The White Sox have spent the last few seasons making history for all the wrong reasons. This year feels different. Before Thursday’s games, Chicago sat at 73-67 and in control of the American League Central, a massive jump from the three straight 100-loss seasons that came before it.
One of the biggest reasons for that turnaround has been the middle-of-the-order punch from Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas. Each one entered Friday’s games with 29 homers, leaving the White Sox on the verge of something they haven’t pulled off since 2008.
Chicago’s offense has backed up the surge, too. FanGraphs has the White Sox at a 104 team wRC+ this season, which puts them in the top 10 in baseball. That’s a huge shift from 2025, when the club finished 27th with an 89 team wRC+, ahead of only the Cleveland Guardians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies.
Murakami’s season has been especially eye-catching given how much time he has missed. Even with a 34.1% strikeout rate, he’s put together a .213/.354/.481 line with 29 homers, 59 RBI, 72 runs scored, and a 132 wRC+. In 105 games, he’s been worth 2.7 fWAR.
Montgomery has had a rougher second half, and his overall line reflects that stretch. The 24-year-old is hitting .213/.294/.432 with a 101 wRC+ in 135 games, but he’s still delivered 29 homers, 79 RBI, and 64 runs scored. His defense has helped push him to 3.0 fWAR.
Then there’s Vargas, who has been the surprise of the bunch. He came into the year with 29 career homers in 309 MLB games, so reaching that same total in 137 games is a major leap.
Across his first 609 plate appearances, he’s hitting .251/.363/.484 with 29 homers, 76 RBI, 93 runs scored, and 15 steals. His 137 wRC+ and 4.4 fWAR are both team highs, according to FanGraphs.
If all three get to 30, it would be the first time the White Sox have had three 30-homer hitters in a season since 2008, when Carlos Quentin hit 36, Jim Thome hit 34, and Jermaine Dye hit 34. From 2009 through 2025, Chicago had only one season with two players above 30 homers, and that came in 2019 with Jose Abreu at 33 and Eloy Jimenez at 31. In the years from 2021 to 2025, there were just two such individual seasons: Abreu’s 30 homers in 2021 and Luis Robert Jr.’s 38 in 2023.
So while the White Sox wait to see whether this run turns into a postseason berth, they’re also sitting on the brink of a power milestone they haven’t reached in nearly two decades.
In Other News...
Luis Robert Jrs Latest Move Says Plenty About The White Sox
Luis Robert Jr.s latest transaction says plenty about where his market stands and how the White Sox will be watching the ripple effects from afar. After being claimed by the Orioles off waivers from the Mets, the former White Sox outfielder is moving again, and Baltimore will take on part of what remains on his deal as well as the 2027 option or buyout attached to it.
For Chicago, it is another reminder of how quickly a players path can shift once he is no longer part of the organization. Roberts name still carries real recognition because of what he meant to the White Sox, but the fact that the Mets declined the 2027 option before this latest move underscores how complicated his value has become. The Orioles are stepping into the middle of that picture now, while the White Sox can only watch how the next chapter unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Catcher Decision Raises New Questions As Kyle Teel Returns
Kyle Teel is back on the White Sox roster after a stint on the 10-day injured list, and his return quickly clarified the clubs current catching picture. Chicago optioned Drew Romo to Triple-A to make room, and Teel is expected to handle the starting job moving forward while Jake Rogers slides into the backup role.
Romo will stay on the taxi squad, which keeps him close in case the White Sox need to pivot again. For a position group that has already required some shuffling, the setup gives Chicago a more defined look for now, even if the club has left itself an easy path back to Romo if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Sent A Clear Message About Tyler Gilbert
The White Sox made a roster move with Tyler Gilbert that underscored how quickly pitching depth can shift over the course of a season. Chicago designated the left-hander for assignment and, after he cleared waivers, outrighted him to Triple-A Charlotte, keeping him in the organization rather than on the major league staff. Gilbert has the right to refuse the assignment, but he opted to stay put, giving the White Sox a bit of continuity with a pitcher who was a useful reliever for them in 2025.
For Gilbert, the trip back to Charlotte reflects a difficult 2026 campaign and the reality of a bullpen that can turn over in a hurry. The White Sox are not closing the door on him completely, but the move makes their current stance clear: they want him in the system, just not on the active major league roster right now. What comes next will depend on whether he can steady things and work his way back into the picture. [Read more 🡒]