Sale sails on fast track to majors

DETROIT - Erick Threets was having some fun with Chris Sale in the White Sox' clubhouse before Wednesday night's game against the Tigers.

"I was in the minor leagues for 47 years," Threets joked. "And you were there for what, about a week?"

Actually, Sale labored down on the farm longer than that - the Sox' first-round draft pick logged over four weeks in the minors. And Threets "only" spent nine years bouncing around the bushes.

When Threets landed on the disabled list with turf toe Tuesday, Sale was called up from Class AAA Charlotte to take his roster spot. The 21-year-old left-hander joined the White Sox before their 4-1 win over Detroit at Comerica Park.

"It's unbelievable," said Sale, who was 11-0 as a starting pitcher at Florida Gulf Coast University this season. "I couldn't have asked for anything better. What they did was awesome. I really appreciate just being here. It's a gift being here. It's a lot of fun."

Sale is on a lightning-fast track, but it's not like the White Sox promoted him so quickly to justify the $1.656 signing bonus they paid out.

After making a quick stop at Class A Winston-Salem, Sale was bumped up to AAA Charlotte and he struck out 15 in 61/3 innings.

"Obviously, we know and we are aware this kid come from college," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The first time I saw this guy on tape, I asked (GM) Kenny (Williams) why we don't have him here tomorrow? I like what I see on tape. He's got a lot of guts. If this kid throws strikes, he should be fine. We are excited to have him. Like I told you guys in the past, I'm not afraid to manage kids."

Sale didn't get a chance to make his major-league debut Wednesday, but it should be coming soon. And the youngster isn't shying away from his latest challenge.

"Everyone's been telling me it's the same game," Sale said. "It's 60 feet, 6 inches. They're still trying to hit the ball off of you and you're trying to not let them get hits off of you. It doesn't change. Your mindset still stays the same. It's just a little bit better competition as you go through and the only thing I'm really focused on is working down and hopefully helping this club out."

While he started in college and figures to join the White Sox' rotation down the road, Sale enjoys his new role as a relief pitcher.

"It took a few times, but I like it," he said. "It's right when you're in the game, it's instant adrenaline. It's fun."