The White Sox are sitting in a tie for first place in the AL Central at the All-Star break, but the bullpen still looks like a work in progress. That’s why Jordan Hicks has suddenly become such an important name in the conversation. After a rough stretch earlier in the year, the veteran right-hander has strung together a dominant month since coming off the injured list, and his timing could not be better for a team still sorting out the late innings.
Hicks, 29, arrived in the offseason trade that also brought pitching prospect David Sandlin to Chicago. Boston was trying to clear payroll and included Sandlin in the deal to move Hicks’ contract, which calls for $8.5 million in each of the next two seasons.
The White Sox took a shot on a pitcher whose fastball has always played, even if the command has not always followed. Last season was ugly for Hicks, who posted a 6.47 ERA with the Giants before an even rougher 8.20 mark after being dealt to the Red Sox.
Chicago still bet on the stuff.
The season started unevenly. Hicks struggled in his three March appearances, then settled in with a 2.61 ERA in April.
May brought another rough patch, and on May 20 he landed on the IL with a lat strain. He missed about a month before the White Sox activated him on June 21.
Since then, he has looked like a different pitcher.
#WhiteSox reliever Jordan Hicks came off the injured list on 6/21
Since then:
8 IP
0 R
3 H
1 BB
15 Ks
Maybe the injury was bothering him or he’s fixed something mechanically, but he might be all the way back
- Noah Phalen (@Noahp245) July 13, 2026
That kind of run changes the conversation fast. The White Sox have been searching for stability on the back end, and Grant Taylor’s role has been all over the map because of it.
He’s been asked to handle multi-inning work, open games, and pitch in high-leverage spots, sometimes in the same stretch, largely because the club has not had a second dependable right-handed option. Seranthony Dominguez has been inconsistent, and the other trustworthy bullpen pieces have been left-handed.
Hicks giving them real late-inning production would ease that burden on Taylor.
Chicago is still expected to look for bullpen help as the trade deadline approaches in a few weeks. Chris Getz will explore the market, but the White Sox also have to be ready for a deadline landscape with plenty of buyers and not many sellers. If that happens, a revived Hicks and flamethrowing prospect Tanner McDougal could become important answers from the right side.
There’s also the bigger picture. Hicks is under control for 2027, so turning him into a reliable late-inning arm would matter beyond this season. If the White Sox keep getting this version of Hicks and David Sandlin develops into a real rotation option, the offseason trade starts looking like a clear win for Getz.
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