For the past few years, it has felt like the Chicago White Sox were a team on the verge of breaking out and reaching the upper echelon of Major League Baseball. However, things haven’t entirely panned out for them thanks to injuries, multiple managerial changes, and, it seems, a team culture problem.
New York Yankees relief pitcher Keynan Middleton started the 2023 campaign with the White Sox before being moved at the trade deadline. As the Yankees are set to square off with the White Sox this week in Chicago, Middleton was critical regarding his time with the White Sox in a conversation with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, saying, “We came in with no rules. I don’t know how you police the culture if there are no rules or guidelines to follow because everyone is doing their own thing. Like, how do you say anything about it because there are no rules?”
Middleton added, “You have rookies sleeping in the bullpen during the game. You have guys missing meetings. You have guys missing PFPs [pitcher fielding practices], and there are no consequences for any of this stuff.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Lance Lynn, who was with the White Sox from 2021-23 before also being moved at the trade deadline, was asked about the comments made by Middleton by former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski on Pierzynski’s YouTube show Foul Territory, the 2021 MLB All-Star seemed to agree with Keynan and his account, saying “I can tell you what Key was wrong about” before silently looking at the screen for a few seconds with a grin.
Lance Lynn seemingly confirms Keynan Middleton's comments on the White Sox culture…
🚨 Watch the full episode here: 🚨
https://t.co/XrC0pBoZns pic.twitter.com/jpQO14hds5— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 7, 2023
The White Sox are currently 48-65, putting them 14 games behind the Minnesota Twins for first place in AL Central. Their 4.63 team ERA is the sixth-worst in Major League Baseball.
