Daniel Sandlin’s Big Arm, Bigger Question: Can the Changeup Unlock His Rotation Future?
It’s February, and while we’re still a few weeks away from the crack of bats and the pop of mitts in Arizona and Florida, the White Sox are already tinkering with their pitching depth. One of the newest names to know? Daniel Sandlin - a right-hander with a power arm and a profile that’s as intriguing as it is unfinished.
Let’s start with the basics. Sandlin was recently acquired and slotted in as the No. 9 prospect in the White Sox system, according to FanGraphs - the same spot he held in Boston’s farm. That’s a lateral move on paper, but the White Sox are hoping it becomes an upward trajectory on the mound.
The Heat Is Real
Sandlin brings serious velocity to the table. At 6’4” and 215 pounds, he’s built like a power pitcher and throws like one too.
He touched 99.9 mph last September, and his fastball comfortably sits in the mid-90s. That kind of heat keeps the door open for a starting role, even though he spent time in the bullpen at Triple-A last season.
And when he’s on? He can be downright overpowering.
Take a look at his June 21 start in Double-A - he was commanding the top of the zone with his fastball, blowing it by hitters who just couldn’t catch up. That’s the kind of dominance that turns heads in front offices and coaching staffs alike.
A Full Arsenal - Mostly
Sandlin isn’t just a one-trick pony. His cutter and slider both draw praise - FanGraphs called them “nasty and fairly distinct,” which is music to a pitching coach’s ears. He also mixes in a sinker and a sweeper, giving him a five-pitch mix that’s already more developed than most 24-year-olds trying to break into a big-league rotation.
But there’s a catch - or rather, a missing piece. The changeup.
Technically, Sandlin threw one changeup last year. Yes, one.
Singular. That’s not going to cut it if he wants to stick as a starter, especially when it comes to facing left-handed hitters.
The Lefty Problem
Here’s where things get dicey. Sandlin’s splits in 2025 (across Double-A and Triple-A) show a clear vulnerability against lefties:
- Vs. Righties: .225 BA / .343 SLG / .649 OPS
- Vs. Lefties: .285 BA / .430 SLG / .772 OPS
That’s a pretty stark contrast. Against righties, Sandlin looked like a guy you could pencil into the back of a rotation or a high-leverage bullpen role. Against lefties, he looked like someone who might need a seatbelt in the dugout.
The issue? He doesn’t have a reliable offspeed pitch to keep lefties honest. According to FanGraphs’ updated 2026 report, Sandlin “still doesn’t have a great offspeed pitch with which to attack lefties,” instead relying on cutters and sliders up in the zone before trying to elevate the fastball with two strikes.
That’s a dangerous game. Miss your spot by a few inches, and suddenly that sharp slider turns into a hanger.
The cutter flattens out. And you’re watching the ball leave the yard.
Enter: The Kick Change
This is where the changeup - specifically, the “kick change” - becomes a potential game-changer. The White Sox have had some recent success helping pitchers with strong breaking balls develop serviceable changeups. Sandlin might be the next in line.
What makes the kick change so appealing? It doesn’t require a total overhaul of mechanics.
For supinators like Sandlin - pitchers who are naturally better at spinning breaking balls - the kick change offers a way to add arm-side movement without disrupting their delivery. It’s efficient, it’s repeatable, and for someone like Sandlin, it could be the difference between starting every fifth day or being used in the middle innings.
The Path Forward
Right now, Sandlin is a pitcher with a power fastball, two nasty breaking balls, and a lot of potential. But he’s also a pitcher with a glaring hole in his approach to left-handed hitters - one that big-league lineups will exploit without hesitation.
If he can develop even a league-average changeup, Sandlin’s profile changes dramatically. He goes from a hard-throwing reliever to a legitimate rotation candidate.
He’s got the frame, the velocity, and the secondary stuff to make it work. But without that offspeed weapon, he’s going to have a hard time turning over a lineup more than once.
The good news? The White Sox know what they have.
They’ve seen this kind of project before. And if they can help Sandlin unlock that one missing pitch, they might just have found a hidden gem.
Until then, he’s a name to watch - not just because of what he is, but because of what he could become.