Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
of
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB). He previously played in MLB for the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
, with whom he made his major league debut on August 6, 2010. As a
power pitcher
Power pitcher is a term in baseball for a pitcher who relies on pitch velocity at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts, and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of ...
, Sale excels at achieving high numbers of
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s, and has set a number of strikeout-related records. He bats and throws left-handed, stands , and weighs .
A seven-time
MLB All-Star
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National ...
from 2012 to 2018, Sale is a two-time
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
(AL) leader in strikeouts, including in 2015 and 2017. As of 2017, he is MLB's career leader in
strikeout-to-walk ratio
In baseball statistics, strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) is a measure of a pitcher's ability to control pitches, calculated as strikeouts divided by bases on balls.
A hit by pitch is not counted statistically as a walk, and therefore not counted ...
(5.33), and reached 1,500 strikeouts in the second fewest innings pitched (1,290). After reaching 300 strikeouts in a single season for the first time in 2017, he was selected as the AL
''Sporting News'' Starting Pitcher of the Year. Although he has yet to win a
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall ...
, in each of his All-Star seasons, he has placed in the top six.
A native of
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is the most populous city in Polk County, Florida, part of the Tampa Bay Area, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. According to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau release, the city had a population of 112,641. Lakeland is a principal c ...
, located within the
Tampa Bay area
The Tampa Bay area is a major populated area surrounding Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United St ...
, Sale played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
for
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...
. The
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
selected him 13th overall in the
2010 amateur draft. He was a key member of the Red Sox pitching rotation that helped the team win the
2018 World Series
The 2018 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 2018 season. The 114th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National Lea ...
over the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
. Under contract with Boston through 2024,
Sale underwent
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
in late March 2020 and returned to the active roster in August 2021.
Early life
Sale was born in
Lakeland,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. He graduated from
Lakeland Senior High School
Lakeland Senior High School (abbreviated as LSHS) is an independent public co-educational high day school, located in the suburb of South Lake, Western Australia.
History
The school was established in 1990 and caters to students from Year 7 ...
, where he played basketball and baseball. After his senior year for the Dreadnaughts, Sale was drafted in the 21st round of the
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players and was held on June 7, 2007 and June 8, 2007. The first day session of the draft included the f ...
by the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
, but chose not to sign and instead attended
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...
.
College career
Sale played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
for the
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles baseball team under head coach
Dave Tollett
David Tollett (born March 30, 1966) is an American college baseball coach who has been the head coach of Florida Gulf Coast since 2002, the program's first season. Under Tollett, the Eagles have appeared in two NCAA Division I Tournaments and w ...
. During the 2010 season at FGCU, Sale posted an 11–0
win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
and a 2.01 ERA over 17 games. Sale pitched 103 innings while recording 146 strikeouts and 14 walks. He led the
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
in strikeouts at the end of the regular season. He was named the
Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year and the
''Collegiate Baseball'' Player of the Year. He is one of four Eagles to play in the major leagues, along with pitchers
Jacob Barnes
Jacob Andrew Barnes (born April 14, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, New ...
,
Richard Bleier
Richard Sidney Bleier (born April 16, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins.
In hig ...
, and
Casey Coleman
Kenneth R. "Casey" Coleman Jr. (March 24, 1951 – November 27, 2006) was a sportscaster and radio personality in the Cleveland area for nearly 30 years.
Early life
Coleman was born in Cleveland in 1951 to legendary play-by-play announcer K ...
.
Like many top college players, Sale spent the NCAA offseason pitching in
wooden bat summer leagues. In 2008, he was an All-Star for the
La Crosse Loggers
The La Crosse Loggers are a La Crosse, Wisconsin based baseball team playing in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Since the team's inaugural season in 2003, they have played at Copeland Park. The ballpark is nicknamed "th ...
of the
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college el ...
, and it was during his time in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
that coaches suggested he adopt his now distinctive low three-quarter arm angle. In the summer of 2009, Sale pitched for the
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousan ...
, where he posted a record of 4–2 with an earned run average of 1.47 and 57 strikeouts, was named MVP of the league's All-Star Game at
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Base ...
, and received the league's Outstanding Pitcher award.
Professional career
Draft and minors
Sale was drafted by the White Sox with the 13th overall selection in the first round of the
2010 MLB Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
First-round selections
The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team pic ...
.
