{"id":495302,"date":"2026-02-24T01:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/495302\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T01:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:57:14","slug":"white-sox-pitcher-grant-taylor-can-bring-the-heat-now-its-time-to-fine-tune-his-arsenal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/495302\/","title":{"rendered":"White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor can bring the heat; now it’s time to fine-tune his arsenal"},"content":{"rendered":"

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. \u2014 Throwing 100 mph is no longer a big deal.<\/p>\n

Eighty-two major-league pitchers threw at least one pitch at 100 mph or faster in 2025, a season that saw more than 50,000 pitches clocked at 98 mph or higher.<\/p>\n

One hundred forty minor-league pitchers touched 100 mph, too, according to Baseball America, so there\u2019s more heat on the way.<\/p>\n

White Sox<\/a> right-hander Grant Taylor, who made his spring debut with a dominant and efficient inning of high-octane work Monday against the Rockies, entrenched himself in the 100-mph club with 37 pitches in triple digits last season, including one at 102.2 on June 22 at Toronto on the way to the first of his six saves.<\/p>\n

The fastball is quite the weapon for Taylor, even when upper-90s and triple-digit heat isn\u2019t rattling hitters the way it used to. Hitters are timing the not-so-rare-anymore velocity with rising competence. Therein lies the emphasis on equally valuable \u2014 or even more valuable \u2014 tools for pitchers: fastball command and keeping hitters off-balance.<\/p>\n

Taylor, 23, has known this for some time.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Nowadays, the best starters and relievers throw 100-plus, but every single one of the best starters has five or six pitch mixes,\u2019\u2019 Taylor told the Sun-Times on Monday. \u2018\u2018So it shows that the game is adjusting to the velo. The hitters are getting a little better, so you have to have more options to get guys out.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018[Tigers ace Tarik] Skubal hit 103 last year, and he\u2019s still got a great pitch mix. Velo in short stints can carry you through an outing. But for long-term success, you need some other pitches.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Taylor featured a four-seam fastball, curve, slider, cutter and changeup last season. This spring, he\u2019s introducing a two-seam fastball that runs away from left-handers.<\/p>\n

Drafted in the second round out of LSU in 2023, Taylor posted a 1.01 ERA in 15 outings last season at Double-A Birmingham before breaking into the majors. He made 36 appearances with the Sox (34 of them in relief) and posted an unremarkable 4.91 ERA. But he struck out 54 batters and walked 15 in 36\u2154 innings and finished well, allowing no runs in his last 10 outings.<\/p>\n

Starting might be in Taylor\u2019s future \u2014 that\u2019s his desire \u2014 but he will earn his big-league chops in the back of the Sox\u2019 bullpen for now, likely with multi-inning assignments. He pitched a perfect inning Monday, striking out two Rockies and throwing 10 of his 12 pitches for strikes. Three pitches hit 100 mph and two others 99.6 and 99.9.<\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s live batting-practice sessions have been must-see events early in camp. He didn\u2019t disappoint last week, striking our four consecutive batters and breaking teammate Andrew Benintendi\u2019s bat.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018It\u2019s gross,\u2019\u2019 Benintendi said of Taylor\u2019s arsenal. \u2018\u2018He has the 100-plus fastball, but he\u2019s worked on some stuff in the offseason that will make him even more effective.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

For all of the positive vibes simmering around shortstop Colson Montgomery\u2019s rookie breakthrough last season, a promising young catching core and the signing of free-agent Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, whether general manager Chris Getz\u2019s rebuild can emerge from the muck of three consecutive 100-loss seasons largely hinges on quality pitching depth.<\/p>\n

The master plan envisions Taylor being part of a contending staff, perhaps in the starting rotation with lefty prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, who are expected to make their big-league debuts this season.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018We\u2019ve had conversations about how that might play out in the future, but at this time I\u2019m solely focused on doing the best I can in the pen,\u2019\u2019 Taylor said.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Any innings in the big leagues are fun. I enjoyed [the bullpen] last year, and I anticipate I\u2019ll enjoy it again this year.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Smith became the second Rule 5 player, along with second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, to make an All-Star team last season.<\/p>\n

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Murakami, who played five innings at first Sunday against the Brewers, will start Monday as the designated hitter against the Rockies before returning to first on Wednesday and Thursday.<\/p>\n

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In a sport increasingly obsessed with power, load management and top prospects, Antonacci is creating his own path to the majors.<\/p>\n

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Sosa devoted the offseason to working on his defensive versatility, but will it be enough to earn a spot on the Sox\u2019 Opening Day roster?<\/p>\n

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