The Chicago White Sox may have found the perfect way to maximize Grant Taylor’s impact in 2026.
There was plenty of speculation coming into the 2026 season about what role Grant Taylor would fill for the White Sox.
The 23-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut in 2025 and was far more effective than his 4.91 ERA suggested. Taylor was a victim of poor batted-ball luck, with an expected ERA of 2.91, and his ability to miss bats and barrels was nearly unmatched—even as a rookie.
Calling Taylor up was a no-brainer after he opened last season at Double-A Birmingham with a 1.01 ERA and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings across 26.2 innings. The White Sox believed then, and still believe now, that Taylor has the upside to become one of the best closers in baseball. But what his role would look like in 2026 remained unclear.
A move to the starting rotation made some sense, but there are legitimate health concerns tied to that move. Taylor ranked in the 98th percentile in extension in 2025, and pairing that with a 58-degree arm angle can be a risky combination over longer outings. That profile typically plays better in shorter stints, which led the White Sox to lean toward a bullpen role.
Then there’s Seranthony Domínguez, who was signed to a two-year, $20 million deal to be the closer. With a more established high-leverage arm in place, Taylor slotted in as a multi-inning relief weapon, arguably the most valuable way to deploy one of your best arms while still keeping him stretched out.
But over the weekend, the White Sox may have found an even better solution.
In back-to-back games against the Blue Jays, Taylor was used as an opener for Sean Burke and Anthony Kay. Across those two appearances, he threw two perfect innings, retiring all six batters he faced with two strikeouts. He needed just 18 pitches to do so and threw 14 of them for strikes.
Taylor set the tone, and he did it efficiently. He attacked the zone, and gave the White Sox exactly what they’ve been missing from the starting rotation: a clean, controlled start to games.
Burke followed Taylor with six innings of one-run ball and seven strikeouts, pitching deep enough to preserve the bullpen and help set up a walk-off win in the home opener. Kay followed Taylor the next day and delivered 4.1 innings of two-run ball, keeping the White Sox within striking distance. Home runs from Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery eventually put Chicago ahead for good, securing their first winning streak of the season.
And honestly, given how efficient Taylor was, you could even argue he deserved a second inning in one of those outings.
This opener role might be the best way to use him in 2026. It builds starter-like habits on game days and shortens the game for a taxed bullpen. It also guarantees that one of the White Sox’s best arms is facing the top of the order, giving opposing hitters a tough at-bat right out of the gate. And if needed, Taylor still has the ability to go two or even three innings.
If he stays healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Taylor eclipse 80 innings this season. That’s a strong way to maximize his value while continuing to stretch him out for a potentially different role in 2027.
He may end up as one of the more valuable pitchers on the White Sox roster.