The Double Duty Classic (DDC) returned to Rate Field on July 22, where some of the most talented inner-city high school baseball players in the country competed in front of coaches, scouts and their community. This year, the East team took home the win over the West team.

Named after Negro League standout Ted “Double Duty” Radcliff, the DDC has served since 2007 as a showcase of emerging top prospects that honors the tradition and history of Negro League Baseball in Chicago. The DDC uplifts talented inner-city high school athletes by giving them the opportunity to display their skills and celebrates the generations Negro Leaguers before them who made these opportunities possible.

Many DDC Alumni have been selected in the MLB Draft over the years. Most recently, shortstop Shai Robinson was drafted to the Minnesota Twins and outfielder Eddie King Jr. was drafted to the Pittsburg Pirates in 2025.

Top Inner-City Talent Shine at Double Duty Classic was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with 20 of their 21 selections from the 2026 First-Year Player Draft, including №1 overall pick shortstop Roch Cholowsky ($10.35 million signing-bonus) and six undrafted free agents.

Cholowsky, 21, was rated by Baseball America as the №1 overall prospect in the draft class. He hit .329/.448/.624 (224–681) with 41 doubles, 52 home runs, 167 RBI, 105 walks, 191 runs scored and a 1.072 OPS in 178 games over three seasons (2024–26) with UCLA. Cholowsky ranks among the school career leaders in home runs (fifth), runs scored (fifth), on-base percentage (tied for ninth) and RBI (T10th).

Cholowsky signed for the largest bonus in MLB draft history, surpassing the record set by Chase Burns and Charlie Condon in 2024 ($9.3 million).

Following is a list of the White Sox 2026 draft selections and undrafted free agents who have signed:

White Sox Announce 2026 Draft Signings was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today is World Social Media Day. Check out the White Sox content team’s favorite posts from this year!

Be sure to follow the Chicago White Sox on social for the latest news and trends!

White Sox Content Team Shares Favorite Posts This Year (So Far) was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

White Sox players Sam Antonacci, Jarred Kelenic and Chase Meidroth joined more than 75 fan volunteers to help organize and transform the warehouse space, working alongside White Sox legends Harold Baines and Ron Kittle.

Guided by City Year Chicago group leaders, volunteers spent the day painting murals, cleaning, refurbishing furniture and completing light construction projects to support local families.

Chicago Furniture Bank serves as an intermediary between Chicagoans who have extra furniture and those without it. As of last year, the Furniture Bank has furnished more than 20,000 homes for over 45,000 individuals while redistributing more than 20 million pounds of furniture throughout the Chicagoland community. Each furnished home helps provide stability, dignity and comfort for families rebuilding their lives.

The White Sox Volunteer Corps continues to unite fans, players, alumni, staff and community partners in support of service initiatives across Chicago. Through the organization’s signature volunteer program, participants have provided more than 72,000 hours of service across over 975 community events designed to help make Chicago a better place to live, work and play.

To learn more about the Volunteer Corps and sign up for upcoming events, visit whitesox.com/volunteercorps.

White Sox Volunteer Corps Joins City Year Chicago for Day of Service at Chicago Furniture Bank was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Rooted in a longstanding commitment, sustainability has become an increasingly central part of the White Sox gameday experience at Rate Field. In 2026, it’s more than just an initiative; it’s a commitment woven into every corner of the ballpark.

This season, the Chicago White Sox are honored to be recognized with Major League Baseball’s prestigious Power Pitch Green Award, which is presented to a club that has demonstrated exemplary efforts in preserving energy and power. It’s a meaningful milestone and a reflection of the work happening behind the scenes every day to reduce environmental impact while enhancing the fan experience.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers supporting this incredible recognition:

Year-over-year decreases in electricity and water usage, along with hundreds of tons of materials diverted from landfills, show how operational improvements can add up over the course of a season.

New in 2026, several upgrades around Rate Field are designed to make those efforts even more tangible. Low-flow fixtures have been installed throughout the ballpark, additional water bottle refill stations are now available to all fans, and an on-site vegetable garden is supplying fresh ingredients to Levy’s premium kitchens, bringing sustainability full circle, from sourcing to service.

