The White Sox launched right-hander Corey Knebel earlier this week, as reported by Sox Machine’s James Fegan (X hyperlink) and different members of the group’s beat. MLB.com’s profile web page for Knebel lists the transaction as an “elected free company,” which suggests that Knebel exercised an opt-out clause within the minor league contract he signed final winter.
Knebel suffered a capsule tear in his proper shoulder nearly two years in the past, and after lacking the 2023 season solely, he returned to motion in June as a part of a rehab task with Chicago’s rookie league affiliate. Shifting up the ranks to high-A after which to Triple-A as soon as he was formally activated from the IL in July, Knebel ha a 5.91 ERA over 10 2/3 whole innings this season, although 5 of his seven earned runs have been surrendered in a single tough outing at high-A ball.
At Triple-A, Knebel had an ideal 0.00 ERA throughout 5 1/3 innings, with a 44.4% strikeout price and 11.1% stroll price. Regardless of that spectacular work within the small pattern measurement, it doesn’t appear as if the White Sox supposed to convey Knebel as much as the majors. Whereas it actually be argued that the 27-85 White Sox (losers of 18 straight video games) want all the assistance they’ll get, it might seem that the group is prioritizing innings for youthful pitchers the remainder of the best way, and thus Knebel seemingly selected to go elsewhere.
The 32-year-old Knebel final pitched within the majors in 2022, when he had a 3.43 ERA in 44 2/3 innings out of the Phillies’ bullpen. The shoulder capsule tear is the most recent in a sequence of long-term accidents — he missed all of 2019 as a consequence of Tommy John surgical procedure, and a lat strains restricted him to 25 2/3 innings as a member of the Dodgers in 2021.
Over 306 2/3 innings over elements of eight seasons within the bigs, Knebel has a 3.26 ERA, highlighted by his 2017 All-Star season because the Brewers’ nearer. This observe document signifies that he’ll very seemingly catch on with one other group on a minor league deal, and extra good numbers within the minors will give him a shot of creating his MLB debut earlier than the 2024 season is out.
