White Sox Avoid Injury Scare With Promising Pitching Prospect

White Sox Avoid Injury Scare With Promising Pitching Prospect

It’s only a matter of time before pitching prospect Tanner McDougal has nothing more to prove at the Triple-A level and joins the Chicago White Sox.

McDougal was a fifth-round pick by the White Sox in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Silverado High School in Las Vegas. Early in his pro career, there were far more lows than highs. But in 2025, he finally delivered the breakout season the White Sox had been waiting for.

He pitched at both High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, making 28 starts while logging 113.1 innings with 136 strikeouts and a 3.26 ERA. That performance earned him a spot in the Triple-A Charlotte rotation to open 2026, as well as a place on the White Sox 40-man roster after the team protected him from the Rule 5 Draft this past December.

All of that has McDougal on the doorstep of his MLB debut, and it probably won’t be much longer.

He’s already climbed to the No. 6 prospect in the organization, armed with a fastball that touches 101 mph, along with a 55-grade curveball and a 60-grade slider. The raw stuff is overwhelming. And now that he’s begun to command it more consistently, opposing hitters don’t stand much of a chance, regardless of the level.

The biggest priority for the White Sox now is keeping McDougal healthy, stretching him out so he can work deeper into games, and preparing him for the expectations that will come when he inevitably gets his opportunity in Chicago.

That’s why Thursday night brought a brief moment of concern.

McDougal looked sharp against the Durham Bulls in Charlotte before calling for a trainer in the top of the fourth inning after taking an awkward step off the mound while fielding a ground ball. He was removed from the game and later seen pacing in the dugout, visibly frustrated while speaking with coaches.