At the park operations level, sustainability efforts are delivering measurable results across food and beverage. In partnership with Levy and concourse concessions partner Delaware North, the club has expanded composting and cooking oil recycling programs to significantly reduce food waste. At the same time, the continued use of recyclable aluminum cups on the concourse and plant-based plates, containers, and flatware in suites is helping replace traditional single-use items with more sustainable alternatives. These initiatives are all about driving a meaningful reduction in overall gameday emissions.

The work doesn’t end when the lights go down at Rate Field.

As part of this year’s Earth Day action, the White Sox Charities-supported Sox Give team, a front office-led volunteer group, will head to Southside Blooms’ Englewood Farm on April 21 to support cleanup, composting, and general upkeep. It’s a hands-on way the White Sox continue to invest in the community.

From energy savings and waste reduction to community engagement, the work continues to evolve each season. As the White Sox celebrate Earth Day, the season is just getting started — both on the field and in how we join fans to care for our community. Do your part by recycling, taking advantage of the ballpark’s composting efforts, and flipping the switch off at home when you can. Then, bring that same energy right back to Rate Field on gameday. Together, small actions can add up to a big win for the environment.

A Greener Gameday: Chicago White Sox Celebrate Earth Day was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Chicago White Sox have announced their player development staff and assignments for the 2026 season under Paul Janish, director of player development. Janish enters his third year overseeing the organization’s minor-league operations and player development system.

During Janish’s first two seasons in the organization, Class AA Birmingham claimed the 2024 Southern League Championship and repeated as league champions in 2025. It marked the first time in Birmingham’s history to win back-to-back championships and the Barons became the first team in the White Sox system to accomplish the feat since the Appleton Foxes won three straight Midwest League Championships from 1982–84.

Chad Pinder (Class AAA Charlotte), Patrick Leyland (Birmingham), Guillermo Quiroz (Class High A Winston-Salem), Jayson Nix (Class A Kannapolis) and Daniel González (Arizona Complex League White Sox) will serve as the organization’s managers in 2026.

Pinder returns for his second season as a manager in the White Sox organization and his first at Charlotte after playing 13 professional seasons from 2011–23, including seven (2016–22) with the Athletics. Leyland, who spent last season managing Winston-Salem, begins his first with the Barons. Quiroz returns for his 10th season in the Sox system to manage the Dash after leading Birmingham to its second straight SL title in 2025. Nix enters his first season as a manager in the White Sox system after playing seven major-league seasons from 2008–14, including parts of two years with the White Sox from 2009–10. González returns for his fourth straight season as manager of the ACL White Sox.

Zach McAllister (pitching consultant), Sherman Johnson (hitting coordinator) and Ross Steedley (catching coordinator) begin their first season in the White Sox organization. McAllister pitched in nine major-league seasons with Cleveland (2011–18), Detroit (2018) and New York-AL (2023). Johnson served as an assistant hitting coach/upper level hitting coordinator on Baltimore’s major-league coaching staff in 2025, his third season with the organization. He also worked as the Orioles minor league upper-level hitting coordinator in 2024 and as hitting coach at Class AA Bowie in 2023. Steedley spent the last two years as an assistant coach at Appalachian State University.

Haley Poole joins the White Sox as the education coordinator. Poole previously served as a teacher of English and Culture for the Texas Rangers and led the Spanish and English for speakers of other languages department at Spartanburg School District Two in Chesnee, S.C., from 2021–25.

According to the most-recent Baseball America ratings, the White Sox are one of three teams with six players ranked among the Top 100 prospects in baseball: left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz (№26) infielder Caleb Bonemer (№27), outfielder Braden Montgomery (№73), left-hander Hagen Smith (№91), infielder Billy Carlson (№92) and right-hander Tanner McDougal (№100).

