Season Recap
- Jerry Reinsdorf and Tony La Russa go all-in on 2021 World Series win and fall far short, but the team they’ve built has a promising future.
- First consecutive postseason berths in franchise history (2020 and 2021)
- First AL Central division title since 2008
- White Sox starters led the American League in ERA, SO, SO/9 IP, OPP SLG, and OPP OPS
- First lineup in MLB history to have four players with first names beginning with “Y”
White Sox 2021 Season in Review from MLB Network
Pitchers
Except where indicated, player stats are 2021 regular season with White Sox only.
Rotation
Lucas Giolito #27, RHP
31 G | 178 ⅔ IP | 11-9 W-L | 3.53 ERA | 201 SO | 52 BB | 2 HB
➤ 15 quality starts in the regular season
➤ 4 R/ER on 3 H (5 BB, 4 SO) on 4 ⅓ IP in ALDS Game 2 start. No decision.
Epic pitching duel with Shane Bieber: fans 8 Indians in 7.0+ scoreless innings (3 H, 2 BB), leaves game tied at 0 – April 13
Commands and controls all night, retiring 27 of 30 Astros for a complete game (3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 8 SO) – July 17
Throws 8.0 scoreless innings (2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 8 SO) vs. Twins – August 9
First anniversary of no hitter (8/25/2020) – August 25, 2021
Second half highlights from MLB Network
Lance Lynn #33, RHP
28 G | 157.0 IP | 11-6 W-L | 2.69 ERA | 176 SO | 45 BB | 2 HB
➤ 13 quality starts in the regular season
➤ Traded from Texas Rangers for LHP Avery Weems and RHP Dane Dunning – December 8, 2020
➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12
➤ 5 R/ER on 6 H (2 BB, 4 SO) on 3 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 1 start. No decision.
Pitches first complete-game shutout in a White Sox home opener since Wilbur Wright in 1976 (5 H, 0 BB, 11 SO) vs. Royals – April 8
Goes 7.0 strong, strikes out 9 (4 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB) vs. Jays – June 9
Punches out 9, across 6.0 innings (4 H, 1 R/ER, 5 BB) vs. Tigers – July 2
Throws scoreless 2nd inning (1 BB, 1 K) for the AL in All Star Game – July 13, 2021
Carlos Rodón #55, LHP
24 G | 132 ⅔ IP | 13-5 W-L | 2.37 ERA | 185 SO | 36 BB | 8 HB
➤ 10 quality starts in the regular season
➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – February 1
➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12
➤ Injured List, due to left shoulder fatigue that continued into the postseason – August 11-26
➤ 2 R/ER on 3 H (2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HB) on 2 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 4 start. Charged with Game 4 loss.
Serves up 20th no-hitter in White Sox history, missing a perfecto by just two outs, vs. Indians – April 14
Appearance on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk at All Star Game – July 13, 2021
Hurls super-dominant, 7.0 inning start (0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 SO) against Astros – July 18
Fans 11 (2 H, 2 BB) over 5.0 scoreless innings vs. Cubs – August 7
Dallas Keuchel #60, LHP
32 G | 162.0 IP | 9-9 W-L | 5.28 ERA | 95 SO | 59 BB | 7 HB
➤ The highest paid player on the team, contracted through 2022 at $18MM per year.
➤ 9 quality starts in the regular season
Throws 7.0 shutout innings (2 H, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HB) against the Reds – May 5
Pitches 7.0 scoreless frames with 5 strikeouts and only 1 walk (4 H) vs. Rays – June 15
Fans 3, walks 1, and gives up only 1 run across 7.0 innings (7 H) vs. Orioles – July 9
Other than that, ugh…
Dylan Cease #84, RHP
32 G | 165 ⅔ IP | 13-7 W-L | 3.91 ERA | 226 SO | 68 BB | 9 HB
➤ 10 quality starts in the regular season
➤ 3 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 2 SO) on 1 ⅔ IP in ALDS Game 3 start. No decision.
