What we learned from ‘24 season for White Sox

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DETROIT – The 2024 White Sox season has been discussed, dissected and analyzed to the point where there’s not much left to write and not much left to say for the players.

But Chicago gave it one more run. While they set the Modern Era record for losses in a season at 121 with their loss on Friday night, the White Sox won the series by winning the final two games against playoff-bound Detroit.

The White Sox didn't give up. In addition to winning the final series of the season, they had a three-game sweep of the Angels to close out the home schedule, with the five runs allowed, marking the fewest they’ve given up in any three-game series this season. In total, Chicago won five of its final six games.

“It comes down to everyone showing up hungry and ready to compete,” said White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen, who ended a stretch of 23 winless starts with 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his final start of the season on Thursday. “The record wasn’t something we’re proud of this year, but stick to your routine and staying healthy is important as well.”

Here's a deeper look at the overall 2024 campaign.

Defining moment: April
For a second straight year under manager Pedro Grifol, the White Sox were in trouble following the first month.

After a 3-22 start, including one series in March, the White Sox finished at 6-24. They were able to stabilize a bit at 14-30 by May 15, but it never got any better.

Luis Robert Jr. (hurt on April 5), Yoán Moncada (April 9) and Eloy Jiménez (March 31), three crucial cogs to the team’s offense, were all sidelined early by injury. Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi struggled offensively throughout the first half, and Grifol was removed in favor of interim manager Grady Sizemore on Aug. 8.

What we learned: The American League Central is good
Back in Spring Training, one of the encouraging factors within the organization centered upon the division’s rough showing over the past three seasons beyond its overall winner. That same scenario did not materialize in ’24, with three teams from the AL Central almost certain to reach the playoffs.

General manager Chris Getz also has a great deal of work ahead of him, but that point is sort of understood.

Best development: Garrett Crochet
This story has been told numerous times: Crochet, who was a reliever for parts of three seasons coming into ’24, didn’t know he had made the team or the big league rotation until he was named the Opening Day starter. Even working with an understandable second-half innings and pitch count limit -- after entering the season with 73 career innings -- he was one of the best stories in the game.

“I did want to prove people wrong,” said Crochet, who had 209 strikeouts and a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts and 146 innings. “But I also wanted to prove Getz right, prove Pedro and Grady right in the regard of [showing that] they made the right decision putting me in this role.

“Obviously, it was kind of mutual, and we both had an idea that it was going to work out. But to this extent? Maybe not.”

Area for improvement: Everywhere
OK, if there’s a need for specification, it’s the offense. The team struggled mightily with the bats overall, ranking last in home runs, walks, OBP and OPS, and isn’t loaded with position player prospects in their burgeoning system. Trades will be the best way to increase that area of need, with the White Sox not planning on spending in the high end of free agency, per Getz.

On the rise: Noah Schultz
The entire young pitching crew of the White Sox could fill out this category, but the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 13 overall, per MLB Pipeline, gets the nod. He struck out 115 and walked 24 over 88 1/3 innings, posting a 1.48 ERA over 16 starts after being promoted to Double-A Birmingham.

“Oh, this guy is amazing. It was fun catching him,” said catcher Edgar Quero (White Sox No. 4 prospect). “He’s got good stuff. He’s going to be a star for sure.”

Schultz, 21, could reach the Majors at some point in 2025.

Team MVP: Crochet
It would seemingly be tough to pick a candidate for a team with 121 losses, but Crochet would be deserving for a team with 100 victories. He was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball during the season’s first half, earning his first All-Star selection, and even with that reduced workload, he showed continued excellence in the second half. He is a true No. 1 starter any team would covet, including the White Sox.