CHICAGO -- Call it being ready for the challenge. Call it preparedness. Call it confidence.
Whatever the exact description, the youthful White Sox crew has shown itself proudly since arriving from Triple-A Charlotte to the Major Leagues. And a 4-1 victory over the Royals on Saturday afternoon at Rate Field was that rule rather than an exception.
Rookie first baseman Tim Elko launched a two-run home run in the second, adding a double in the seventh for his first career multi-hit game. Fellow rookie shortstop Chase Meidroth knocked out a solo blast in the third off Michael Wacha, while rookie catcher Edgar Quero chipped in a hit, an RBI via an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and did another solid job of catching another quality start from Adrian Houser (2-1).
Let’s not forget Kyle Teel, the No. 2 White Sox prospect and No. 25 overall per MLB Pipeline, who has reached base five times via three hits and two walks since joining the White Sox (22-43) on Friday. That hoped-for bright future is beginning to show in the present.
“There’s a lot of fight in this group, and you saw it today,” said Teel, who had two hits Saturday in his first start at designated hitter. “It was really good to see. We’ll come back here tomorrow and fight again.”
“Everybody just seems ready,” Elko said. “With the staff we have in Triple-A and throughout the organization, everybody feels comfortable and just wants to play baseball."
Charlotte manager Sergio Santos and his staff have done a solid job getting these top prospects ready for big league life, and Santos might unofficially lead the International League in emotional pregame messages to players regarding their exciting call-ups. The White Sox certainly have guided these players but let them have some say in reaching the next level.
Teel was thought to be in Charlotte for a good part of this season, gaining valuable experience behind the plate and giving ample catching opportunities to himself and Quero at different levels. Yet, Teel not only was crushing the baseball, but showed his readiness on the catching side of things as well, leading to the White Sox making their move.
"He plays as hard as anybody,” said Elko of Teel. “He's going to give it everything he's got. He's super talented and an even better kid. I'm super happy for how he's started and I can't wait to see what he's got going forward.”
“They're not scared. They're not timid,” Houser said. “They're not scared of the big lights. Sometimes it gets the best of you, but these guys are coming up here, they're ready to go. They're putting the work in every day and they're locked in. So it's great to see.”
Kansas City (33-32) had a prime scoring chance in the fourth, with runners on second and third and nobody out. But Salvador Perez struck out on a 3-2 pitch from Houser well out of the zone, Jac Caglianone grounded back to Houser and Drew Waters took a 3-2 pitch at the top of the zone to end the inning.
Houser allowed one run over six innings, striking out six and walking one, moving his season ERA to 1.48. He doubled over on the mound in the sixth, but he wasn’t hurt as much as being totally gassed and near vomiting in a game as he has done previously in 2018 and 2019 with the Brewers.
“It would have been the third time,” said a smiling Houser, who threw 92 pitches before giving way to three relievers. “I'm sure some Chicago fans wanted to see a puke and rally but I was able to get past that and get out of the inning."
The White Sox matched their season-high winning streak at three games, while improving to 4-2 during this American League Central homestand against the Tigers and Royals and 12-7 over their last 19 home games. In ‘24, the White Sox finished 1-12 against the playoff-bound Royals, but on Sunday, they go for a three-game sweep.
This team is getting better by the day. The young players are leading the charge.
“Yeah, really good stuff from those guys,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Another great crowd, great environment for those guys to play in. And they did a great job. They have been put in a bunch of different tough spots and they’ve come through.”
“Like I told the guys, this is a good ballclub,” said Houser of the White Sox. “The record doesn't reflect that right now, but this team's a really good team. … The potential is there for sure.”