Hurls 7-inning shutout (career first) vs. Tigers (3 H, 0 BB, 9 SO) – April 29, 2021
Tallies 11 strikeouts and first 3 career hits—in first 3 career at-bats!—vs. Reds (1 H, 0 R, 3 BB) – May 4, 2021
Strikes out 10, over 7.0 scoreless frames vs. Tigers (5 H, 1 BB) – June 6
Fans 11, across 6.0 scoreless innings vs. Royals (1 H, 2 BB) – August 3
Pitches 200th strikeout of the season – September 11
Reynaldo López #40, RHP
20 G | 57 ⅔ IP | 4-4 W-L | 3.43 ERA | 55 SO | 13 BB | 0 HB
➤ Called up from Charlotte Knights (AAA) – July 16
➤ 1 quality start in his short stint in the rotation
➤ 1 R/ER on 2 H (1 BB, 2 SO) on 2.0 relief IP in Game 1 of ALDS.
Fans 4 in quality start against Reds (1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 SO in 6.0 IP) – September 28
Punches out 7 (0 H, 0 BB) in 5.0 scoreless innings for the win vs. Cubs – August 27
Bullpen
Liam Hendriks #31, RHP
69 G | 71.0 IP | 8-3 W-L | SV 38 | 2.54 ERA | 113 SO | 7 BB | 1 HB
➤ Signed with White Sox as a free agent – January 15
➤ Assigned to American League All Stars – July 12
➤ Tied for 2nd place in MLB for number of saves in the 2021 regular season—38, just one less than the #1 closer
➤ Honored as White Sox nominee for the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award – September 14
➤ 3 R/ER on 3 H (1 BB, 6 SO) on 3.0 IP in 3 games of the ALDS. No save opportunities.
Inherits loaded bases and strikes out the side, for the save vs. Cardinals – May 25
Discusses his love of LEGOS, heavy metal, and teen fiction – June 4
Fans 4 in 2 perfect frames vs. Twins – July 6
Earns save (2 H, 1 SO) for the AL in the All Star Game – July 13, 2021
Grabs five outs for the save (3 SO) against Oakland –August 18
Strikes out the side in the 8th vs. Angels – September 16
Michael Kopech #34, RHP
44 G | 69 ⅓ IP | 4-3 W-L | SV 0 | 3.50 ERA | 103 SO | 24 BB | 1 HB
➤ Injured List, due to strained left hamstring – May 31–June 30
➤ 6 R/ER on 7 H (1 BB, 5 SO) in 3.0 IP in 2 games of the ALDS. Credited with Game 3 win.
Strikes out the side in the 6th vs. Royals – July 11
Punches out 5 (0 H, 1 BB) in 2 ⅓ innings of relief
Fans Yordan Álvarez after fan uses hex in ALDS Game 3 – October 10
Aaron Bummer #39, LHP
62 G | 56 ⅓ IP | 5-5 W-L | SV 2 | 3.51 ERA | 75 SO | 29 BB | 4 HB
➤ Injured List, due to right hamstring strain – June 30–July 15
➤ 3 R/ER on 5 H (1 BB, 7 SO) in 3 ⅓ IP in 3 games of the ALDS. Charged with Game 2 loss.
