CHICAGO -- The White Sox are stacking wins.
With three straight seasons of 100-plus losses, they aren’t noticeable within the American League Central standings. But the organization hopes this move in the right direction translates soon into consistent on-field success.
“We just feel like the momentum is real,” general manager Chris Getz told MLB.com. “It’s tough to truly predict the pace of when you are going to be up there and fighting for a division or just playoffs in general. Oftentimes, it’s very organic. But truthfully, organically, it’s starting to come together.”
Here’s a look at four of those victories through the current rebuild.
Murakami arrives
Munetaka Murakami’s two-year, $34 million contract, announced at a press conference Monday, was a surprise in that the White Sox extended pursuit was kept under wraps.
“I’m still surprised that it was able to stay as quiet as it did,” a smiling Getz said. “In my history of the White Sox organization, this might be one of the bigger wins in regard to being able to keep it quiet. Obviously to get it to the finish line was a big thing for us.”
Murakami, 25, made a big impression at Monday’s introductory press conference, and his addition re-opens the Pacific Rim sector in player acquisition, along with White Sox media attention on the international market. He lengthens an already solid, developing young lineup, growing with that dynamic core.
“When you are looking at the power potential from the left side and just envisioning that in our lineup on a regular basis,” Getz said of Murakami, “gosh, what a boost I felt like it could be.”
Prior to Monday’s press conference, the White Sox announced Murakami will be donating grocery gift certificates to 100 Chicago families served by the St. James Food Pantry who face food insecurity to help brighten their holiday gatherings. He donated $10,000 to the Food Pantry to support its ongoing efforts to help Chicagoans.
They're No. 1
Getz was named the White Sox starting second baseman by then-manager Ozzie Guillen prior to the 2009 season. He wasn’t quite as excited at that rookie moment as he was when the White Sox received the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft out of the Draft Lottery at December’s Winter Meetings.
Roch Cholowsky, a UCLA shortstop, is the clear-cut choice at No. 1, with the early potential to become a franchise-altering star. Chicago's Draft pool also allows them to continue adding elite talent and begin to develop a second wave of young players beyond their current additions.
Second-half turnaround
Brooks Boyer, the White Sox executive vice president and chief revenue/marketing officer, was caught off guard when asked about a boost for the team’s season tickets, group seats and premium seats currently on sale on the day Murakami’s deal was announced. After all, the news was barely 24 hours old.
But the question really focused on building momentum, looking at the team’s 28-37 record after the All-Star break and the young core driving that improvement resonating with the fan base. In that context, pre-Murakami, there had been significant increases, according to Boyer.
“Absolutely, we are seeing an uptick. We are way, way ahead of what we were selling,” Boyer told MLB.com. “People are starting to buy in, and you are starting to see the formation of something that could be pretty darn good.
“It wasn’t the rental veterans that pieced this together. It was the young guys that were helping us win games last year. I think that’s what’s got our fan base excited.”
Leadership in place
Will Venable seems to be the perfect fit at manager, serving as the ideal co-pilot to Getz’s overall vision. Getz also has re-built the organization’s infrastructure, while going outside the White Sox to add new voices to the front office and coaching staff.
Look at Colson Montgomery as an example of this specific win. The talented shortstop was sent to Arizona for a reset after his pronounced struggles for Triple-A Charlotte through April of last season. Montgomery’s concentrated work with director of hitting Ryan Fuller propelled him to the Majors on July 4, where Montgomery launched 21 homers in 71 games and finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
There’s plenty of work still to be done for Getz and company. But they feel good about this team as it stands.
Stacking wins clearly beats losing.
“We feel it’s an improved ballclub, and you know it’s still fairly early in the offseason,” Getz said. “There’s going to be opportunities to make additions, and we’ll stay at it. We are continuing to grow and stack the wins.”