joining the Dodgers, after allowing two runs in six innings last Tuesday in a tough-luck loss at Wrigley Field in his debut with the team.

Left-hander Noah Cameron starts for the Royals in the opener.

Monday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Royals
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Start time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Braves ace Chris Sale ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before start of game against Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale was ejected by umpire Dan Merzel before a pitch was thrown in Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees, a day after being called for a balk that scored a run.

As umpires took the field and walked by the Braves’ dugout on the third base side, Sale began barking. Merzel tossed him and Sale said something to crew chief Dan Bellino as the two talked near the dugout rail.

Sale was called for his third career balk by Merzel during the fifth inning of Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Rookie Spencer Jones scored on the balk after getting an RBI triple and Sale began fiercely yelling at Merzel before manager Walt Weiss continued the argument and was ejected.

Bellino told a pool reporter afterward that Sale was called for the balk because he did not declare he was going to pitch from the windup. Bellino said Sale declared he was pitching from the windup when he struck out José Caballero but did not do so ahead of the at-bat to Austin Wells.

It was Sale’s fourth career ejection. It was his first since Aug. 3, 2019, when he pitched for Boston and was tossed by Mike Estabrook for arguing balls and strikes during the fourth inning of a 9-2 loss at Yankee Stadium.

Sale allowed three runs and five hits in six innings Saturday for his first loss since June 28. In his third season with the Braves, the veteran left-hander is 12-7 with a 2.20 ERA in 21 starts.

Orioles vs. Rangers game discussion

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 04: Cade Povich #37 pf the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 04, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Orioles can pretty much either win today to avoid a sweep by the Rangers or else they can give up on even pretending that they might have a chance at a wild card spot. The offense has scored 11 runs in seven games so far in August. These two things are connected.

Orioles lineup

  1. Gunnar Henderson – SS
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Jackson Holliday – 2B
  4. Tyler O’Neill – DH
  5. Dylan Beavers – LF
  6. Leody Taveras – RF
  7. Coby Mayo – 3B
  8. Colton Cowser – CF
  9. Carlos Narváez – C

Cade Povich will have the challenge of facing a tougher lineup than the Angels in this start. We’ll see how he responds.

Rangers lineup

  1. Wyatt Langford – LF
  2. Corey Seager – DH
  3. Ezequiel Duran – SS
  4. Brandon Nimmo – RF
  5. Jake Burger – 1B
  6. Justin Foscue – 2B
  7. Elias Díaz – C
  8. Jonah Bride – 3B
  9. Cam Cauley – CF

Kumar Rocker makes the start for Texas.

Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (73-44) vs. Minnesota Twins (58-60)

The Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins are back at it for their series finale. It’ll be the rubber match as the two teams have split the first two games so far.

The Brewers made some roster moves prior to this game, however, due to injuries. Last night, Joey Ortiz left early with neck tightness, so there were concerns as to whether or not he’d need an IL stint. Pat Murphy said Ortiz was day-to-day with his injury, but also shared with the media pregame that Cooper Pratt was dealing with a hamstring issue and was getting an MRI.

A little while later, about 40 minutes before first pitch, the Brewers officially placed Pratt on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. To take his place, the Brewers selected infielder Ji-Hwan Bae to the active roster after signing him to a minor league deal this morning. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Brewers designated lefty Drew Rom for assignment.

It’s a tough break for the Brewers infield, now losing both of their top shortstop options to injury. Ortiz is still on the active roster and has not been placed on the IL yet, but there’s still concern for his availability. With this being a day game after the injuries were suffered last night, it may have been difficult to arrange travel in time for someone already in the system. It’s likely Bae was one of the first available players the Brewers found that could get to Milwaukee in time for the game today.

With no Pratt and no Ortiz, that leaves the Brewers thin on the left side of the infield, which is why Andrew Vaughn is starting at third base for today’s game. He’s played there in some late-game emergency situations before, but this is the first start Vaughn has had there with the Brewers and just the second time he’s started at third base in his career. The lone other time came in 2021 with the White Sox when he was a rookie.

The lineup is not only missing Ortiz and Pratt, but there’s also no Garrett Mitchell and no Christian Yelich in the order either. The two left-handed hitters get the day off against the left-handed Connor Prielipp of the Twins.

Prielipp, the pride of Tomah, WI, has a 4.75 ERA on the season with a 3-5 record. He’ll be dueling against the Brewers ace, Jacob Misiorowski.

