Jordan Leasure is expected to miss approximately 18 months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow.
In the second half of the 2025 season, Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Jordan Leasure started to show signs of the late-inning stuff he flashed as a prospect.
Leasure was acquired by the White Sox in a trade at the 2023 deadline. That deal sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers but brought back a young right-handed reliever with the upside to become a future closer.
The beginning of Leasure’s career, however, has been uneven. After posting a 6.32 ERA over 33 appearances in 2024, he continued to struggle with surrendering walks and home runs in 2025. But over his final 26 appearances that season, Leasure posted a 2.70 ERA with 36 strikeouts over 26.2 innings.
For portions of the offseason, it looked like he was in line to become the White Sox closer in 2026, especially if Grant Taylor was going to operate in a multi-inning relief role and get stretched out for a potential transition into the starting rotation.
The White Sox ultimately had other plans. The free agent signing of Seranthony Domínguez and a change in Taylor’s role locked up Chicago’s high-leverage innings. But Leasure was still given an opportunity in the bullpen out of spring training. He didn’t take advantage of it.
Leasure regressed into the pitcher the White Sox saw for much of 2024. Over 18 appearances out of Chicago’s bullpen this season, he posted a 6.27 ERA and allowed six home runs in just 18.2 innings.
On May 29, Leasure was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain. Now it appears he’ll be out for the long haul.
On Monday, the White Sox announced that Leasure recently underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow. The Tommy John surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, and Leasure is currently targeting a return for spring training in 2028.
It’s the second time Leasure has undergone Tommy John surgery in his baseball career, with the first procedure coming in 2019 while he was at the University of Tampa. Leasure is already 28 years old and will now spend approximately 18 months recovering from surgery.
His future with the White Sox is absolutely in jeopardy in light of recent events. As demonstrated on multiple occasions in 2026, Leasure was already on the outside looking in when it came to Chicago’s bullpen. An extended stint on the IL could further jeopardize his standing with the organization.
If there is any good news for Leasure, it’s that an 18-month recovery timeline lines up almost perfectly with the start of spring training. He won’t need to rush back in the middle of a season or immediately begin a minor league rehab assignment. He’ll be able to take his time throughout the recovery process and ensure he is fully healthy before returning to the mound.
His return would also coincide with an opportunity to work directly with White Sox coaches during spring training and give himself the best possible chance to make the team.
White Sox pitchers have been greatly affected by Tommy John surgery in recent years. One of the more prominent examples is right-handed starting pitcher Drew Thorpe, who remains in the minor leagues rehabbing after undergoing the procedure. His last MLB appearance came in 2024.
Leasure is the latest White Sox pitcher to go down, and he now begins the long road back to the mound.
