The Chicago White Sox have made a low-risk, potentially intriguing move by claiming 28-year-old left-hander Ryan Rolison off waivers, just a day after the Braves designated him for assignment to clear space for Robert Suarez.
Rolison was a first-round pick back in 2018 by the Colorado Rockies - a franchise where pitching prospects often face an uphill climb from day one. The lefty has battled shoulder injuries the past couple seasons, but he managed to stay on the mound long enough in Triple-A this year to earn a look at the big league level. Unfortunately, that opportunity didn’t go as planned.
In 42 1/3 innings, Rolison posted a 7.02 ERA with a 2.3 HR/9 rate - numbers that reflect the tough reality of pitching at altitude and possibly a fastball that just isn’t fooling hitters. But there’s more to his profile than the surface stats suggest, and the White Sox clearly see something worth exploring.
Breaking Down the Arsenal
Let’s start with the fastball. It’s a league-average velocity pitch that lacks significant movement - not ideal for a primary weapon, especially for a reliever trying to carve out a role in the majors.
In today’s game, a straight four-seamer without elite velocity or deception is a tough sell. It’s the kind of pitch that major league hitters can time up, even if they’re off balance.
But the rest of Rolison’s repertoire tells a different story.
His curveball is a legitimate secondary option. It drops an average of 11.4 inches, which puts it right in the neighborhood of some established lefty breakers - even slightly better than league average for southpaws. It’s not a hammer curve, but it’s got enough depth to be effective when sequenced properly.
Then there’s the slider, and this is where things get interesting. Rolison’s slider has 4.1 inches more vertical drop than the average slider, while still maintaining solid horizontal movement.
That kind of movement profile is rare - it gives the pitch the visual of a traditional breaking ball, diving under barrels instead of sweeping across the zone. Most sliders in the league actually appear to rise slightly due to spin and trajectory; Rolison’s does the opposite, which can be a nightmare for hitters expecting something flat.
This pitch might be the key to his future. If the White Sox decide to have him lean more heavily on the slider - or even feature it as his primary pitch - we could see a Dylan Cease-style approach, working backward off the breaking ball instead of setting it up with the fastball.
What the White Sox Might Be Thinking
With Brian Bannister now in the fold, the White Sox have a pitching development mind who’s known for helping arms unlock new potential. One option could be to help Rolison develop a viable changeup - specifically, a “kick changeup,” which pairs well with pitchers who have strong supination (i.e., the ability to spin the ball effectively). Rolison experimented with a changeup last year, but after it got lit up by Jasson Dominguez for a 108.6 mph single in a lopsided loss, it quickly disappeared from his arsenal.
Still, the idea of pairing a sharp, downward-breaking slider with a well-developed changeup is intriguing. It’s a classic north-south combo that could keep hitters off balance, especially if the fastball gets even a slight uptick in velocity or late life. There’s also a chance the Sox believe they can tweak his mechanics or pitch design to make the fastball more serviceable - even marginal gains could make a big difference when paired with his breaking stuff.
The Bottom Line
This is the kind of December move that flies under the radar but could pay off if things break right. Rolison has the pedigree, he’s got at least one plus pitch in the slider, and he’s shown flashes of potential when healthy. The question is whether the White Sox can help him stay on the mound and optimize what he does best.
If everything clicks, Rolison could be a useful bullpen piece - a lefty with a nasty slider and enough offspeed to keep hitters honest. If not, it’s a no-risk claim that can be reversed before Spring Training.
For now, it’s a classic flier on an arm with some upside. And in a sport where bullpen depth is always at a premium, that’s a move worth making.