Misiorowski is 11-5 with a 1.63 ERA on the year and is five strikeouts shy of 200 on the season. He’ll have Gary Sánchez behind the dish for him today, which has only happened a small handful of times this year.

GUARDIANS AT WHITE SOX: Cantillo vs. Martin, discussion

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 04: Joey Cantillo #54 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Mets at Progressive Field on August 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here’s the Guardians lineup:

Here’s the White Sox lineup:

This is it. The most important game of the season so far. Let’s go, Guardians!

Game Thread: Guardians (58-60) at White Sox (60-56)

Have Davis Martin’s purported pitch-tipping issues been resolved? | Getty Images

Like untold numbers of White Sox fans born roughly between 1920 and 2000, my baseball vocabulary is dominated by Hawk Harrelson’s one-of-a-kind (for better and worse) idiomatic way with words.

Though it’s not quite as prominent in the Sox fan lexicon as a “grab some bench!” or “sit back, relax, and strap it down,” one Hawkism that’s always stuck in my brain is the idea that, to paraphrase, just about every team wins 60 games and loses 60 games. It’s what you do with the other 42 that really matter. For the first time in a hot second, the South Siders made it to the good part of that equation while they still have time to make the other 42 really mean something.

Let’s say the Sox play roughly .535 baseball the rest of the way — a solid midway point between their .556 mark since mid-April and the .500 ball they’ve played since mid-June. That has them finishing out the season around 24-22 or 25-21, good for about 85 wins. If they can hold serve there, one of the trio of Cleveland, Minnesota, and Detroit would have to finish off their season no worse than 27-17 to have a shot at catching them at the top of the division.

Detroit seems unlikely to make such a run, given that they just gave away a combined 180+ innings of 2.75 ERA pitching. Minnesota’s best hitter is out with no timetable for return, and they just placed their ace on the injured list. If the Sox can take care of business today at home versus Cleveland, it simply seems unlikely that the Guardians have the talent to play at nearly a .650 win percentage for longer than a month.

When it comes to Cleveland, those may be famous last words. Nonetheless, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Much of it will depend on Davis Martin, who takes the ball in perhaps the most critical rubber match of the year. The unquestionable question of the day, then, is whether Martin has successfully resolved his apparent pitch-tipping issues and can thereby regain at least some of his first half form.

In other lineup notes, Chase Meidroth is expected to miss a day or two with what the team described as “left wrist discomfort,” something the Fox broadcasters in last night’s game noticed and discussed, as Chase was visibly wincing on swings.

Randal Grichuk gets the outfield start against lefty Joey Cantillo, with Sam Antonacci sliding to the keystone to make room for Meidroth. The seriousness of Meidroth’s injury might be ascertained by whether he feels well enough to sub in if Grichuk winds up in a key unfavorable matchup against a righty.

With Grant Taylor, Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb, and Bryan Hudson all having pitched yesterday, it seems exceedingly likely that today we’ll experience the debut of one — if not both — of Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal. I look forward to seeing whether we may look forward to an infusion of bullpen help down the stretch.

Back-to-back reigning Manager of the Year Steven Vogt is sending out what’s undoubtedly his best lineup as he tries to stop the Guardians from falling four games behind the Sox — and potentially behind the Twins and Tigers in the division.

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT from Rate Field in Armour Square, with standard broadcasts on CHSN (TV) and ESPN 1000 AM (radio). We’ll see you there!

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

St. Louis Cardinals vs Colorado Rockies Game Discussion Sunday

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 7: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium on June 7, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Le/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday as Michael McGreevy gets the ball for the good guys while the mountain people will start RHP Michael Lorensen. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm at Busch Stadium and the TV broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.

  1. JJ Wetherholt (L) 2B
  2. Iván Herrera (R) DH
  3. Alec Burleson (L) 1B
  4. Jordan Walker (R) RF
  5. Jimmy Crooks (L) C
  6. Masyn Winn (R) SS
  7. Nathan Church (L) CF
  8. José Fermín (R) 3B
  9. Bryan Torres (L) LF

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Royals vs. Cubs Sunday game discussion

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 08: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, August 8, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Royals and Cubs have their rubber match on Sunday afternoon. Jac Caglianone got it going last night with a two-homer game.

Randy Dobnak tries to keep his hot start going. Bobby Witt Jr. gets a half day off, in the DH spot today.

