Southside Showdown

When the White Sox first signed Munetaka Murakami back in December, it was a moment of cautious optimism for fans and supporters. There was no doubt about the caliber of talent the White Sox were bringing into the organization, but he’d yet to prove it at the big league level, and White Sox fans dealt with the double-edged sword of worrying he’d price himself out of their ability to sign him long term with too much success.

The White Sox were well-represented in Tuesday’s MLB All-Star game, with three representatives heading to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2021. Though none were starters, Miguel Vargas, Tristan Peters, and Munetaka Murakami each got into the game and got an at bat, and Vargas in particular made a big impact on the game.

The White Sox full 2026 draft class has been revealed and it’s filled with exciting names. First overall pick Roch Cholowsky is the most exciting prospect to join the White Sox organization in years, and the team followed it up by selecting Landon Thome, the son of Hall-of-Famer Jim Thome. But White Sox fans shouldn’t sleep on second-round pick Cole Prosek either, especially hearing who White Sox scouting director Mike Shirley compared him to.

The 2026 MLB draft is in the books and the White Sox class has received positive reviews by most evaluators. The team drafted 11 players in MLB Pipeline’s Top-250 and is expected to sign all of them. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis listed them as one of his favorite classes, and it starts with first overall pick Roch Cholowsky. The UCLA standout joins the White Sox after two impressive seasons at the college level, and he’s excited to get to work.

With the 2026 All-Star game slated for Tuesday night, the White Sox will see representation they haven’t seen since the 2021 season. After a pair of late injury replacements, Munetaka Murakami and Tristan Peters have joined Miguel Vargas on the American League roster. It’s the first time since 2022 that the White Sox have had more than one All-Star, and the first since 2021 that they have more than two.

It has been some kind of weekend on the South side. The surprising White Sox finished the first half of the season in a tie with Cleveland atop the AL Central. Chris Getz and his staff had the privilege of drafting Roch Cholowsky, who threw out the first pitch on Sunday and signed for a record signing bonus of $10.35 million. With the All-Star game on Tuesday in Philadelphia, the White Sox have a chance to start this week making some more memories.

The White Sox head into the All-Star break in a tie for first place in the AL Central, but there’s no question the team isn’t a finished product. The team’s bullpen, which was among their biggest issues in 2025, has been inconsistent so far this season, and the White Sox likely have their eye on the trade market for reinforcements.

The 2026 MLB Draft is officially in the books and the Chicago White Sox have added 21 players to their organization. Among the players selected: 11 hitters, 10 pitchers, 17 college players and 4 prep players. Roch Cholowsky, of course, headlines the class at the top, with Landon Thome and Cole Prosek marking high-upside prep bats following in the second round.

Landon Thome was always meant to be in Chicago Jul 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Landon Thyme, Chicago White Sox’s 34th pick in the 2026 draft, right, hugs his father, former Chicago White Sox player Jim Thome after he threw out a ceremonial first pitch before the team’s game against the Athletics at Rate Field. . Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The White Sox drafting Landon Thome on Saturday afternoon was the furthest thing from surprising.

Let's face it. The job that GM Chris Getz has done with the 2026 White Sox has been spectacular. With a payroll that would make the thrifty Charles Comiskey proud (ranked 26th in the MLB), Getz has taken a team that has lost 100-plus games the last three season and turned it into a contender for the AL Central. Something like this happens only if you hit on most of the moves you make, and Getz has done that. Crochet trade? Win. Take a chance on a player from Japan? Success.