Lets meet Chris Sale. A 6’6 180lb, 23 year old lefty from Lakeland, FLorida. He went to Lakeland Senior high school. Sale won 2006 17U/07 WWBA Grad. National Championship, 2006 18U/06 WWBA Brad. National Championship, 2007 PG BCS 18u Florida Regional. He had a chance after to graduation to go to the Colorado Rockies in the 23rd round of the MLB draft, but chose to go to Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. Sale played two years at Florida Gulf University, where in his second year he went 11-0 with a 2.01 ERA.

Chris Sale was drafted 13th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2010 MLB draft. Sale went to the Sox single A team, the Winston-Salem Dash, where he pitched in just 4 games in relief pitching just 4 innings, with a 2.25 ERA, and striking out 4. He then got called up to the White Sox triple A team, the Charlotte Kinghts, where he pitched in just 7 games pitching just 6.1 innings, but striking out 15 while giving up just 3 hits. Sale had a 2.84 ERA before being called up to the majors.

With a 95+ MPH fastball, 85 MPH slider, 85 MPH change-up, and a big 65 MPH curveball all coming from the left side of the mound, Sale was a definite need in the bullpen for the Sox. Sale spent his first two years with the Sox in the bullpen. In 2011 Sale even fluttered with getting the closer role and ended up with 8 saves on the season. The White Sox knew what they had in Sale was something special, and they had to protect their young arm.

Then came 2012, where the then 22 year old was ready to be put in the starting rotation. Sale this season has been nothing but spectacular for the Chicago White Sox. Chris Sale is 11-2 on the season with a 2.11 ERA and has stuck out 102 while only walking 25 batters. Sale has won 8 games in a row giving up just 13 runs in 72.2 innings pitched, while striking out 69 batter, including a career high 15 on May 28th. Chris Sale is a serious contender for the cy young if all keeps up, and Sale is currently 1st in ERA(2.11), 2nd win win percentage(84), 3rd in wins(11) and WHIP(.98), and 9th in complete games with 1. Many are starting to compare Chris Sale to Randy Johnson, still early but we’ll wait and see.

Coach Tom