CHICAGO – White Sox players gathered at the Rate Field home dugout rail around 3 p.m. CT in anticipation of the upcoming big moment during Friday’s pregame.
There was no award presentation or special announcement to be made. This get-together centered upon Mike Vasil throwing a baseball for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery on April 2.
Vasil apparently also is known as the Windy City Wizard, as announced on a small speaker positioned near the dugout by Major League assistant Tony Medina prior to the pitch. Vasil made his way to left field, encouraged by a slow clap from his teammates, coaches and manager Will Venable, before throwing the first toss from 45 feet to catcher Kyle Teel amid a hearty round of applause.
“And the Sox win the pennant,” Vasil proclaimed, after raising his hands in victory and flipping his glove in the air.
By the time Vasil was done, he had thrown 20 pitches from 45 feet as the first step of this next step on the long recovery road which could have the right-hander back with the White Sox by mid-May 2027.
“It felt great. Shoutout to Dr. [Keith] Meister,” said Vasil after he threw. “A lot of panic this morning. I was in the shower and I was slightly concerned if I remembered how to throw a baseball.
“Overall, to have the support of my teammates too, it really made me emotional. Just the fact everyone is behind me and supporting me. I wanted to pitch this year and it didn’t happen, but to see them out there meant a lot.”
This story of Vasil has taken on a life of its own during the remarkable 2026 White Sox campaign, with all the highs and lows included. He was competing for a starting spot during Spring Training in Arizona when he suffered the arm injury during a strong effort against the Dodgers on March 14.
Surgery followed shortly thereafter, but Vasil’s teammates went to Venable to make sure the injured hurler would remain a part of the team throughout the season. It was that same sort of groundswell leading to the all-team meetup 3 1/2 hours before first pitch Friday.
“As this approached, there were a number of people that pinged me and just said, ‘Let’s make sure that we do this right and all get out there and support him,’” Venable said. “So yeah, collective thought there. I think everyone was on the same page that it was important to go out there and support Vas.”
“I owe them a lot,” said Vasil of the White Sox front office and his teammates. “This whole year has not been normal by any means, so for them to have me around, Will to have me around, the veterans wanting me around, it’s a rare thing and I know that and I’m so grateful. The fact they believe I can have an impact when I’m not playing, it’s been a special, special year.”
Those who don’t know the origin of the Windy City Wizard nickname haven’t been following the ‘26 White Sox. Teammate Jordan Leasure had a $20 wand overnighted through Amazon and presented it to Vasil before a home game against the Angels on April 27.
Since that moment, Vasil has produced a little bit of magic. Enough magic to get a wand giveaway night on Sept. 4 against the Twins at Rate Field.
Friday’s session marked the first time Vasil has come to the ballpark and felt like a real baseball player this season, not just a guy having fun waving a wand, by his own admission. Of course, that aspect of his game certainly has helped the American League Central leaders.
“Whatever happens this year, to me, I love every single one of those guys in the lockerroom,” Vasil said. “Guy makes an error, or strikes out, or doesn’t get an out in a big situation, that does not change the way I view them. And I like to let them know that and make them feel special in our relationship in our own way.
“Baseball is going to end someday. What’s more important to me is I can call that guy up and we can talk about anything but baseball. That’s what’s meaningful to me.”
Another throwing session from 45 feet is planned Sunday for Vasil. It will probably go off with a little less fanfare.