Once Sale signed with the White Sox in 2010, he was assigned to the White Sox'
Class A affiliate
Winston-Salem Dash
The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games at ...
. Sale pitched in four games for the Dash with a 2.25 ERA in four innings. Sale gave up three hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out four during his tenure with the Dash. Sale was then promoted to the White Sox'
Triple-A affiliate
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 20 ...
. While there, Sale pitched in seven games for the Knights with a 2.84 ERA in innings. Sale gave up three hits and two earned runs while walking four and striking out 15 while with the Knights.
Chicago White Sox
2010
Sale was called up to the majors for the first time on August 4, 2010, and made his MLB debut August 6, against the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
in the eighth inning. He was the first 2010 draft pick to be promoted to the majors and got his first major league save on September 1, 2010, against the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
. In 21 appearances in his rookie year, Sale went 2–1 with a 1.93 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 4 saves.
2011
![Chris Sale on August 9, 2011](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Chris_Sale_on_August_9%2C_2011.jpg)
During 2011, Sale made 58 appearances out of the bullpen with a 2–2 record, a 2.79 ERA, 8 saves, and 79 strikeouts.
2012
Sale made the transition to a starting pitcher for the 2012 season. On May 28, Sale struck out a career high 15 batters in innings during a 2–1 victory over the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
. Sale's 15
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s are tied for second most in franchise history with
Eddie Cicotte
Edward Victor Cicotte (; June 19, 1884 – May 5, 1969), nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible f ...
,
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine "Big Ed" Walsh (May 14, 1881 – May 26, 1959) was an American pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1906 to 1912, he had several seasons where he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Injuries shortened his car ...
, and
Jim Scott Jim or Jimmy Scott may refer to:
Music
* Jimmy Scott (1925–2014), American jazz vocalist
* Jim Scott (producer), music engineer and producer
* Jim Scott (musician), acoustic guitar player and songwriter
* Jimmy Scott (songwriter), British-born mu ...
.
Jack Harshman
John Elvin Harshman (July 12, 1927 – August 17, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Giants, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians between 1948 and 1960. He batted and threw ...
holds the White Sox team record with 16 strikeouts in a game. Sale was named the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
Pitcher of the Month for the month of May with a record of 4–1, an ERA of 1.71, 35 strikeouts and a .181 opponents' average over six games.
Sale was chosen by American All-Star manager
Ron Washington
Ronald Louis Washington (born April 29, 1952) is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Houston Astros.
W ...
to pitch in the
83rd All-Star Game in Kansas City. This marked Sale's first All-Star appearance.
During the 2012 season, Sale compiled a 17–8 record, a 3.05 ERA, and 192 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched. He ended up finishing sixth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award.
2013
On March 7, 2013, Sale and the White Sox agreed on a five-year, $32 million contract with two option years depending on the team.
On May 12, 2013, Sale threw a one-hit shutout during a 3–0 Sox victory over the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
. Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning. With one out in the top of the seventh inning,
Mike Trout
Michael Nelson Trout (born August 7, 1991) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Trout is a ten-time MLB All-Star, three-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) ...
singled up the middle for the only hit of the game. Sale finished the game with 7 strikeouts and no walks, allowing Trout as the only base runner. Sale began the 2013 season with a 6–8 record and a 2.85 ERA. He was named an All-Star for the 2nd season in a row. Sale came on to pitch for the 2nd and 3rd innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and striking out two NL hitters. He was named the winning pitcher for the American League, which won
the game 3–0.
In 30 starts of the 2013 season, Sale had an AL-leading 4 complete games, an 11–14 record, 226 strikeouts, and a 3.07 ERA in 214.1 innings pitched. He received one of the lowest run supports in the AL. Sale ended up finishing in fifth place in Cy Young votes for 2013.
2014
On April 21, Sale was placed on the 15-day
disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
after sustaining a
flexor
A flexor is a muscle that flexes a joint. In anatomy, flexion (from the Latin verb ''flectere'', to bend) is a joint movement that decreases the angle between the bones that converge at the joint. For example, one’s elbow joint flexes when one ...
strain in his left (pitching) elbow. During his first start off the disabled list against the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
on May 22, 2014, Sale retired the first 17 batters in a row before allowing a single by
Zoilo Almonte
Zoilo Manuel Almonte (born June 10, 1989) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and the KBO League for the K ...
