The White Sox quietly made one of the more intriguing moves of the offseason this past weekend, pulling off a trade with the Red Sox that brought right-hander Jordan Hicks and pitching prospect David Sandlin to the South Side in exchange for Gage Ziehl. On paper, Hicks is the headliner-an electric arm with big-league experience and a triple-digit fastball-but the real upside here may lie in Sandlin, a 24-year-old with the kind of raw stuff that front offices dream about.
Let’s start with Hicks. He’s a known quantity: a flamethrower who’s shown flashes of dominance but has struggled to find consistency in recent years.
The White Sox are betting there’s more in the tank, and at a relatively low cost, it’s a gamble worth taking. But while Hicks could help the bullpen right away, it’s Sandlin who has the potential to shape the team’s future.
Sandlin isn’t a household name-yet. But he’s the kind of prospect that makes scouts perk up.
Originally drafted by the Royals in the 11th round of the 2022 draft, he signed for around $400,000, a bonus that suggested Kansas City saw him as more of a fifth- or sixth-round talent. He made his way to the Red Sox system in a trade before the 2024 season and has been climbing the minor league ladder since.
His 2025 numbers tell a mixed story: a 5.34 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A, with better results as a starter in Double-A and more struggles in a relief role at Triple-A Worcester. But that stat line doesn’t capture the full picture. Sandlin dealt with both oblique and forearm injuries over the past couple seasons, and while his walk rate remains a concern, his pitch mix is the kind of thing that gets player development staffs excited.
We’re talking about a six-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the upper-90s and can touch triple digits.
He complements it with a slider, sweeper, cutter, sinker, curveball, and even a changeup he’ll mix in occasionally. That’s a deep bag of tools for a 24-year-old, and while the control still needs refining, the raw stuff is undeniable.
At worst, Sandlin’s stuff profiles well in a bullpen role. But the White Sox are clearly giving him every opportunity to stick as a starter, and that’s where the real value lies. Arms with this kind of upside don’t usually come cheap, but Chicago managed to land him for a pitcher in Ziehl who, while promising, doesn’t have the same ceiling.
There’s also a connection here that shouldn’t be overlooked: new White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove was on the Royals’ staff during Sandlin’s first full pro season in 2023. That familiarity may have played a role in the White Sox targeting him, and it could be key in unlocking his next level.
White Sox GM Chris Getz made it clear that the team sees Sandlin as a legitimate rotation candidate in 2026. With the back end of the rotation wide open heading into spring training, Sandlin is expected to compete with Sean Newcomb, Tanner McDougal, Jonathan Cannon, and others for a spot on the Opening Day roster. If he shows well in camp, there’s a real shot he breaks with the big-league club.
So while the addition of Jordan Hicks brings immediate intrigue and bullpen depth, this trade could end up being remembered for the acquisition of Sandlin. He’s a high-upside arm with a starter’s build, a deep arsenal, and a clear path to the majors. For a White Sox team looking to retool and reenergize its pitching staff, this is the kind of move that could pay off in a big way-maybe not just this season, but for years to come.