Following are the White Sox full player development assignments for 2026:

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAFF

• Director, Player Development: Paul Janish
• Director, Minor League Administration: Kathy Potoski
• Senior Advisor to Pitching: Brian Bannister
• Director of Hitting: Ryan Fuller
• Director, Pitching Strategy: Rod Larson
• Assistant Director, International Scouting/Latin America Operations: Louis Silverio
• Manager, Player Development/International Operations: Grant Flick
• Education Coordinator: Haley Poole
• Special Assistant, Player Development: Phil Nevin
• Special Assistant to the Executive Vice President/General Manager: Doug Sisson
• Arizona Facility Manager: Joe Lachcik
• Director, Clubhouse Staff: Dan Flood
• Charlotte Clubhouse Manager: Bryant Biasotti
• Assistant Charlotte Clubhouse Manager: Corbin Balzer
• Birmingham Clubhouse Manager: Chance Miller
• Winston-Salem Clubhouse Manager: Sean Thomas
• Kannapolis Clubhouse Manager: Eli Fugitt

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INSTRUCTORS/ROVERS

• Field/Infield Coordinator: Ryan Newman
• Pitching Coordinator: Matt Zaleski
• Assistant Pitching Coordinator: Curt Hasler
• Lower-Level Pitching Coordinator: Hiram Burgos
• Pitching Consultant: Zach McAllister
• Hitting Coordinator: Sherman Johnson
• Assistant Hitting Coordinator: Danny Santin
• Catching Coordinator: Ross Steedley
• Rehab Pitching Coach: Garvin Alston
• Sports Science Coordinator: Joe D’Amato
• Player Development Biomechanist: Motoki Sakurai
• Player Development Analyst: Ethan Bain
• Player Development Analyst: Zubin Srivastava
• Nutritionist: Sarah Walsh
• Mental Performance: Cristian Guzman

MEDICAL STAFF

• Medical Coordinator: Kevin Pillifant
• Physical Therapist: Cheyenne Conger
• Physical Therapist: Melissa Tighe
• Performance Coordinator: Sergio Rojas
• Assistant Performance Coordinator: John Perry
• Medical Administrator: Scott Takao

CLASS AAA CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

• Manager: Chad Pinder
• Pitching Coach: Scott Aldred
• Hitting Coach: Cam Seitzer
• Bench Coach: Pat Listach
• Catching/Development Coach: Ángel Rosario
• Trainer: Carson Wooten
• Performance Coach: George Timke

CLASS AA BIRMINGHAM BARONS

• Manager: Pat Leyland
• Pitching Coach: John Kovalik
• Hitting Coach: Aaron Bray
• Bench Coach: Daniel Millwee
• Trainer: AJ Smith
• Performance Coach: Juan Maldonado

CLASS HIGH A WINSTON-SALEM DASH

• Manager: Guillermo Quiroz
• Pitching Coach: Jacob Dorris
• Hitting Coach: Adam Sinkoe
• Bench Coach: Tyler Coolbaugh
• Trainer: Austin Smith
• Performance Coach: Logan Jones

CLASS A KANNAPOLIS CANNON BALLERS

• Manager: Jayson Nix
• Pitching Coach: Rob Hardy
• Hitting Coach: Charlie Romero
• Bench Coach: Xavier Fernandez
• Trainer: Kira Felise
• Performance Coach: Rodain Delus

ARIZONA COMPLEX LEAGUE WHITE SOX

• Manager: Daniel González
• Pitching Coach: Anders Dzurak
• Hitting Coach: Gerardo Olivares
• Bench Coach: Mike Gellinger
• Development Coach: Miguel Gonzalez
• Trainer: Abby McGurrin
• Performance Coach: Max Huberman

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ACADEMY | DSL WHITE SOX

• Manager, Complex Operations: Wellington Morrobel
• Manager, Administration: Carolina Santos
• Manager: Anthony Núñez
• Pitching Coach: JC Sanner
• Pitching Coach: Carlos Chavez
• Infield Coach: Guillermo Reyes
• Hitting Coach: Moisés Núñez
• Development Coach: Rigaberto Silverio
• Trainer: Gustavo De La Cruz
• Assistant Trainer: Neftali Diaz
• Performance Coach: Fran Batista
• Assistant Performance Coach: Carlos Javier
• Video Coordinator: Miguel Pérez
• Lead Educator: Pablo Frías
• Education Assistant: Rubén Benavides

White Sox Announce 2026 Player Development Staff was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Honoring the rich cultural tradition, history and lasting contributions brought forth by the African American community, the White Sox celebrated African American Heritage Night on Thursday, August 28 vs. the New York Yankees.

Here’s a look at giveaways and activities fans enjoyed:

BMO Local Business Hub: Pregame at Gate 5, fans experienced the BMO Local Business Hub, where the Sox teamed up with several African American–owned businesses to showcase everything from apparel and skincare to food. Featured vendors included Ava’s Pet Palace, Essie’s Heart Healthy Delish, and My Crown My Glory.