The Cubs go with Matthew Boyd on the mound. I got to be in Chicago for his last start – we had just sat down and he had already given up three runs to the Dodgers. Maybe the Royals can do the same?

Game time is at 1:10 CT on Royals.TV.

Game 118 Game Day Thread – Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers

Aug 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) and first baseman Jake Burger (21) look from the dugout during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers

Sunday, August 09, 2026, 1:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

LHP Cade Povich vs. RHP Kumar Rocker

Today’s Lineups

ORIOLESRANGERS
Gunnar Henderson – SSWyatt Langford – LF
Pete Alonso – 1BCorey Seager – DH
Jackson Holliday – 2BEzequiel Duran – SS
Tyler O’Neill – DHBrandon Nimmo – RF
Dylan Beavers – LFJake Burger – 1B
Leody Taveras – RFJustin Foscue – 2B
Coby Mayo – 3BElias Diaz – C
Colton Cowser – CFJonah Bride – 3B
Carlos Narvaez – CCam Cauley – CF
Cade Povich – LHPKumar Rocker – RHP

Go Rangers!

With a new draft class coming in, White Sox trim 24 from the system

BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 01: Jared Kelley #17 of the Birmingham Barons poses for a photo during the Birmingham Barons photo day at Regions Field on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Birmingham, Alabama.
With a new draft class pouring into the system, onetime second-round steal Jared Kelley highlights a long list of White Sox cuts. | (Photo by Ethan Lowe/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Beginning at the turn of the month, as 24 new White Sox (20 draft picks and four UDFAs) assumed their places in the White Sox organization, there was the usual downside of players cut to make room. Not coincidentally, there were 24 cuts made to affiliate rosters:

Triple-A Charlotte Knights cuts
2B Darren Baker
Most notable for being Dusty Baker’s son and the baby batboy who almost got run over on the field, at age 27 Baker is near the end of his professional time, which means his MLB .500 career average (7-for-14) will be something he can carry with him forever. He was signed to the White Sox organization before the 2026 season and sat out all but 13 games of it with injuries.

RHRP Chase Plymell
The No. 69 preseason South Side Sox prospect, Plymell was a 2021 UDFA success, working his way all the way up to Triple-A and having particularly promising stretches at Double-A and Charlotte in 2023-24. Fell off badly with the Knights this season (6.55 ERA in 33 relief innings).

RHRP Lucas Sims
After signing, releasing and re-signing Sims earlier this year, the White Sox are letting him go, again. The 10-year veteran saw nine nondescript games (4.50 ERA) with the big club this season but was godawful in Charlotte.

RHRP Javy Guerra
The five-year veteran signed on with the White Sox in June after being cut by Atlanta, and pitched well for the Knights over 10 games (3.09 ERA, five finishes, two saves). This would seem a move borne of a contract wrinkle or make-good to Guerra, giving him a shot to catch on for the stretch run with someone else.

Double-A Birmingham Barons cuts
1B/3B Brenden Dixon
Signed before the 2026 season out of the Pittsburgh org, Dixon just doesn’t have enough thump to justify his corner infield spots, and the White Sox have enough organizational players of their own who fit that “eh, just keep him around” status.

LF Adam Fogel
This was a pretty quick decision, as the left fielder was signed as a UDFA before the 2026 and had only 23 games to prove himself. Basically thrown right into Double-A ball, Fogel mashed, with five homers in just 91 plate appearances and a .513 slugging percentage. But the White Sox just had an outfielder-heavy draft, and Fogel has little to no pedigree.

OF Eddie Park
Not a shocker release, but a bit of a shock Park was still around; the 2023 eighth-rounder out of Stanford hit the ground running with his pro debut after the draft, but dropped off badly in 2024 and missed all of 2025 after knee surgery right before the season. Made it as high as N0. 48 (2024) in our Top 100.

RHRP Jared Kelley
Now this one was surprising, as the 2020 second-rounder who the White Sox coaxed away from a University of Texas commitment with an over-slot bonus was considered a plum in the system, still. He fell off very badly at Birmingham in 2026 (12.06 ERA) but pitched very well in three games at Charlotte. He’s still just 24, and though slipping down the ranks still held as the No. 55 SSS prospect before the season (he sat as high as No. 5 overall, in 2021).

RHRP Mark McLaughlin
A seventh round pick in 2022, McLaughlin found his professional ceiling to be Double-A Birmingham, where he struggled a bit in 2025 and really bottomed out this summer, to a 9.14 ERA and 2.215 WHIP. He was, at 25, still promising enough to earn the No. 67 SSS Top 100 spot before the season.

