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White Sox assemble: How '26 South Siders came together so quickly

The Chicago White Sox are defying expectations by reaching the brink of their first AL Championship Series appearance since 2005, fueled by a roster built through trades, signings, and late-round draft picks rather than a deep farm system. Their rapid turnaround includes standout performances from players like Chase Meidroth, a 2022 fourth-round pick who has emerged as one of the American League’s best second basemen, posting a 4.5 fWAR this season.

The team’s underdog mentality, embraced by manager Will Venable, has galvanized a group of players who were overlooked in their careers but now thrive under pressure, including shortstop Colson Montgomery (No. 22 overall, 2021) and outfielder Sam Antonacci, a fifth-round pick in 2022 who has made an immediate impact.

Even their top three pitchers by fWAR—Sean Burke, Davis Martin, and Grant Taylor—were selected in rounds ranging from the second to the 14th, proving the Sox’s ability to develop talent from unexpected sources. With Game 3 of the ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field set to be their first postseason home game in three decades, the team faces a hostile crowd but channels past struggles into motivation, aiming to silence critics who once dismissed them as a perennial also-ran.

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