. He struck out 10 in 6 innings pitched as the White Sox won the game 3–2. During a game against the Angels on June 7, 2014, Sale had a 5–0 lead but surrendered 5 runs all in the 7th inning that featured a grand slam by
Mike Trout
Michael Nelson Trout (born August 7, 1991) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). Trout is a ten-time MLB All-Star, three-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) ...
. Sale continued his dominance on the mound, winning eight of his first nine decisions and carrying an 8–1 record and 2.08 ERA into the All-Star break.
After not initially making the All-Star roster, Sale was voted into the game by fans (alongside
Cubs first baseman
Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Vincent Rizzo (born August 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs. He is a three-time ...
) as part of the "Final Vote." Sale joined all-star teammates
Jose Abreu
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.
* Jose ben Abin
* Jose ben Akabya
*Jose the Galile ...
and
Alexei Ramírez
Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodriguez (born September 22, 1981) is a Cuban former professional baseball shortstop. He has played for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays in MLB and Pinar del Rio of the Cuban National Series ...
in the All-Star Game in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
.
Sale finished the season with a 12–4 record, 208 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched, and a 2.17 ERA, second best in the American League. He finished third in voting for the AL Cy Young award, behind winner
Corey Kluber
Corey Scott Kluber (born April 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. He made his M ...
and
Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019.
On August 15, 2 ...
.
2015
Sale started the 2015 year on the disabled list due to a foot injury. He returned on April 12, pitching 6 innings with 8 strikeouts in a 6–2 victory over the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
. During a game against the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
on April 23, 2015, Sale was warned by home plate umpire
Sam Holbrook
Samuel Woodford Holbrook (born July 7, 1965) is an American umpire (baseball), umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 1996 and became a crew chief in 2017. Holbrook wears number (sports), number 34.
Umpiring career
Sam ...
after hitting
Mike Moustakas
Michael Christopher Moustakas (; born September 11, 1988) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cincinnati Reds.
Moust ...
with a pitch. Later on, Sale was involved in a bench-clearing brawl after his teammate Adam Eaton grounded out to
Yordano Ventura
Yordano Ventura Hernández (; June 3, 1991 – January 22, 2017) was a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Ventura made his MLB debut on September 17, 2013. Known as a power pitcher ...
. Sale was one of five players to be ejected for his role in the brawl as the White Sox lost to the Royals 2–3 in 13 innings. On April 25, Sale was suspended for 5 games.
In a June 8 win over the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
, Sale struck out 14 batters. On June 19, Sale had his 5th consecutive game with 12 or more strikeouts, tying a major league record. Also, on June 19, Sale had his 6th consecutive game with 10 or more strikeouts. On June 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sale struck out 12 batters to tie a major league record with his eighth consecutive start of 10 or more strikeouts. He shared the record with
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to .
At the time o ...
, who accomplished the feat while pitching for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
in 1999.
On October 2, versus the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
, Sale set the franchise record for number of strikeouts in a season. The previous record of 269 strikeouts in a season was held by Hall of Famer
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine "Big Ed" Walsh (May 14, 1881 – May 26, 1959) was an American pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1906 to 1912, he had several seasons where he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Injuries shortened his car ...
in 1908. He accomplished the feat in 464 innings, while Sale's 270th strikeout came in the midst of his 203rd inning of 2015. He finished the season 13–11 with a 3.41 ERA, and led the majors in strikeouts per 9 innings (11.82) and
hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch (HBP) is an event in which a batter or his clothing or equipment (other than his bat) is struck directly by a pitch from the pitcher; the batter is called a hit batsman (HB). A hit batsman is awarded first base, provided ...
(13).
2016
Sale began the 2016 season winning each of his first 9 starts. He entered the All-Star Break with a 14–3 record (12 quality starts), an ERA of 3.38, and a WHIP of 1.04.
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
manager
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick Yost III (; born August 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos.
Early life
Yost was born on ...
named him the starter for the
2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 87th edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The game was hosted by the San Diego Padres and was played at Petco Park on July 12, 2016. It was televised nationally on Fox. The Amer ...
. In the All Star Game, Sale pitched one inning and gave up a home run to
Chicago Cub Kris Bryant
Kristopher Lee Bryant (born January 4, 1992), nicknamed "KB", is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and San ...
.
