White Sox right-hander Davis Martin took a step back toward the big leagues on Thursday, making his first Minor League rehab appearance as he works back from the blister problem that sent him to the 15-day injured list on Aug. 14.
Martin’s outing was sharp. He threw five scoreless innings, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five while needing 59 pitches, 40 of them strikes. Memphis managed just one hit off him, a fourth-inning double.
The hope now is that this stays a short stop. Because the injury is a blister issue, Martin could be back with the White Sox in early September if he keeps pitching without the problem returning. That kind of situation usually doesn’t require a long rehab stretch.
Martin first dealt with the blister against the Reds on Aug. 13, when his control was affected. Afterward, he said there was “a good chunk of skin gone” and that it “made sense to put [him] on the IL and get it taken care of.”
He’s also made clear that he believes the version of himself from the start of the season is still there. Martin said: “Any other season, if you tell me I have whatever my ERA is right now [4.32], I’d be, ‘Oh, cool,’” Martin said.
“I just raised my ceiling higher than a lot of people probably thought. That’s the belief for me, my expectation now.
That’s who I need to be and that’s who I am. I have all the confidence in the world when I’m pitching at my best.
“I’m one of the best pitchers in the league. Just continuing to hammer out those details and continue to be great, and consistency is a big part of it.”
That confidence comes from what he did early. In his first 11 starts, Martin was brilliant, putting up a 2.00 ERA with 71 strikeouts and only 14 walks. The last stretch before the injury has looked very different: since June 2, he has a 7.06 ERA in 13 starts, with 40 strikeouts and 25 walks.
For Martin, the IL stint now becomes a chance to reset and try to get back to the level he showed in the season’s opening months.
In Other News...
White Sox Deadline Regret Starts With 3 Missed Opportunities
The White Soxs deadline haul is already looking like the kind of move set that invites second-guessing, especially when the additions are lined up against the players Chicago might have targeted instead. Joey Bart, Luis Castillo, Huascar Brazoban and Brenton Doyle were supposed to help fill needs in a season that has demanded more stability than the roster has provided, but the early returns have ranged from underwhelming to unavailable.
What makes the evaluation sting is that the alternatives were not some fantasy-land upgrades, but realistic fits at comparable cost who have since offered more useful production or cleaner role certainty. For a club trying to piece together a better future while still managing the present, the missed chances at the deadline may matter as much as the names it did land, because the margin for error in a rebuild is often measured in the moves you do not make. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Rebuild Faces A Farm System Question Fans Cant Ignore
ESPNs Kiley McDaniel slotted the White Sox farm system 20th in his latest MLB rankings, a reminder that the organizations rebuild is still being judged not just by whats happening in Chicago, but by the talent pipeline behind it. The ranking, built from a Future Value-based system informed by FanGraphs evaluations, comes after a wave of player graduations and additions has kept the system in motion, with the club continuing to rely on young arms and position players to shape the next wave.
For a fan base watching every layer of the rebuild, the number is less a verdict than a snapshot. The White Sox still have prospects drawing attention for their performances and long-term upside, and their affiliates are supplying fresh game action that can alter the picture quickly. The challenge now is the same one it has been for a while: turning encouraging individual seasons into enough depth and impact to push that farm ranking higher before the standings in Chicago start to matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Bonemer Is Giving The White Sox A New Reason For Hope
Caleb Bonemer keeps giving the White Sox another reason to think bigger about their next wave of talent. The top prospect has started taking reps in center field, a move designed to add versatility to his profile and potentially speed up his climb toward the majors. He even made his professional debut start there in a recent game, another sign the organization is willing to stretch his responsibilities while working him closely with coaches on the adjustment.
For the White Sox, the appeal is obvious. If Bonemer can handle a premium defensive spot, he becomes even more useful as a future option, much like Sam Antonacci earlier this season when added flexibility helped shape his path forward. The move does not guarantee anything on its own, but it does show the club is thinking about ways to make Bonemers rise smoother, faster and more valuable when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]