GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The name of White Sox right-hander Gus Varland and the phrase “social media sensation” seems like an odd combination.
But as the team completes its third day of workouts for pitchers and catchers, that’s where the 28-year-old resides thanks to his willingness to try something fun with a very creative and talented White Sox social media team. Here’s how it all went down:
Varland was living in Chicago during the offseason with his fiancée, and he approached the White Sox about having something for him to do. Jordan Doyle, the White Sox senior manager of social media, had just viewed a post on X (formerly Twitter) related to Varland and had an idea for a video.
That post had Varland’s Baseball-Reference page with a message above it beginning, “Who the hell is this?” and then going on to question if Varland really threw in as many games as he did in 2024 and was successful in the process. The entertaining ensuing video, filmed at Rate Field, confirmed Varland is a real person, and that video has more than 1 million views.
“I just went with it, and it turned out great. I was really surprised it turned out as well received as it was,” Varland said prior to throwing during Friday’s workouts. “At the end of the day, I want to do all the things I can in the Major Leagues. You are only a Major Leaguer one time in your life, so why not?”
There’s more to Varland than a self-deprecating sense of humor. After being selected off waivers from the Dodgers on Aug. 2 last season, Varland finished with a 3.54 ERA and 24 strikeouts against four walks over 20 1/3 innings with Chicago. Competition is the watchword during the first White Sox camp under manager Will Venable, but Varland seems to have a fairly secure hold on one of the eight relief slots.
With no clear-cut closer, Varland could be in consideration for that ninth-inning role or something in the high-leverage realm. He’s not picky when it comes to his job for the White Sox.
“I’ll do whatever the team wants. If they want me pitching in the third inning, no problem. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Varland said. “I’ll do it all. If they wanted me to be a starter right now, I’d do it.”
“We talked to him in the office yesterday, and he's got that Midwestern thing about him where he is a very polite, nice guy,” Venable said of the Minnesota native. “But then you watch him compete in his bullpens and stuff, and that bulldog comes out in it, which is awesome, you love to see that, too. Love seeing what I’ve seen from Gus and excited to get to know him more. Gus is awesome.”
Louie Varland, Gus’ younger brother by one year, is part of the Twins’ pitching staff for a fourth straight season. The two teams battle from March 31 to April 2 at Rate Field, which would mark the first time the brothers will have faced each other in the Majors, by Gus’ recollection.
They have a 1-1 record in the Minors, again per Gus’ memory, but getting to stand in the same outfield together at the big league level would be something extra special. By the way, they both wear jersey No. 37.
“It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be everything we’ve ever dreamed of,” Gus Varland said. “Hopefully one day we are on the same team and in the big leagues together. For now, this is unreal. We have the same [jersey] number and the same division and close to home. It’s going to be an awesome year.
“Every time in the backyard playing Wiffle ball, we would always talk about it. Imagining and dreaming about it. Going from Minnesota to The Show, it’s a long shot and it’s hard, but we did it. Both of us doing it is really cool.”
For those who can’t get enough Gus Varland social media content, he recently revealed having a pet hedgehog named Olive when he was younger as a fun fact about himself. For those more worried about his on-field exploits, he has a stronger belief in his ability to succeed than ever.
“Kind of everything coming together and just realizing I do belong here. I am good enough to be in the big leagues,” Varland said. “It’s an awesome feeling.
“You are not scared to go out there anymore. You want to get out there and dominate and you know you can do it.”