This year, White Sox fans can look forward to action on the field
Anticipation is running high for White Sox fans heading to games at Rate Field this year — and for the first time in a few years, the optimism involves the product on the field.
The team has been historically woeful since its .500 finish of 2022. One-run losses, blown saves, countless runners left on base, and strikeouts and double plays in clutch situations have led to piles of losses and, in 2024, a single-season record for defeats.
The ballpark experience for fans has largely revolved around watching superstars for visiting teams, eating the superior food dished out on the concourse and lining up at the gate for fan freebies.
That promises to change this year, based on an encouraging second-half of 2025, the addition of new faces and prospects in the pipeline.
Here are five things for White Sox fans to look forward to in 2026:
Even before playing a regular season game, Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami has created a buzz on the South Side.
Not only does he promise to add a badly needed run-producer in the middle of the lineup, but he’s shown the ability to charm the media with his personality and sense of humor, and will bring international attention to the team.
He even has a connection to past White Sox glory — his former manager in Japan, Shingo Takatsu, has a 2005 World Series ring.
The prospect pipeline began trickling into the lineup in 2025, with encouraging results.
Shortstop Colson Montgomery piled up homers at a prodigious rate, while also showing effortless defensive prowess and displaying smooth chemistry with his keystone partner, second baseman Chase Meidroth.
Catcher Edgar Quero showed a rifle arm, the ability to put the ball in play and occasional power, while his colleague behind the plate, Kyle Teel, flashed impressive power.
Other top prospects including outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Sam Antonacci and pitchers Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith could find themselves playing at The Rate this summer.
For the first time since 1977, the White Sox will make the first pick in MLB’s amateur draft. That year, the South Siders chose future Hall of Famer Harold Baines.
Could they mine similar gold in UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the odds-on favorite to go first July 11?
What happens on the field remains to be seen, but the club has put together a bevy of promotions, deals and giveaways to create a positive fan experience, win or lose.
Among the giveaways fans will be lining up for are bobbleheads of current and former Sox, including Miguel Vargas, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, A.J. Pierzynski and Bobby Jenks.
The team is also offering ticket and concession deals like Family Sundays, with tickets starting at $12, and $5 Tuesdays featuring specially priced food items for five bucks.
Theme nights will include Star Wars Day, Hello Kitty Day, Harry Potter Night and Grateful Dead Night, while postgame concerts will feature Marshmello, Ja Rule and Cole Swindell.
For a full list of promotions, visit mlb.com/whitesox/tickets/promotions.
Foodie fan faves
Last, but not least, is the food that has long stood above the rest when it comes to ballpark cuisine.
This year’s lineup includes the Campfire Milkshake 2.0, fried chicken and waffles, house-smoked pulled pork sliders, wok-fired chicken and home-plate shaped pizza topped with sausage and Italian beef and garnished with giardiniera.
All in all, it should be a tasty season for fans hungry for ballpark food, but more importantly, hungry for a winner.