On July 23, prior to a game against the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
, the White Sox were set to wear throwback uniforms based on the design implemented by
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck Jr. ( ; February 9, 1914 – January 2, 1986), also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was an American Major League Baseball franchise owner and promoter. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Br ...
during his second ownership of the White Sox. Sale was not pleased about the idea, as he felt the pullover jerseys were too baggy and interfered with his pitching mechanics, and this prompted him to use scissors to tear up the throwback uniforms that had been laid out in the clubhouse while the rest of the team was on the field for practice. Shortly after, the White Sox sent Sale home and scratched him from his start that day, and the White Sox took the field in their 1982-86 throwbacks instead. The next day, on July 24, the White Sox suspended Sale for five days. He later expressed regret for his actions. In 2016, Sale made 32 starts, finishing with a 17–10 record, a 3.34 ERA, and 233 strikeouts, in 226.2 innings pitched. He also led the majors with 6 complete games and 17 hit batsmen.
Boston Red Sox
On December 6, 2016, the White Sox traded Sale to the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
for
Yoan Moncada Yoan is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
* Yoan Capote (born 1977), Cuban sculptor
* Yoan Garneau (born 1995), Quebec singer, winner of season 2 of '' La Voix'' in 2014
* Yoan Gouffran (born 1986), French footballer of Guadeloupe ...
,
Michael Kopech
Michael Talbert Kopech (born April 30, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2018. Kopech bats and throws right-handed.
Amateur career
Kopech attende ...
,
Luis Alexander Basabe
Luis Alexander Basabe (born August 26, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants. Listed at 6' 0" , 160 lb. , he is a sw ...
, an
Victor Diaz Upon joining Boston, Sale switched his uniform number from 49 to 41 because 49 is unofficially retired for
Tim Wakefield
Timothy Stephen Wakefield (born August 2, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Wakefield began his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is most remembered for his 17-yea ...
.
2017
With the
2017 Red Sox, Sale began the season by striking out 10 or more batters in eight consecutive starts, tying the major league record he already shared with
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to .
At the time o ...
. After going 11–4 with a 2.75 ERA and an MLB leading 178 strikeouts in the first half of 2017, Sale was named the American League's starting pitcher at the
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
for the second consecutive season, the first pitcher to do so since
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle M ...
started for the National League in 2000 and 2001 and the first for the AL since
Dave Stieb
Dave Andrew Stieb (; born July 22, 1957) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. A seven-time All-Star, he also won ''The Sporting News'' Pitcher of the Year Award in 1982. Stieb won 140 games i ...
in 1983–84. Sale pitched two scoreless innings in the game, striking out two batters. In his second start after the All-Star break, Sale joined Johnson, Martínez and
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning four decades, Ryan ...
as the only four pitchers to have struck out 200 batters in their first 20 starts of a season. Pitching against the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
on August 29, Sale recorded his 1,500th career strikeout, becoming the fastest to do so in terms of innings pitched. At that point, he had reached 1,290 innings, surpassing
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood (born June 16, 1977) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees.
Wood first came to prominence as a 20-year-old rooki ...
, who had done so in 1,303 innings.
Sale reached 300 strikeouts for the season when he struck out 13 batters on September 20. It was the first 300 strikeout season since
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) . He has played for the Dodgers for the entirety of his MLB career. A left-handed starting p ...
in 2015, and the first in the American League since Martínez in
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shootin ...
.
In 32 starts of 2017, Sale finished with a 17–8 record, a 2.90 ERA, and an MLB-leading 308 strikeouts. He led the majors in strikeouts per 9 innings (12.93). The Red Sox clinched the
AL East
The American League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. MLB consists of an East, Central, and West division for each of its two 15-team leagues, the American League (AL) and National League (NL). This division was created before ...
division with a 93–69 record.
In the first postseason appearance of his MLB career, Sale was the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the
Division Series
The Division Series is the quarterfinal round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the American League and the National League.
1981 season
The first use of the term "Division Series" date ...
against the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
. He allowed nine hits and seven runs in five innings, taking the loss. Sale then pitched in relief in Game 4, allowing four hits and two runs in innings and again taking the loss, as the Astros eliminated the Red Sox with a 5–4 win. Sale had a postseason ERA of 8.38 while striking out 12 and walking one in innings pitched. Despite being the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award throughout the entire regular season, Sale finished second in the voting behind
Corey Kluber
Corey Scott Kluber (born April 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. He made his M ...