LHRP Jacob Heatherly
Heatherly sat out the entire 2025 season (or was injured), but signed on with the White Sox out of the Cincinnati system for 2026. He slid right back into Double-A ball, where he left off with the Reds, but found no traction.

LF Drake Logan
Always a long shot, this 19th-rounder from 2022 got as far along in the White Sox system as Charlotte (two stints, beginning with an impressive 11 games at the end of 2025). The No. 79 preseason SSS prospect learned that there’s just not a huge demand for LFs with middling power, but as in the case of teammate Fogel, the White Sox only have so many spots in their system.

OF TJ McCants
A 16th round pick in 2024, McCants was a solid if not underwhelming performer over two-plus years in the White Sox system. He was the No. 58 SSS prospect before the season.

High-A Winston-Salem Dash cuts
RHRP Jake Bockenstedt
An undrafted free agent in 2023, Bockenstedt was advanced through the White Sox system, as high as Double-A, more due to age than merit. He was demoted back to the Dash in 2026 after putting up a 9.58 ERA with the Barons.

RHRP Madison Jeffrey
Drafted in the 15th round by the Dodgers in 2021, Jeffrey was released out of their system early in 2024, and the White Sox snagged him out of indy ball. He was better with the Dash (4.34 ERA) in 2026 than 2025, but not better enough.

RHRP Jake Peppers
Peppers was an unorthodox project from the start, a tweener of a pitcher taken in the ninth round in 2023. He simply never gained traction with the White Sox, never making it out of A-ball. He was the No. 98 SSS prospect before this season.

INF Arxy Hernández
Speaking of “just keep him around” guys in the White Sox system, Arxy is the poster boy. From the beginning of his career, in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, Hernández did not distinguish himself. The 2026 season was by most measures his best, but he’s still positionless in A-ball, with a .681 OPS.

OF Alex Ungar
The White Sox took a UDFA shot at this outfielder out of the State University of New York at Albany before the 2026 season, and despite a somewhat aggressive assignment right to High-A, handled it pretty well (seven homers, .687 OPS, 12-of-14 steals).

Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers cuts
LF Nathan Archer
This 2024 14th-rounder packed a lot of swing-and-miss into a hitting profile with no power. He’s already caught on in indy ball, inking with the Lake Erie Crushers.

C/1B Adrian Gil
Exhibit A in how DSL stats can deceive, as Gil completely crushed the league as a 17-year-old in 2023 but struggled Stateside after that. Actually, his ACL seaosn in 2024 was just fine, but beginning in 2025 the White Sox made the odd decision to have this player — signed as (and still listed in his release as!) a second baseman but playing only 18 professional games there and relegated to 1B duty after that — transition to catcher. Needless to say, it did not work. Based on the promise of the DSL and the off-chance he could make it work as a backstop, Gil was our No. 87 preseason prospect.

INF Jurdrick Profar
Younger brother of the currently drug-suspended Padre Jurickson Profar, Jurdrick pretty much always had his family name as his top “skill.” But after the debacle of Fernando Tatís Jr., the White Sox were not going to prematurely bail on a Profar (see: Enoy Jiménez, et. al). SSS is guilty of this as well, tabbing him preseason as our No. 100 prospect.

Rookie League ACL White Sox cuts
RHRP Cesar Familia
Not good in the DSL in 2025. Not good in the ACL in 2026.

RHP Jommy Hernandez
Decent in the DSL in 2024. Not good in the ACL in 2025. Had yet to pitch in 2026.

INF D’Angelo Tejada
This international free agent in 2023 never really did much at any level, but advanced as high as Kannapolis this season. He was the No. 93 SSS prospect before the season.

OF Leandro Alsinois
One of the coolest names in the White Sox system, Alsinois could not translate excellent seasons in the DSL in 2022 and 2023 into sustained success Stateside. Over two runs in A-ball in 2025-26, Alsinois slashed just .143/.192/.184.

And if all this release news isn’t sad enough, on July 31 the White Sox officially ended William Bergolla Jr.’s season with placement on the 60-day IL, as his shin contusion in Triple-A transitioned into a bone fracture during rehab play in the ACL. Our SSS No. 11 prospect had such an impressive Spring Training and start at Charlotte, he seemed destined for a 2026 call-up to Chicago.