White Sox Make Roster Announcement on Former Yankees Outfielder
The Chicago White Sox, who endured a historically-bad 2024, have been off to a semi-decent start to 2025 at 2-3, good for first place in the AL Central. One of the strongest parts to the roster has been the mostly unproven starting pitching, as Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Jonathan Cannon, Martin Perez and No. 26 prospect Shane Smith combined for 28 straight scoreless innings, the fourth longest streak by a team’s starters since 1961. Smith dialed in five scoreless innings in his MLB debut but was responsible for two Twins base runners who scored in the 6th inning of
Tuesday’s 8-3 loss. The offense has looked a little sluggish, mustering just two runs combined in the Sox’ losses to the Angels Saturday and Sunday. For this reason, White Sox brass are excited to see veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman make his season debut following the signing of his one-year, $1.95 million contract in December. Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman with the Cubs in 2024. © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports It was announced on Tuesday that Tauchman would begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte after he was sidelined with a hamstring strain in mid-March.
Tauchman returned to minor league play with a bang, blasting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game that traveled 411 feet with a 105 mph exit velocity. Tauchman had a middling 2024 for the Cubs, batting .248 with a .723 OPS and seven home runs, but will be sure to provide some punch for the White Sox, especially on a team with little true offensive starpower. Tauchman is eligible to be activated on Friday, and is expected to be if the remainder of his rehab assignment goes smoothly.
Kevin Pillar Has Pointed Comments on Playing for AL’s Two Worst Teams
Kevin Pillar played for the two worst teams in the American League in 2024. In between his stints with the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels, the 36-year-old outfielder briefly retired to his home in Texas. The White Sox set a modern MLB record by losing 122 games. The Angels lost 99 — a franchise record — making them the second-worst team in the American League last year.
More news: Two-Time All-Star, World Series Champion Retires, Joins Elite Company Pillar returned after contemplating retirement again and made the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee. In an interview with MLB.com, Pillar noted the stark difference in playing for a team like the Rangers, who are two years removed from winning the first championship in franchise history, and the feeling of playing for the White Sox and Angels last year. “I wanted to be on a winning team,” Pillar told Kennedi Landry. “Baseball is already really difficult. It’s even more difficult when you feel like the only thing you’re really playing for is yourself. You tend to put a lot of unnecessary pressure on performance when you know, ultimately, the outcome is probably going to be a loss.” More news: Rookie of the Year Runner-Up Has Thumb Fracture, Placed on Injured List Under veteran manager Brucy
Bochy, Pillar is splitting the center field duties in a platoon with Leody Taveras to start the season. “You try to control things you control, and a lot of that is your individual performance,” he said. “When you come into a place like this where the expectation is to win every single day, the focus on you becomes way less. I think for me, that’s a perfect place for me to be as I just go out and do my job, be one of nine guys and not be so concerned about what I did, but how I can help this team win a game.”
More news: Gold Glove Winner to Sign $105 Million Contract, Delay Free Agency: Reports The Rangers believe Pillar can help them get back to the World Series after they missed the postseason altogether in 2024. He slashed .310/.352/.500 against left-handed pitching last year. Their center fielders combined to slash .237/.302/.388 in 2024, a 96 wRC+. Pillar is a veteran of 13 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves before splitting last season between Chicago and Anaheim.
