After ranking near the bottom of baseball in slugging last season, the White Sox are suddenly among spring training’s most powerful lineups.
Even last year, as the Chicago White Sox saw progress from an emerging young core, there were stretches throughout the 2025 season in which the lineup really lacked power.
That’s not to take anything away from shortstop Colson Montgomery, who hit 21 home runs after the All-Star break during the 2025 season and was one of the most prolific power bats in the sport.
Still, in the grand scheme of a full 162-game season, the White Sox lacked thump. And whether it was going to come from free agent signings this offseason or more development from young players like Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Miguel Vargas tapping further into their slug, the White Sox needed to improve in that area.
Chicago finished 23rd in baseball in home runs in 2025, and they were 28th in slugging percentage — tied for 29th with the Cleveland Guardians and ahead of only the Pittsburgh Pirates.
While many of these young players showed the ability to put together mature at-bats — and while they demonstrated hunger, a good understanding of the strike zone, and solid bat-to-ball skills — in modern baseball, extra-base hits and home runs are king.
Fortunately, that’s one area where the White Sox are thriving in spring training right now.
One week into Cactus League play, the White Sox rank third in baseball in OPS with a team mark of .883. They are fourth in slugging percentage at .514. No team has more doubles this spring than the 22 from White Sox hitters through seven games.
Chicago made a pretty clear effort to improve its power output this offseason. By adding Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami on a two-year contract, the lineup’s ceiling increased exponentially. Outfielder Austin Hays should also raise the floor of the group and can provide 15–20 home run power. Those kinds of additions strengthen the supporting cast around the young core, and hopefully, in this case, a rising tide lifts all ships.
Perhaps the best part is that it’s more than just Murakami and Hays driving the White Sox’s promising team slugging percentage this spring. It’s players like Tanner Murray and Brooks Baldwin, who have combined for two doubles, three home runs, and seven RBIs through the first week of Cactus League play. Baldwin and Murray are both younger players hoping to carve out roles as regular contributors.
It’s also prospects such as William Bergolla Jr., who has started his spring 5-for-7 at the plate with two doubles, and Braden Montgomery, the organization’s top prospect, who is 3-for-8 with a triple.
It’s not just the big free agent additions. It’s the young players. It’s the prospects. And it’s all a sign that director of hitting Ryan Fuller and new hitting coach Derek Shomon are teaching habits that translate to improved slugging production.
White Sox fans can only hope this level of success — or at least something close to it — carries over into the 2026 regular season. If it does, another jump in the win total seems feasible. But this is exactly the kind of offensive output Chicago will need to overcome some of the deficiencies that may surface on the pitching staff.