Hard-throwing Grant Taylor aims to build on solid rookie season for Chicago White Sox

The young reliever looks to prove he belongs in the big leagues after an impressive debut in 2025.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Grant Taylor, a 23-year-old reliever for the Chicago White Sox, is looking to build on his solid rookie season in 2026. Taylor made 36 appearances, including two starts, after being called up from Double-A Birmingham in June 2025. He reached 100 mph with a pitch 37 times, which ranked seventh in the American League. Taylor is focused on sharpening his skills and proving he belongs in the major leagues.

Why it matters

The White Sox are counting on Taylor to be a key part of their bullpen in 2026 after he showed flashes of dominance as a rookie. His ability to reach triple digits with his fastball makes him an intriguing power arm that the team wants to continue developing. Taylor's success could be a boost for the White Sox as they look to contend in the AL Central.

The details

Taylor made his MLB debut last season, serving as an opener and earning his first big-league save. He went 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 36 2/3 innings. The White Sox plan to utilize Taylor as a late-inning option again this year, and he has worked on improving his slider and cutter in the offseason. Manager Will Venable praised Taylor's resilience and ability to handle high-leverage situations despite some early struggles.

  • Taylor was called up from Double-A Birmingham on June 10, 2025.
  • On June 20, 2025, Taylor made his first MLB start, serving as an opener and pitching a 1-2-3 inning.
  • Two days later, on June 22, 2025, Taylor earned his first big-league save, reaching 102.2 mph with a pitch.

The players

Grant Taylor

A 23-year-old reliever for the Chicago White Sox who made his MLB debut in 2025 and is looking to build on a solid rookie season.

Will Venable

The manager of the Chicago White Sox, who praised Taylor's resilience and ability to handle high-leverage situations.

Chris Getz

The general manager of the Chicago White Sox, who said the team views Taylor as a bullpen arm and wants to continue building up his workload at the major-league level.

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What they’re saying

“All those different experiences make you a better player. Closing games, in those leverage situations, you're kind of put at the peak of nerves and excitement so being able to do that, manage that and learn with that, it helps you with whatever role you end up in the long term.”

— Grant Taylor (Chicago Tribune)

“Grant was great and I think the thing that stood out was that we put him right in the fire and we put him — not only right in the fire — but in a lot of different situations that were really challenging. We were hungry for a leverage arm, to be honest. And to have that type of an arm back there, it was really enticing to put him in there as much as you could.”

— Will Venable, Manager (Chicago Tribune)

“We did push him and put him into some really big spots, and he handled it really well. It didn't always go smoothly, and what I appreciate about Grant is that when he was challenged with those things, when it didn't go well, the way that he responded was amazing. And he did it in a way that really gives you confidence that beyond the stuff that this guy is a resilient guy that wants the big moment and he's going to be able to handle it.”

— Will Venable, Manager (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The White Sox plan to continue utilizing Taylor as a late-inning option in 2026 and want to build up his workload at the major-league level. Taylor has also added a slider and cutter to his arsenal in the offseason, which could help him take the next step in his development.

The takeaway

Grant Taylor's impressive rookie season with the White Sox has the organization excited about his potential as a power arm in the bullpen. His ability to handle high-leverage situations and willingness to learn and improve his repertoire suggest he could be a key piece of the White Sox's pitching staff for years to come.