Retires 5 in a row (3 SO) in 1 ⅔ innings of relief vs. Royals – May 9
Tallies 2nd save (2 total, on the season) vs. Tigers – June 11
Pitches 1-2-3 inning (2 SO) against A’s – September 9
Retires all 5 (4 SO) in 1 ⅔ relief innings in ALDS Game 3 – October 10
Evan Marshall #43, RHP
27 G | 27 ⅓ IP | 0-2 W-L | SV 0 | 5.60 ERA | 26 SO | 9 BB | 0 HB
➤ Injured List, due to season-ending right flexor pronator tear – June 30
➤ Assigned to rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA) – August 26
➤ In an effort to prepare for the postseason, Evan threw back-to-back games for the Knights, but the soreness returned – September 3-4
Fans Vladamir Guerrero, Jr. and picks off Marcus Semien at 2B, escaping a 1-out-2-on jam in the 7th vs. Jays – June 8
Leaves game in 7th inning with right forearm soreness – June 29
Garrett Crochet #45, LHP
54 G | 54 ⅓ IP | 3-5 W-L | SV 0 | 2.82 ERA | 65 SO | 27 BB | 1 HB
➤ White Sox select Garrett’s contract near the end of last season – September 18, 2020
➤ Injured List, due to upper back strain – April 29–May 7
➤ 0 R/ER on 5 H (1 BB, 4 SO) across 2 ⅓ IP in 3 games of the ALDS
Pitches a scoreless 8th frame (0 H, 0 BB, 2 SO) and gets win vs. Jays – June 8
Strikes out 4 (0 R, 1 H, 1 BB) in 2.0 IP vs. Twins – August 11
Craig Kimbrel #46, RHP
24 G | 23.0 IP | 2-2 W-L | SV 1 |5.09 ERA | 36 SO | 10 BB | 3 HB – White Sox only
➤ Assigned to National League All Stars (representing Cubs) – July 12
➤ Traded from Chicago Cubs for 2B Nick Madrigal and RHP Codi Heuer – July 30
➤ 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 SO across 2.0 IP in 3 games of the ALDS
Comments on being traded to the White Sox – July 30
Pitches clean inning in White Sox debut – July 31
Records 1,000th career strikeout — August 16
Earns first—and only!—save with White Sox (1 H, 0 BB, 1 SO) vs. Jays – August 26
Can we get Nick Madrigal back?
Ryan Tepera #51, RHP
22 G | 18.0 IP | 0-0 W-L | SV 1 | 2.50 ERA | 24 SO | 7 BB | 1 HB – White Sox only
➤ Traded from Cubs for LHP Bailey Horn – July 29
➤ Injured List, due to right index finger laceration – September 14–October 1
➤ 1 R/ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 SO across 4 ⅔ IP in 3 games of the ALDS
On heading across town to the White Sox – July 29
Grabs his first—and only!—save (0 H, 0 BB, 2 SO) with White Sox vs. Rays – August 20
Makes totally pointless sign stealing accusations against Astros – October 11
Booo…
Ryan Burr #61, RHP
34 G | 36 ⅔ IP | 2-1 W-L | SV 0 |2.45 ERA | 33 SO | 21 BB | 1 HB
➤ White Sox select Ryan’s contract from Charlotte Knights (AAA) – May 27
➤ Makes first appearance with White Sox since 2019 – May 30
Makes stellar diving catch to snag a bunt vs. Indians – June 1
Retires 6 in a row (2 SO) in clean 2.0 inning start (0 H, 0 BB) vs. Mariners – June 27
Fields comebacker and throws runner out at 2B for a double play to end the 6th vs. Angels – September 16
Matt Foster #63, RHP
37 G | 39.0 IP | 2-1 W-L | SV 1 | 6.00 ERA | 40 SO | 13 BB | 2 HB
➤ Matt was on the active roster through July 15, then regularly sent down to and called up from Charlotte Knights (AAA), through the end of the season.
Throws a 1-2-3 close (2 SO) vs. Royals – May 16
Pitches a 2.0 inning close (1 H, 2 BB, 3 SO) and works himself out of a bases-loaded jam with a swinging strikeout to end the game vs. Tigers – June 12
José Ruiz #66, RHP
59 G | 65.0 IP | 1-3 W-L | SV 0 | 3.05 ERA | 63 SO | 25 BB | 0 HB
➤ On the active roster all season, from Opening Day through the ALDS
➤ Takes the mound with 2 outs in the 7th, and retires 4 in a row (1 SO) in Game 1 of the ALDS
Pitches a 1-2-3 close (1 SO) vs. Twins – July 7
Hurls 3 consecutive strikeouts to end the game vs. Cubs – August 8
Mike Wright, Jr. #, RHP
13 G | 18.0 IP | 0-1 W-L | SV 0 | 5.50 ERA | 11 SO | 11 BB | 2 HB
➤ White Sox selected Mike’s contract from Charlotte Knights (BB) – August 16
➤ Designated for assignment – October 1
Induces 5-4-3 double play in 2.0 frame close (1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) of shutout game against A’s – August 17
Ejected, along with Tony La Russa (91), after hitting Shohei Ohtani – September 16
Gives up 1 R/ER on 1 H (1 BB, 1 SO) in 2.0 inning close vs. Rangers – September 19