Chris Sale

Position: LH SP
Born: 3/30/1989
Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 183 lb
Acquired: Drafted 1st round (13th overall) in the 2010 draft out of Florida Gulf Coast
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #3 – 2010 Midseason
  • #1 – 2010 Postseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • AL All-Star, 2012
  • AL All-Star, 2013
  • AL All-Star, 2014
  • AL All-Star, 2015
  • AL All-Star, 2016
  • AL All-Star, 2017
  • AL All-Star, 2018

Scouting Report

When drafted Sale was a welcome addition to the weak group of left-handed pitchers in the White Sox system. He saw a jump in his velocity after his freshman year and switched to a 3/4 arm slot leading to being named the best prospect of the Cape Cod League in 2009 by Baseball America.

Sale has a mid-to-upper 90s fastball that has good movement and can get a lot of groundballs against professional hitters. His fastball has been considered a plus pitch. The key to Sale’s success as a starter is his plus changeup, which will allow him to get right-handers out. His third pitch is an average slider which is effective against lefties. Sale’s control is very good.

There were some questions about his durability due to his delivery when he was drafted. However, his control shows that he is able to repeat it. His upside depended on whether or not he could remain a starter in the majors, a question he definitively answered as one of the best pitchers of the decade. He quickly showed in his time with the Sox that he is a premium talent.