Years Lost to Injury, Pace Found: Urquidy’s Stunning Sox Resurrection
White Sox Updates: Comebacks, Struggles, and a New Record
Welcome to the White Sox Report! If you’re new to baseball or just want the simple version of what’s happening with the Chicago White Sox, you’re in the right place. We’ll break down everything like you’re five years old—no confusing stats, just the story.
Who Is Jose Urquidy and Why Does He Matter?
Imagine a pitcher who used to throw fastballs past the best hitters in the biggest games. That was Jose Urquidy three years ago. He helped the Houston Astros win in the playoffs. But then—twice—his elbow gave out. He needed Tommy John surgery (a major elbow reconstruction) not once, but two times.
The Long Road Back
- Two surgeries = years of rehab, not playing, just healing.
- Last month, the White Sox traded for him in a "small minors swap" (a low-risk, low-cost deal).
- Now at 31 years old, he’s trying to be a big leaguer again.
How He’s Changed His Game
Urquidy isn’t the same pitcher. He admits it: "Hitters are more powerful, pitchers too; throwing a lot of pitches 100 mph. I usually sit 93 mph."
So he got creative. In his last start at Wrigley Field, he threw six scoreless innings using:
- Sinkers → make the ball drop → hitters hit it into the ground (ground balls = easy outs).
- Changeups → look like fastballs but arrive slower → mess up the hitter’s timing.
- A mid-70s curveball → super slow for today’s game → hitters freeze or swing way early.
Key Idea: Urquidy isn’t trying to overpower anyone. He’s trying to confuse hitters’ timing.
The Secret Weapon: Messing With the Clock
Baseball now has a pitch clock—pitchers have 15–20 seconds to throw. Most rush. Urquidy? He uses the clock.
His Menu of Tricks
- Quick-pitch (throw fast, catch hitter off guard)
- Long holds (wait… wait… wait… then throw)
- Run the clock down (make the hitter stand there, antsy)
- Walk into delivery (no set rhythm, just flow)
But here’s the twist: It’s not to annoy hitters. It’s to calm himself.
Urquidy: "If I see I got 14 seconds on me, or 10, or more than that, I have 10 seconds to do whatever I want. I will take my time. I will breathe more. I will check a grip here. I will think what I’m gonna do next."
After two elbow surgeries, confidence in his arm is the real goal. The mind games? Just a bonus.
What Happened to Shane Smith?
From Hero to Struggling in Months
- Opening Day starter = the guy trusted to start Game 1.
- Last year: Threw 146⅓ innings—a career high by a mile.
- This year: 5.56 ERA in Triple-A (the minors). That’s… not good.
The Diagnosis
The Sox think two things went wrong:
| Problem | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Innings hangover | His arm is tired from throwing way more than ever before. |
| Delivery changes | He tweaked his mechanics in the offseason to "simplify" them. But… |
Brian Bannister (Sox pitching advisor): "He made some compensations that felt good to him, but I think took away some of the kind of magic elements he had in his delivery, and the variance in his movement… We were starting to get back to that, and then he was dealing with the shoulder stuff."
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Since returning from a rotator cuff strain last month:
- 31⅔ innings
- 22 walks (that’s a lot—almost 1 per inning)
- 5 walks in one game (Sunday)
He lost the "magic"—the deception and movement that made hitters miss. Now he’s searching for it again.
Kyle Teel: Almost Back
Kyle Teel (a top catching prospect) has been out with a left ankle injury. Good news:
- Tuesday: Starts a Triple-A rehab assignment (test runs in the minors before coming up).
- This weekend: Tested the ankle running bases—felt good.
- Bench coach Walker McKinven: "We’ll ease him back… But Kyle’s important. Kyle’s going to play."
Translation: He’s close. When he returns, he’ll get starter-level reps (regular playing time).
Sam Antonacci: The New "Hit-by-Pitch" King
The Record
- Old record: Carlos Quentin — 23 hit-by-pitches (HBP) in a season.
- New record: Sam Antonacci — 24 HBP… and counting.
How It Happened
Sunday, 5th inning: Nolan McLean throws a curveball. It hits Antonacci. History made.
Fun Fact: Getting hit on purpose is a skill—crowding the plate, not moving. But 24 times? That’s elite willingness to take one for the team.
Summary: The Big Picture
| Player | Status | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Urquidy | Back from 2 TJ surgeries; reinventing himself | Veteran presence + playoff experience for young Sox |
| Shane Smith | Lost in Triple-A; mechanics + fatigue issues | Former Opening Day starter needs to find himself |
| Kyle Teel | Rehab starts Tuesday; near return | Top prospect catcher coming to help the big club |
| Sam Antonacci | Set franchise HBP record (24) | Shows grit; gets on base the hard way |
FAQ: Your Questions, Answered
1. What is Tommy John surgery, and why is two times a big deal?
It’s elbow ligament reconstruction using a tendon from elsewhere in your body. Recovery takes 12–18 months. Doing it twice means Urquidy basically missed 3+ years of baseball. Most pitchers don’t come back from one—let alone two.
2. Why does Urquidy throw a curveball in the 70s? Isn’t that too slow?
Most MLB curveballs are 78–82 mph. His is mid-70s. That 6–8 mph gap hypnotizes hitters—their brains expect fast, get slow, and they swing early or freeze. It’s a "change of pace" weapon.
3. What’s a "pitch clock" and why does Urquidy play with it?
Since 2023, pitchers have 15 seconds (bases empty) / 20 seconds (runners on) to throw. Urquidy uses his full time to breathe, think, and reset. It’s legal—and smart.
4. Why did Shane Smith change his delivery if he was an All-Star?
Pitchers always tinker. He thought simplifying would help. But sometimes your "weird" mechanics are your secret sauce. He lost movement and deception—the "magic"—and then got hurt.
5. Is getting hit by a pitch 24 times actually a good thing?
For the team, yes—free baserunner, no at-bat wasted. For the player? It hurts. A lot. But Antonacci clearly decides: "Hit me, I’ll take first base." That toughness has value.
Final Thought
The White Sox are a mix of old souls finding new ways (Urquidy), young arms figuring it out (Smith), top prospects arriving (Teel), and grinders setting records (Antonacci). None of them throw 100 mph. But they’re all finding ways to compete.
Baseball isn’t just velocity. It’s timing, toughness, and thinking. And right now, the Sox have a little of each.