Chicago White Sox: 1st quarter report cards, 3 players with A’s, 3 others with F’s

Last year, the Chicago White Sox did not win their 19th game until the 61st game of the season. Of course, they went on to lose 100+ games for the third year in a row. Heading into 2026, no one expected the White Sox to suddenly become one of the best teams in baseball. Instead, there was hope that there would be at least a little improvement.

Well, 40 games into the year, Chicago is 19-21 and sit just one game back of first place in the American League Central Division. Indeed, the whole AL appears to be down this year and there are only five teams in the league with a better record than the White Sox.

3 Chicago White Sox players who have earned A’s through the first quarter of the season

Obviously, in order for Chicago to have had this level of improvement, multiple players have had to exceed the expectations that many had for them going into 2026. While there have been many pleasant surprises for the White Sox this season, the following three stand out the most.

1. Munetaka Murakami

After just about every team in Major League Baseball declined to pursue Munetaka Murakami because of his high strikeout numbers in Japan, the White Sox were able to nab him for two years and $34 million.

He has been exactly what Chicago hoped he would be and more. Currently, Murakami is hitting .232/.364/.556 with 15 home runs and 29 RBI. Only Aaron Judge has hit more home runs than him so far this year.

2. Davis Martin

Heading into 2026, Davis Martin had far from impressed in his Major League career. In three seasons, all with Chicago, he was 10-21 with a 4.32 ERA.

So far this season, Martin is 5-1 with a 1.62 ERA and leads the AL in winning percentage (.833). Chicago’s starting rotation has struggled to be consistent this season, but he has been a stabilizing force that the White Sox can build around this year.

3. Bryan Hudson

Bringing Bryan Hudson back in 2026 was not a popular move among White Sox fans. After all, he had a 5.79 ERA in four appearances for them last season, and had a 4.35 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers before they released him in 2025.

This year, though, Hudson has been one of the most dominant relieves in baseball. He is currently 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA in 20 appearances. Aside from Murakami, he may be the Chicago player most deserving of an All-Star nod this year.

3 Chicago White Sox players that have not lived up to expectations

While the three players above have exceeded expectations, there are multiple players on the roster who have fallen short of even the low bar set for them prior to the beginning of the year. There are, after all, several reasons why the White Sox are still under .500, and the following players’ struggles have contributed to the team’s inconsistencies.

1. Edgar Quero

Admittedly, Chicago probably would not be playing Edgar Quero as much if Kyle Teel were healthy. As it is, though, he has seen some significant playing time and has not lived up to the hopes many had for him.

So far in 2026, Quero is hitting .160/.260/.173 with no home runs and seven RBI.

Teel cannot get back quickly enough.

2. Andrew Benintendi

To be fair, White Sox fans had no expectation for Andrew Benintendi to be good in 2026. Ever since signing as a free agent in 2023, he has been a disappointment.

But he has been even worse this year, hitting just .235/.272/.365 with two home runs and 17 RBI. It would not be so disappointing if he were not one of the highest-paid players on the team.

3. Luisangel Acuna

When Chicago traded Luis Robert to the New York Mets for Luisangel Acuna, they hoped they were getting an improvement in centerfield. So far, they have not.

While Robert is not playing well in New York and hitting just .224/.327/.329, Acuna is even worse. In 31 games played for Chicago, he is hitting .175/.239/.188.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox may have to pay more for Rich Cholowsky after NL West team’s latest move
• White Sox receive crystal clear MLB trade deadline warning
• Breakout White Sox prospects finally putting it all together at Triple-A

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