
Summer nights at the ballpark are great, no matter what park you go to. One of those parks for me is Guaranteed Rate Field on the south side of Chicago, home of the Chicago White Sox.
Dylan Cease is a right-handed pitcher. Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2014, and was traded to the White Sox in 2017, along with prospect Eloy Jimenez, for LHP Jose Quintana. In the 2019 season, Cease posted a 4-7 record, with a 5.79 ERA. He pitched in 73.0 innings with 81 strikeouts.
One of the Sox’s star pitchers is right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito. Giolito was a Round 1 pick for the Washington Nationals in the 2012 draft. He made his debut in 2016, and had a 0-1 record, with a 6.75 ERA. He came to the Sox in 2017, where he had a 3-3 record and a 2.38 ERA. For the 2019 season, he had a 14-9 record and a 3.41 ERA.

(photo by Darren Georgia)
One of the biggest signings for the Sox over then off-season was left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2009, and played for them from 2012 – 2018. He played the 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves, where he posted an 8-8 record with a 3.75 ERA.
Steve Cishek didn’t have to travel far for his off-season trade. Cishek comes to the Sox from the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs. He played for the Cubs in the 2018 – 2019 seasons, where he had an 8-9 record and a 2.57 ERA for the two seasons. Cishek was originally drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2007.
Another off-season signing was Yasmani Grandal, a catcher from the Milwaukee Brewers. Grandal was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. In the 2019 season, he hit 28 home runs, had 77 RBI, and had a 0.246 BA and 0.380 OBP.
The Sox go-to catcher is James McCann. Originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2011. McCann debuted in 2014 with the Tigers and played there through the 2018 season. McCann signed with the White Sox for the 2019 season. Last season, he started in 106 games. McCann hit 18 home runs, had 60 RBI, and had a 0.273 AVG and a 0.328 OBP.

Tim Anderson is an infielder and was a first round pick for the Sox in the 2013 draft. He made his debut in 2016. In the 2019 season, Anderson hit 18 home runs, had 56 RBI, and had a 0.355 AVG and a 0.357 OBP.
Yoan Moncada came to the White Sox from the Boston Red Sox after the 2016 season. In the 2019 season, Moncada hit 25 home runs, had 79 RBI, and had a 0.315 AVG and a 0.367 OBP. Moncada is definitely a fan favorite, as he’s good on both the defense and the offense.
Debuting in 2014 for the Sox, Jose Abreu is the White Sox three-time All-Star first baseman. He was also the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year. He started in 125 of the games in the 2019 season. Abreu hit 33 home runs, had 123 RBI, and had a 0.284 AVG and a 0.330 OBP.
Eloy Jimenez is a name that should be familiar with Chicago baseball fans. Jimenez was a draft pick for the Cubs. In 2016, he was a Baseball America Minor League All-Star with the South Bend Cubs. In September 2019, Jimenez was named the AL Player of the Month, as well as being an AL Player of the Week. He was also named to the Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team in 2019. These honors were all well earned, as he hit 31 home runs, had 79 RBI and had a 0.267 AVG and a 0.315 OBP.
Overall, the Sox are looking good for the 2020 season, whenever it begins. From the 1 spot all the way to 9, the Sox are locked and loaded for a good year on the south side of Chicago.
****