, who won the award for a second time. Despite pitching more innings and recording more strikeouts than anyone else in baseball that season, Sale's subpar finish to the season after a blistering start (13–4 with a 2.37 ERA and 211 strikeouts in innings (21 starts) before August 1, but 4–4 with a 4.09 ERA in 66 innings (11 starts) and 13 home runs allowed after August 1) combined with Kluber's masterful run after an abysmal start to the season followed by a month-long stint on the DL (3-2 with a 5.06 ERA in innings (six starts) before May 2, but 15–2 with 224 strikeouts, a 1.62 ERA in innings (23 starts), 4 complete games and a 9.74 K/BB ratio after June 1) cost Sale his best chance yet at winning the Cy Young. He did, however, finish 9th in the AL MVP voting, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to finish that high since
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to .
At the time o ...
finished fifth in 2000.
2018
Sale was the
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years ...
starting pitcher for the
2018 Red Sox. Facing the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...
at
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field (commonly known as the Trop) is a Multi-purpose stadium, multi-purpose domed stadium located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. The stadium has been the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) since the ...
, he pitched six innings, giving up just one hit and walking three, while striking out nine. However, the Rays scored six runs in the eighth inning off of Boston's bullpen, defeating the Red Sox, 6–4, and leaving Sale with a
no decision
A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports.
Baseball and softball
A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...
. During June, Sale had a 1.76 ERA over six starts and recorded 60 strikeouts in 41 innings; he was named the
AL Pitcher of the Month. On July 6, Sale pitched six innings while allowing just one run against the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
, getting the win. It was his ninth win of the season (against four losses), and the 100th win of his MLB career. Two days later, Sale was named to the
2018 MLB All-Star Game;
he was named the AL starting pitcher, for the third consecutive year, on July 16. On July 31, Sale was placed on the disabled list due to left shoulder inflammation; at that point in the season, he had an 11–4 record with 2.04 ERA in 22 starts. He was activated on August 12,
[ and was the winning pitcher of that day's game against Baltimore. On August 18, Sale was again placed on the 10-day disabled list—retroactive to August 15—due to inflammation of the same shoulder.] He was activated on September 11, pitching one inning in that day's game against Toronto.
Sale made two appearances, including one start, in the American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring ea ...
, allowing two earned runs in innings. In the American League Championship Series
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the two winners of the American ...
, he made one appearance, a start, allowing two earned runs in four innings. On October 23, Sale started Game 1 of the World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
for the Red Sox at home at Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Base ...
. He pitched four-plus innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out seven in a no decision
A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports.
Baseball and softball
A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...
. The Red Sox went on to win the game, 8–4. During Game 4, with the Red Sox trailing by four runs, Sale gained notoriety for shouting at his teammates in the dugout, imploring them to generate more offense (the team had only one hit through the first six innings). The Red Sox went on to win, 9–6, taking a three games to one lead in the series. In Game 5, Sale became a World Series champion for the first time, closing out the final inning, including a series-ending strikeout of Manny Machado
Manuel Arturo Machado (; born July 6, 1992) is an American professional baseball third baseman and shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Very highly recruited from an early age, he was raised in Miami, where he at ...
. Overall, in postseason innings he allowed seven earned runs while striking out 24 batters.
2019
On March 23, 2019, Sale signed a five-year, $145 million extension with the Red Sox. Sale earned $15 million in 2019 via a club option in his prior contract, with the extension covering 2020 through 2024 plus a vesting option for 2025.[ Manager ]Alex Cora
Jose Alexander Cora (born October 18, 1975) is a Puerto Rican baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 14 seasons with the Red Sox, Los Angeles ...
named Sale as Boston's starting pitcher for 2019 Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years ...
. Sale started the season 0–4 with an 8.50 ERA, a performance he called "flat-out embarrassing." On May 8, Sale threw an immaculate inning
In baseball, a strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws three strike zone, strikes to a Batting (baseball), batter during his time at bat. An immaculate inning occurs when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in one inning, using the mi ...
for the first time in his career, striking out three straight Orioles batters on a total of nine pitches. On May 14 against Colorado, Sale struck out 17 batters, a new career-high; he left after seven innings and received a no decision
A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports.
