How the Chicago White Sox Bullpen Saved the Day (And What’s Next for Their Young Stars)

ELI5 Note: Think of a baseball team like a relay race. The starting pitcher runs the first few laps, then hands off to the bullpen (a group of relief pitchers) to finish the race. The closer is usually the fastest runner saved for the final lap. But sometimes the coach changes the plan based on who’s running well that day.

The Wild 24 Hours: Bullpen Heroes Emerge

The Chicago White Sox pulled off two stunning walk-off victories (winning in the final at-bat) against the New York Yankees in extra innings. The secret weapon? A bullpen that threw 11 straight innings without allowing a single earned run—all within a single exhausting day.

The Relay Race Breakdown

Wednesday Night:

1. Trevor Richards – Pitched a clean 8th inning (his 5th inning in 5 days)
2. Grant Taylor – Took over from the 9th into the 11th inning, recording a season-high 7 outs
3. Jordan Hicks – Worked a scoreless 12th inning (3rd time pitching in 4 days)

Thursday Game:

1. Sean Newcomb – Pitched 2 innings (his usual role)
2. Bryan Hudson – 3rd appearance in 4 days
3. Chris Murphy – 5th appearance during the 7-game homestand
4. Seranthony Domínguez – Finally entered in the 12th inning for his first high-leverage (super important) moment in weeks

Important Callout: High-leverage situation = A moment where the game is on the line (close score, runners on base, late innings). Managers save their best pitchers for these moments.

Seranthony Domínguez: The Closer Who Lost His Role

Domínguez signed a 2-year, $20 million contract to be the team’s closer (the pitcher who finishes games). But after blowing two saves in a row last month, manager Will Venable stopped using him in the biggest moments.

The Numbers Tell the Story

• Walk rate: 14.1% (very high – means he struggles to throw strikes)
• Strikeout rate: 27.8% (excellent – he misses lots of bats)
• Fastball velocity: Sitting at 97 mph (elite speed)
• Recent stretch: Only 1 run allowed in last 9 appearances (a solo home run)
• Season ERA: Dropped to 4.21 after Thursday’s scoreless inning

The Mechanical Fix

Domínguez and coaches identified a common pitcher problem: his front shoulder flies open too early during his delivery, causing him to yank pitches off-target (like pulling a door handle too hard and ripping it off).

Domínguez’s Own Words: "If I’m not doing my job right now, I understand that I can’t be in the biggest situation. Thank God we have really good guys here… They’re taking care of it for now and I’m happy for my teammates."

The Manager’s Dilemma

Venable likes a flexible, matchup-based approach (using different pitchers based on who’s hitting). But Domínguez was paid to be the traditional closer. If Domínguez returns to dominance, does Venable give him the 9th inning back—or stick with the committee that’s working?

Trevor Richards: The 33-Year-Old "Rookie" Reinvention

At 33, Richards looks like a wise veteran with his thick glasses and gray-white hair. But this is arguably his best season since 2021 (45⅔ innings, 3.55 ERA).

The Secret Weapon: A Fixed Changeup

A changeup is a slow pitch that looks like a fastball but drops suddenly. Richards’ changeup now has a 48.4% whiff rate (batters swing and miss nearly half the time)—4th best in MLB among pitchers who throw it 200+ times.

The "Too Good" Problem

Last year, Richards’ changeup got too slow and too loopy ("depthy"). It moved a lot but batters didn’t chase it (swing at it).

His fix:

1. Throw it harder (less speed difference from fastball)
2. Keep it on a better plane (straighter path, not a huge rainbow arc)
3. Think "throw it straight down the middle" – the movement happens naturally

Simple Analogy: Imagine a magician making a coin disappear. If the trick is too flashy, the audience sees the sleight of hand. Richards toned down the "magic" so batters can’t tell the difference until it’s too late.

Colson Montgomery: The Teenage Power Hitter Growing Pains

Montgomery (21) is the shortstop of the future with elite power (6 HR in June). But July has been rough: .202/.253/.333 with 28 strikeouts vs. 6 walks.

The Swing Mechanics

• Huge uppercut swing = Massive power but low contact quality
• Squared-up rate: 16.2% (bottom of MLB – means he rarely hits the ball perfectly on the sweet spot)
• Average launch angle: 23.5° (way up from 18° last year – hitting too many pop-ups/fly balls)

The Adjustment Process

Hitting coach Ryan Fuller explains the daily routine:

1. Post-game review with coaches Derek Shomon & Joel McKeithan
2. Identify the "miss": Montgomery consistently swings under fastballs (gets underneath them)
3. Goal: Turn those foul balls into hard line drives or home runs
4. Mantra: "I’m trying to hit a short line drive over the shortstop’s head"

Fuller on Montgomery: "He’ll be the first one to tell you, ‘I’m one swing away, I’m one adjustment away.’"

Summary: Three Storylines to Watch

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

1. What does "walk-off" mean?

A walk-off happens when the home team wins in the bottom of the final inning (or extra innings). The game ends immediately—the losing team literally "walks off" the field.

2. Why does Domínguez have a high walk rate but also high strikeouts?

He throws really hard (97 mph) with a nasty sweeper (slider), so batters swing and miss a lot. But his delivery inconsistency means he often misses the strike zone, giving free passes (walks). It’s the classic "effectively wild" pitcher profile.

3. What’s a "changeup" and why does speed matter?

A changeup is a deceptive slow pitch thrown with fastball arm speed. If it’s too slow, batters see it coming. Richards found the sweet spot: fast enough to fool them, slow enough to drop.

4. Why is Montgomery’s launch angle a problem?

Launch angle = the vertical angle the ball leaves the bat.

• 10-25° = Line drives (best for hits)
• 25°+ = Fly balls (more home runs but more outs)
  Montgomery at 23.5° is hitting too many catchable fly balls instead of line drives.

5. What does "high-leverage" mean in baseball?

Leverage measures how much a single at-bat changes the team’s chance of winning.

• High leverage: Tie game, 9th inning, runners on base (every pitch matters enormously)
• Low leverage: Up 5 runs, 7th inning, bases empty (mistakes barely matter)
  Managers save their best pitchers for high-leverage moments.

Final Thought: The White Sox are building something interesting—a young, flexible bullpen that adapts daily, a veteran reinventing himself, and a superstar prospect learning to harness his power. Whether Domínguez closes or the committee continues, one thing’s clear: this team finds ways to win.