Chicago White Sox - PlayerWatch

[October 04, 2016]  RHP Carson Fulmer might have been rushed to the big leagues before he was ready. Don't be fooled, though. The 2015 first-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt has a bright future as a possible front-line starter for the White Sox. Fulmer, 22, went 6-10 with a 4.63 ERA in 21 starts between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. He struck out 104 batters in 103 innings. After the White Sox promoted Fulmer in July, he went 0-2 with an 8.49 ERA in eight relief appearances. He will compete for a big-league job in spring training but might require additional seasoning in the minor leagues.

3B Todd Frazier slammed a team-leading 40 home runs with 98 RBIs in his first season in Chicago. However, Frazier was a boom-or-bust option at the plate as he hit .225 with a .302 on-base percentage. The 30-year-old knows he needs to improve his average, which dropped from .273 to .255 to .225 during his previous three seasons.

LHP Chris Sale turned in one of the best campaigns of his career as he went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA in 32 starts. He walked 45 and struck out 233 in a career-high 226 2/3 innings. He started the All-Star Game for the American League and led the majors with six complete games. However, Sale's on-field dominance came along with off-field distractions. He ripped the front office during spring training after Adam LaRoche decided to retire instead of curtail the time his son spent in the clubhouse. An even more bizarre incident followed in late July as Sale destroyed throwback uniforms before a scheduled start because he thought they were uncomfortable. The team suspended Sale five games for the outburst.

OF Charlie Tilson (left hamstring surgery in August 2016) was hurt in his major league debut. Tilson hopes to recover in time to challenge for a fourth or fifth outfielder spot during spring training. The team acquired him from the Cardinals at the trade deadline in exchange for LHP Zach Duke.

SS Tim Anderson gave White Sox fans a reason to smile after his promotion in June. In addition to playing reliable defense, the 23-year-old finished his rookie season with a .283 average, nine home runs, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 99 games. On a team that badly needs youth and athleticism among its position players, Anderson figures to play an important role in 2017.

RHP Daniel Webb (Tommy John surgery in June 2016) hopes to return next season. Webb, 27, pitched one scoreless inning in 2016. He has appeared in 94 games in parts of four seasons with Chicago.

1B Jose Abreu relied on a big second half of the season to finish with a .293 average, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs in 159 games. Abreu became the seventh player in major league history -- and the first since Albert Pujols -- to record 100-plus RBIs in each of his first three seasons. Abreu said he would watch the postseason closely because it would motivate him to improve heading into next season.

LHP Carlos Rodon could step into a No. 3 starter role behind LHP Chris Sale and LHP Jose Quintana when next season rolls around. Rodon's role could become even more important if the front office decides to shop Sale and or Quintana for a blockbuster package. Rodon, 23, finished his second season with a 9-10 record and a 4.04 ERA.

RHP James Shields was supposed to provide the White Sox with a reliable No. 3 starter when the team acquired him in June from the San Diego Padres. Instead, Shields unraveled. He finished the season 4-12 with a 6.77 ERA in 22 starts for the White Sox. Add a 2-7 record in 11 starts with San Diego, and the 34-year-old sustained a staggering 19 losses on the season. Shields figures to return to the South Side in 2017, and the White Sox will need him to be much better in order to compete. The player once known as "Big Game James" merely needs to be "Good Game James" next season.

OF Austin Jackson (torn left meniscus) was hurt in June. He is a free agent who will look for another chance at a starting job during the offseason. The White Sox need help in the outfield, but it's uncertain whether they will bring back Jackson or look elsewhere for a more powerful bat.

RHP David Robertson will aim for his fourth consecutive 30-save season when he returns next spring. Robertson went 5-3 with a 3.47 ERA and 37 saves in 2016 even though the White Sox managed 78 wins. He struck out 75 batters in 62 1/3 innings, but he will have to improve his command next season after his walk total jumped from 13 to 32 in the past two years.

2B Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) was hurt in August. He will try to bounce back in 2017 after injuries limited him to 94 games in his first season in Chicago. He hit .248 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs.

3B Matt Davidson (right foot surgery in July 2016) will try to crack the big league roster again next season.

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