The White Sox took a swing on Jedixson Paez in the Rule 5 draft, but that bet is already looking shaky after his first outing back with the Red Sox.
Chicago used the second overall pick on Paez this year, then doubled down by also taking reliever Alexander Alberto from the Rays. With roster spots tight heading into the season, it never felt likely both pitchers would stick, and Alberto’s rough spring made that part of the call easy. Paez, though, made the team - and still didn’t last long.
That outcome came after the White Sox saw enough to move on quickly. Paez, 22, had never pitched above High-A when Chicago grabbed him, and he arrived as a starter with just seven appearances in an injury-shortened 2025.
The appeal was his command, but the results never matched the pitch. He didn’t have a strong spring, then opened the year in Milwaukee because Rule 5 rules required the White Sox to keep him on the MLB roster if they wanted to retain him in the organization.
In three outings for Chicago, Paez gave up six earned runs in three innings. The White Sox designated him for assignment soon after, and when he cleared waivers, he was sent back to Boston and assigned to Double-A Portland.
His return to the Red Sox system hasn’t offered much relief. Paez posted a 4.41 ERA in 49 innings before reaching Triple-A, then made only three starts for Worcester before getting the call to the majors. On Tuesday night against Seattle, he was tagged for eight runs and two homers in just 3.2 innings before being sent right back to Triple-A.
The fastball doesn’t miss enough bats on its own, so everything for Paez comes down to location. Against big league hitters, that location hasn’t been there. He looked overwhelmed with the White Sox, and he looked just as out of place against the Mariners.
After that one Boston appearance, Chicago’s quick decision to cut bait feels fully justified. At the same time, the fact that the White Sox made Paez a priority in the first place now looks like a real miss. They were willing to take a heat check in an area where they’d recently found success, but if they had the choice again, it’s hard to imagine they’d go the same way.
For now, the White Sox can at least say they recognized the problem fast and pulled the plug. Hopefully, that’s a lesson they won’t have to relearn next year.
In Other News...
Will Venable Admitted One White Sox Mistake That Still Stings
A late-inning decision continues to linger for Will Venable, who said he came away wishing he had handled the eighth inning differently after Drew Romo reached a spot where a pinch runner could have changed the calculus. Venable said Romos speed was not the main issue in the moment, but the catchers defensive value weighed into the choice to keep him in the game.
Venable was candid that, with a do-over, he would have sent a pinch runner for Romo. For a White Sox club trying to squeeze every edge out of tight games, it was the kind of call that can stick with a manager because it sits right at the intersection of defense, urgency and the small details that decide whether an inning keeps moving or stops cold. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Could Fast Track A Prospect Fans Need To Watch
The White Sox have several young infield names worth tracking as the minor league season winds down, and the conversation around Caleb Bonemer, Kyle Lodise and Anthony DePino is starting to sound less like long-range dreaming and more like practical development planning. Each has spent 2026 building a case in the system, and the organization has a chance to use the final weeks to push one or more of them into tougher competition rather than letting the year simply fade out at the same level.
For a rebuilding club, those late-season decisions matter. A jump to a higher affiliate can tell the front office a lot about how far a prospect has come and how ready he might be for a bigger role down the road, especially with 2027 in view. Nothing has been finalized yet, but the possibility alone makes this a situation worth watching closely as Chicago looks for the next wave of players who can move quickly when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Thorpe Just Gave White Sox Fans Something To Watch Closely
A few familiar White Sox names popped up in Charlotte on Monday, and the organization had reason to pay close attention. Right-hander Drew Thorpe, catcher Kyle Teel and reliever Huascar Brazobn all made injury rehab appearances for Triple-A Charlotte against Gwinnett, giving Chicago a chance to check on three players who could matter soon if their recoveries keep moving in the right direction.
Thorpe handled the longest workload of the group, working five innings and allowing two runs, while Teel finished 1-for-3 at the plate and Brazobn tossed a perfect sixth inning. Manager Will Venable also weighed in on where each stands health-wise and how they might fit into the major league picture, leaving the White Sox with something useful to monitor as the rehab assignments continue. [Read more 🡒]