Forgotten White Sox Pieces Could Soon Help the Team Win

It is widely assumed that the Chicago White Sox will be looking for additions at the upcoming MLB trade deadline.

Beginning the second half of the season, the White Sox are in first place in the AL Central and looking to make a playoff push for the first time since 2021. And while trade acquisitions can and will absolutely make Chicago's roster better, an under-discussed variable for the remainder of this season is the internal options that will be returning from injury.

Austin Hays is already on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. That alone is good news for Chicago, as the White Sox look to add more right-handed hitting to balance out the lineup when a lefty is on the mound.

But there are two more White Sox players beginning rehab assignments who took the field this weekend. Both of them seem to be somewhat forgotten, but they could find themselves back in the big leagues with Chicago before long, helping the team win games.

Outfielder Everson Pereira and right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe are on the mend.

Pereira showed signs of being another value find by the White Sox in the offseason. He came over in a winter trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, with Chicago betting on his bat speed and respectable chase rate.

Through his first 16 games, that bet was paying off. Pereira was hitting .276 with three home runs and an .838 OPS. After an 0-for-11 stretch, though, and two stints on the IL, he hasn't been able to contribute to the big league club in quite some time. And when taking a zoomed-out look at the club moving forward, Pereira can become an afterthought.

But on Saturday, he was back in the lineup for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. Pereira went 1-for-3 with an RBI and could now be only a few weeks away from rejoining the club.

Thorpe has been out of the picture for much longer. After an exciting MLB debut and a strong 3.03 ERA through his first seven career starts, Thorpe got knocked around and saw his numbers balloon before his season ended early.

After multiple setbacks, Thorpe underwent Tommy John surgery, which kept him out for the entirety of 2025. Additional setbacks in his recovery have since prevented him from retaking the mound in Chicago in 2026. But his minor league production and potential remain undeniable.

Thorpe took the mound for the Arizona Complex League White Sox on Saturday and threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, allowing just one hit. In 35 career minor league starts, he is now 21-3 with a 2.15 ERA. And while his rehab stint may be prolonged as he regains his feel for live game situations and gets stretched back out, a potential contribution to the White Sox starting rotation or bullpen can't be overlooked.

More help is on the way, both internally and externally. And while the picture may not be clear regarding how Pereira or Thorpe fit into the current roster, neither player can be dismissed as they return from injury.