After experiencing Baltimore’s dramatic rise from 52 wins to 101 in just two seasons, Austin Hays believes the 2026 White Sox have what it takes to spark a similar turnaround.
After a 19-win improvement from 2024 to 2025, the Chicago White Sox are hoping the 2026 season brings another significant leap forward.
There’s a budding young core in place, complemented by a handful of exciting free-agent additions. The organization refuses to put a ceiling on what this year’s team can accomplish, and every fan seems to have different expectations for the 2026 White Sox.
Is another 19-win jump — and a flirtation with a .500 record — realistic? It depends on who you ask. The players certainly believe it is.
Veteran outfielder Austin Hays is one of the newer additions to this White Sox roster. He signed with Chicago for the opportunity to get everyday at-bats and regular innings in the outfield, looking to prove himself as both an offensive force and a capable defender on a one-year contract before hitting free agency next winter.
Hays was also drawn to the White Sox because of the young talent already at the big-league level. He described it as a young, fun group to play with, and he draws plenty of comparisons between these White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles teams from a few years ago.
Ironically, that comparison has also been made at the national level.
In 2021, the Orioles went 52–110. The following season, they improved by 31 games and finished 83–79. One year later, in 2023, Baltimore went 101–61 — the best record in the American League.
Two seasons apart, nearly a 50-game improvement.
That kind of jump is rare, but it speaks to the power of a developing young core, complementary veteran additions, and complete organizational buy-in.
While I personally roll my eyes at direct comparisons between these White Sox and those Orioles, it certainly grabs my attention when someone like Austin Hays — who was in Baltimore for all three of those seasons — makes the comparison himself.
In a recent interview with Chuck Garfien on the White Sox podcast, Hays explained what fueled Baltimore’s rapid turnaround. It’s a blueprint he clearly believes could apply to the 2026 White Sox.
“The pieces are there. It’s just a matter of, can we come together as a unit and play to win?” said Hays. “And when I was talking to Chris [Getz], we talked about how many close games this team played last year. And the opportunity where if there’s just a little bit of change of mindset in those games and you can execute a little bit better, the wins turn around really fast when you're finding a way to come out on top of those close ones.”
“That’s usually the difference-maker between the good teams and the teams that are losing 100 games. At least that’s how it was when we were in Baltimore,” he continued.
Another thing Hays brought up was maturity at the plate. Hitters not trying to do it all themselves and having a "unit mindset" on offense. From there, starting pitchers kept them in most games and a steady bullpen preserved leads.
That's how you win in the margins.
The current core of White Sox hitters appears to be in the right headspace. There’s a noticeable team-first approach.
The previous iteration of the White Sox rebuild had plenty of talent. Yoán Moncada, Eloy Jiménez, and Tim Anderson were physically gifted players. But the group often lacked the collective approach and attention to detail needed to consistently do the little things right and win as a team.
One thing that stands out with the current White Sox core is how much they genuinely love baseball. They love playing together. They show up to the ballpark every day willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Add in veteran leadership — players like Hays who have been there and done that — along with bullpen stability from Seranthony Domínguez, and you start to see a formula for winning more close games. With those close wins will come belief.
And with belief comes credibility across the rest of baseball.
It’s a domino effect.
What the White Sox have done this offseason puts them in position to knock over the first domino. Even if the expectation for 2026 isn’t to win the AL Central or make the playoffs, raising the floor and adding veteran talent to this young group was critical.
I wouldn’t bet on the White Sox making a Baltimore Orioles-type jump and finishing over .500 this season. But I do think we’ll see some of those narrow defeats turn into wins. And even if that results in a 70- or 75-win season, a rising tide lifts all boats.
The White Sox just need to follow the blueprint Hays discussed, and the overall organizational success will follow.