Game Changers Photographer: Helping capture the night’s celebration, the White Sox invited photographer Dylan Hill as part of the Game Changers series, presented by Modelo. Hill found his passion for photography while he was an intern at the Boys and Girls Club. Now in its ninth season empowering underrepresented communities in sports, the series is one of the many ways the organization continues to elevate multidimensional storytelling and foster a sense of belonging for every fan at the ballpark.

Bobblehead Giveaway: The first 10,000 fans received a special Ice Cube bobblehead, honoring the multi-platinum artist who popularized the iconic black-and-white Sox cap in the ’90s. What began as a hip-hop look has since become a lasting piece of cultural history.

Hat Redemption: Fans who purchased a special ticket offer received a custom White Sox hat designed by Malawian-born, Chicago-based artist Oscar Joyo, known for his vibrant afrosurrealist style.

Gate & Ballpark Performance: As fans made their way into the ballpark, they were welcomed by the musical sounds of Romel Sims and the 21st Century jazz band.

National Anthem: The spotlight then turned to The Bourne Family, proud Chicago natives who performed both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The group — made up of five sisters, three brothers, and their mother — delivered powerful renditions that highlighted their remarkable family harmonies.

Ceremonial First Pitch: Chicago native singer and rapper Shawnna, the daughter of the legendary blues guitarist and eight-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy, took the mound for a ceremonial first pitch.

Hero of the Game: During the game, the White Sox honored U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Joe Lewis Bogan Jr. as the evening’s Hero of the Game. Bogan joined the Marine Corps in 1983, serving 12 years as a motor transport operations chief while being deployed to Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Cuba.

Photo Op: Fans captured memories at an African American–themed photo booth in Section 155, brought to life by BrownSugar’s Balloon Design & Academy.

The White Sox look forward to continuing these celebrations and creating more opportunities for fans to connect and celebrate at the ballpark in 2026.

White Sox Celebrate African American Heritage Night through Music, Culture and Community was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

White Sox Bring ‘Boricua’ Spirit to the Ballpark on Puerto Rican Heritage Night. Los White Sox took to the field on August 29 vs. Los Yankees in a matchup that carried extra meaning off the field. For the first time, the organization held Puerto Rican Heritage Night, presented by Discover Puerto Rico, bringing the sights and sounds of the island to Rate Field. With an energized crowd in attendance, the evening honored Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and gave fans a chance to immerse themselves in Boricua culture through music, dance and vibrant ballpark festivities.

Here’s a look at activities and giveaways fans enjoyed:

Tailgating Performances: The celebration began outside Gate 5 with performances by Latin Rhythms Dance Studio, La Escuelita Bombera De Corazón, and live music from Edward Carpio y Su Clave Maestra. Setting the tone for a wonderful night ahead, Gate 4’s entertainment featured Chicago’s Cuatro Orcuestra delighting fans as they entered the park.

BMO Local Business Mercadito: The organization also opened a mercadito to fans, presented by BMO and featuring local Puerto Rican-owned businesses, including Drop Drip Café, Plena Mercancia, Exo Boutique by Alejandra and more.

Jersey Giveaway: The first 10,000 fans enjoyed a ‘Los White Sox’ Puerto Rican-themed jersey giveaway, presented by Discover Puerto Rico. The jersey’s sleeves feature Taíno symbols representing the indigenous heritage and vibrant traditions of Puerto Rico. The jersey also includes images of the Coqui, Puerto Rico’s native frog, while the back of the jersey says the word ‘Boricua’, a term used to describe a person of Puerto Rican descent.

T-Shirt Redemption: Fans who purchased a special ticket offer received a White Sox/Puerto Rico co-branded T-Shirt with the words ‘La Isla Del Encanto,’ which translates to “The Island of Enchantment.’

Domino Night: Before first pitch, fans gathered at ChiSox Bar & Grill to enjoy a game of dominoes — an essential pastime in Puerto Rican culture — hosted by Pe Erre Domino Club Chicago.

Ballpark Performances: During pregame on the warning track, La Escuelita Bombera De Corazón performed once more for the fans. The group brought high energy and spirit during their performance. At the conclusion of the third inning, Las BomPleneras, an all-women dance group that has been together for 15 years, performed from the Kids Zone.