Baseball and softball
A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...
as Boston lost in extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.
Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine regulation innings (in softball and high school baseball games there are typically seven innings; in Little Lea ...
. He pitched his second immaculate inning on June 5, in a complete game shutout against Kansas City, striking out 12. On August 13, Sale recorded the 2,000th strikeout of his major league career; he reached that mark in 1,626 innings pitched, the fewest innings needed to accomplish the feat in MLB history. On August 17, Sale was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation, retroactive to August 14. After meeting with James Andrews on August 19, it was determined that Sale did not need surgery; however, the inflammation in his elbow was expected to end his season. On September 1, the Red Sox moved him to the 60-day injured list. For the 2019 season, Sale had a 6–11 record with 4.40 ERA and 218 strikeouts in innings. He had 14 games with 10 + strikeouts including a period from April 21 to June 26, when he had 10 + strikeouts in 10 out of 13 starts
2020
On February 27, 2020, Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke
Ronald Jon Roenicke ( ; born August 19, 1956) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, coach, and manager. During his playing career, Roenicke played eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle ...
announced that Sale would not be ready for Opening Day due to his progress in spring training being hampered by pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
. Two weeks later, the season was delayed due to coronavirus pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
concerns. On March 19, the team announced that Sale would undergo Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's bo ...
, thereby ending his 2020 season. On March 30, the Red Sox announced that Sale successfully underwent the surgery, which was performed in Los Angeles. On June 28, days before the restart of preseason training, the team placed Sale on the 45-day injured list (reduced from 60-day for 2020).
In an article in ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', "Was That Pitcher's Surgery Truly Essential?", columnist Tyler Kepner
John Tyler Kepner (born 1975) is an American author and sports journalist who is currently a senior baseball writer for The Athletic, after spending more than 23 years writing baseball for ''The New York Times''. He is known for authoring the book ...
discussed the Tommy John surgery of both Sale and Noah Syndergaard
Noah Seth Syndergaard (born August 29, 1992), nicknamed "Thor", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels an ...
in a time when the coronavirus pandemic had led federal, state, and local authorities to restrict medical procedures to essential services only. Sale, who had been receiving treatment by Andrews at his Florida clinic, had his surgery performed at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2 ...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
after Andrews suspended all non-emergency medical surgery in compliance with Florida's coronavirus pandemic policy.
2021
On February 18, 2021, Sale was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery. He later stated that he had "a mild case" of COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
in January. On June 8, Sale threw a practice session in the bullpen at Fenway Park for the first time since 2019. On July 15, the team optioned Sale to the Florida Complex League
The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the low ...
(FCL) for a rehabilitation assignment.[ He pitched three innings for the FCL Red Sox on July 15, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out five batters. The team next sent him to Double-A on a rehabilitation assignment,] where he pitched innings for the Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...
on July 20 without allowing a hit. He subsequently pitched in Triple-A for the Worcester Red Sox
The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawt ...
. Sale was added to Boston's active roster on August 14, for a start against the Orioles. On August 26 against Minnesota, Sale recorded the third immaculate inning
In baseball, a strikeout occurs when a pitcher throws three strike zone, strikes to a Batting (baseball), batter during his time at bat. An immaculate inning occurs when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in one inning, using the mi ...
of his career. He tied a record set by Sandy Koufax
Sanford Koufax (; born Sanford Braun; December 30, 1935) is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. He has been hailed as one of t ...
for the most major-league immaculate innings thrown. On September 10, Sale was placed on the COVID-related injured list, due to a positive test
A medical test is a medical procedure performed to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disease processes, susceptibility, or to determine a course of treatment. Medical tests such as, physical and visual exams, diagnostic imaging, genetic te ...
; he returned to the team on September 17. Overall during the regular season, Sale made nine starts for Boston, pitching to a 5–1 record with 3.16 ERA and striking out 52 batters in innings.[ In the postseason, Sale made three starts, taking one loss and allowing 10 runs (eight earned) in nine innings as the Red Sox advanced to the ]American League Championship Series
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the two winners of the American ...
.[
]
2022
In February, Sale sustained a right rib stress fracture
A stress fracture is a fatigue-induced bone fracture caused by repeated stress over time. Instead of resulting from a single severe impact, stress fractures are the result of accumulated injury from repeated submaximal loading, such as running or ...
while throwing batting practice at Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...
