Chicago White Sox Clinch Playoff Berth

Lucas Giolito with the Chicago White Sox in 201
Lucas Giolito with the Chicago White Sox in 2019. Photo by Peter Joneleit/CSM/Shutterstock (10364219ae)

The Chicago White Sox are going to make their first playoff appearance since 2008.

The team clinched a postseason berth with Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. This will be only the second time the White Sox are going to be playing in the postseason since they won the World Series in 2005.

No one truly expected Chicago to be this good this year. The quality of play has been accelerated by the fact that the team has a number of rookie overachievers that have become contributors before anyone expected them to be.

Two years ago, the White Sox lost 100 games, which lead to a teardown of the entire organization and a diligent rebuild that was led by general manager Rick Hahn. Several big trades were key to the quick turnaround. Pitcher Lucas Giolito, who was one of the worst-graded starting pitchers in 2018, has turned into a no-hitter-throwing ace this year. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Adam Eaton.

Rookie center fielder Luis Robert has 11 home runes and 30 RBI, making his a sure finalist for the Rookie of the Year Award.

Along with excellent scouting and developing of young players and early trades, GM Hahn made two more huge offseason moves that turned the White Sox into the contenders they are, bringing in catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Dallas Keuchel.

With such a young core of players, the White Sox look to become perennial contenders, starting with this year’s opportunity to make some noise in the playoffs.