National Anthem: Puerto Rican native Alanis Rivera stepped up to the mic and delivered a heartfelt rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’

Ceremonial First Pitch: The evening featured a trio of ceremonial first pitches, all thrown by individuals of Puerto Rican descent. First up was Mariela Pepin, former contestant on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise. She was followed by singer and songwriter De La Rose, whose track Q U E V A S H A C E R H O Y ? has garnered more than 450 million streams on Spotify. Closing out the ceremony was former Sox infielder José Valentín, who played for the team from 2000–2004.

Hero Of The Game: The White Sox recognized Puerto Rico’s own U.S. Army CW02 member Laura Valentín. Valentín joined the Army in 2006 and has since served a year-long tour in Afghanistan in 2008 and served two six-month tours in Iraq and Kuwait in 2011 and 2012.

Photo Opportunity: Fans had a chance to take photos with a Puerto Rican-themed backdrop in Section 154, thanks to Meag Maldo.

White Sox Hold Puerto Rican Heritage Night For The First Time, Bringing Chicago’s Puerto Rican… was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The evening shined a spotlight on the influence of women across Chicago, from honoring local female-owned businesses to showcasing inspiring community leaders and talented individuals on the field. With special recognitions and fan experiences, the game emphasized using the Sox platform to uplift women and continue growing the game for generations to come.

Pregame Entertainment: The evening began outside the ballpark at Gate 4, where fans were welcomed by Chicago native DJ and singer Hannah Heavin. Earlier in August, Heavin performed the National Anthem as the winner of the organization’s recent anthem contest. Her return reflected the night’s purpose — highlighting women using their talents to inspire others.

BMO Local Business Hub: Amplifying women’s voices and passions at Gate 5, the BMO Local Business Hub stood out as a signature element of the evening, welcoming female-owned businesses from across Chicago. Fans had the chance to connect with local entrepreneurs, learning about their work in areas ranging from mental health advocacy to innovative products and services.

Game Changers: Photographer Abra Richardson captured the evening’s festivities. Richardson discovered her passion for photojournalism while learning from her mentor John H. White, a photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner. Since then, she has gone on to photograph many high-level events including being one of the photographers at Chappell Roan’s historic Lollapalooza set where the performer drew a crowd of over 100,000 people.

National Anthem: The Southland College Prep Charter High School Girls Choir delivered a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” earning warm praise from fans in attendance.

Ceremonial First Pitch: To highlight the strength and impact of women in professional sports, Chicago Sky guard Ariel Atkins — a two-time WNBA All-Star, five-time All-Defensive Team honoree, and 2019 champion — took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Her presence underscored the evening’s connection to the Sky, who were also featured through a specialty ticket offer presented by the Village of Bedford Park, complete with a limited-edition Sky hat.

Hero of the Game: A powerful in-game recognition, U.S. Army Captain Kathleen Donofrio was honored during the third inning. The crowd rose for a standing ovation, paying tribute to her service and sacrifice — a reminder of the many ways women lead with courage both on and off the field.

Photo Op: All evening long, fans embraced the spirit of Women’s Equality Night with a special photo backdrop on the 100-level concourse. Designed by XO Balloon Co., a women-owned local business, the display gave guests a chance to create lasting memories while supporting female entrepreneurship.

To learn more about the organization’s efforts to advance gender equality and champion female empowerment, visit whitesox.com/socialchange.

White Sox Women’s Equality Night Celebrates Progress and Empowers the Next Generation was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A heartwarming twist on the traditional fan interaction, the big leaguers lined up to collect autographs from the kids. This uplifting gesture aims to build confidence and celebrate the resilience, courage and strength these young individuals display every day in their battle against cancer.

Cal’s Angels is a 501(c)(3) pediatric cancer foundation dedicated to granting wishes, raising awareness and funding critical research to help kids fight cancer. Named in honor of 12-year-old South Elgin Little League All-Star Cal Sutter, who lost his battle with leukemia in 2006, the organization has raised more than $33 million to bring hope and support to thousands of families throughout Illinois and beyond.

White Sox and Cal’s Angels Hold “Reverse Signing” Event for Kids Impacted by Pediatric Cancer was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.