. Prior to the start of the regular season, he was placed on the 60-day injured list. On July 1, Sale pitched for the Portland Sea Dogs in a rehabilitation assignment, allowing one run on four hits in four innings while striking out seven batters. During a rehab start in Triple-A on July 7, a video captured Sale destroying items in the dugout tunnel after he issued five walks and allowed one run in innings. He returned to Boston's lineup on July 12, receiving a no decision after allowing no runs on three hits in five innings. On July 17, he suffered a left fifth-finger fracture after being struck by a line drive hit by Aaron Hicks
Aaron Michael Hicks (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his ...
. Sale underwent surgery, involving open reduction and internal fixation
Internal fixation is an operation in orthopedics that involves the surgical implementation of implants for the purpose of repairing a bone, a concept that dates to the mid-nineteenth century and was made applicable for routine treatment in the m ...
, the next day. He was officially added to the injured list on July 22. On August 6, Sale broke his right wrist while riding his bicycle to grab lunch, ending his season. Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom
Chaim David Bloom (; born February 27, 1983) is an American sports executive who is the Chief Baseball Officer for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously worked for the Tampa Bay Rays, most recently as Senior Vice Presid ...
commented that the Red Sox needed to find whoever had a "Chris Sale voodoo doll
The term Voodoo doll commonly describes an effigy into which pins are inserted. Such practices are found in various forms in the magical traditions of many cultures around the world.
Despite its name, the dolls are not prominent in Haitian Vodo ...
", referring to his list of injuries since the 2019 season. In two starts for the 2022 Red Sox, Sale posted an 0–1 record with 3.18 ERA while striking out five batters in innings.
Awards and achievements
Notes: ''Through 2016 season. Per Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball-Reference is a website providing baseball statistics for every player in Major League Baseball history. The site is often used by major media organizations and baseball broadcasters as a source for statistics. It offers a variety of advan ...
.''
Pitching style
Sale relies on four pitches — a fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. "Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thro ...
at 93–101 mph, a changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
at 85–89 mph,
a sinker at 90-94 mph, and a slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
at 77–84 mph. The slider, which carries a career whiff rate of 43%, is Sale's most common 2-strike pitch to hitters from both sides of the plate.
Sale throws with a “funky” sidearm throwing motion, a modified motion that he learned while he stayed in college after being drafted in 2007. He is nickname
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
d "The Condor" because his unorthodox delivery makes him resemble a California condor
The California condor (''Gymnogyps californianus'') is a New World vulture and the largest North American land bird. It became extinct in the wild in 1987 when all remaining wild individuals were captured, but has since been reintroduced to nor ...
. His moniker was first coined on SB Nation
''SB Nation'' (an abbreviation for their full name ''SportsBlogs Nation'') is a sports blogging network owned by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Tyler Bleszinski, Markos Moulitsas, and Jerome Armstrong in 2005. The blog from which the network ...
's South Side Sox site on April 17, 2012.
Personal life
Sale and his wife, Brianne, have three sons. They reside in Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the historical city (i.e. in the immediate vicinity of downtown Naples) was 19,115. Naples is a principal city of the Naples-Marco Island, Flori ...
.
See also
* List of Chicago White Sox team records
This is a list of team records for the Chicago White Sox professional baseball team.
Single season records
Batting
*Batting average: Luke Appling, .388 ()
*On-base percentage: Frank Thomas, .487 ()
*Slugging percentage: Frank Thomas, .729 ()
*OP ...
* List of Florida Gulf Coast University people
This list of Florida Gulf Coast University alumni includes current students, former students, and graduates of the Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida.
Athletics
* Eli Abaev (born 1998): professional basketball player
* Ki ...
* List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. WHIP reflects a pitcher's propensity for allowing batters to reach base, theref ...
References
External links
, o
Baseball Almanac
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sale, Chris
1989 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Lakeland, Florida
Baseball players from Florida
Chicago White Sox players
Boston Red Sox players
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles baseball players
Winston-Salem Dash players
Charlotte Knights players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Lakeland High School (Lakeland, Florida) alumni
American League All-Stars
American League strikeout champions
All-American college baseball players
Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players
Florida Complex League Red Sox players
Portland Sea Dogs players
Worcester Red Sox players
La Crosse Loggers players
American people of Irish descent
American sportspeople of Italian descent