Chris Sale, Starting Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
Date of Birth: 3/30/1989
Birthplace: Lakeland, Florida
College: Florida Gulf Coast University
Nickname: The Condor
Chris Sale, starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, was first drafted in 2007 by the Colorado Rockies but he opted for college instead. He proved to be an outstanding player in college, ending his 2010 season with an 11-0 win-loss record and a 2.01 ERA. He won the National NCAA Pitcher of the Year award in 2010. It was also the year he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox.
Sale joined the White Sox as a relief pitcher in 21 games in 2010. He pitched 23.1 innings and had 4 saves and a 1.93 ERA. The following season, he was again a relief pitcher, playing in 58 games and finishing with 8 saves and a 2.79 ERA.
Sale became a starting pitcher for the White Sox in 2012. That year, he had a 3.05 ERA with a 17-8 record and 192 strikeouts to 51 walks in 30 games. In March, 2013, he signed a five-year, $32 million contract with the White Sox. In 30 games in 2013, he pitched 214.1 innings and had a 3.07 ERA with an 11-14 record. He had a strong 2014 season, finishing with a 12-4 record, 208 strikeouts to 39 walks, and a 2.17 ERA in 174.0 innings in 26 games.
Sale started the 2015 season on the DL with a foot injury. On April 25th, two weeks after returning to the White Sox, he was suspended for five games for his involvement in an on-field brawl on April 23rd. He finished the season with a 13-11 record, a career high 274 strikeouts to 42 walks, and a 3.41 ERA in 208.2 innings in 31 games.
On June 30, 2015, Sale tied an MLB record (with Pedro Martinez) for pitching the most consecutive games (8 games) with 10 or more strikeouts. He led the American League in strikeouts in 2015.
Sale had another strong season in 2016, finishing with a 3.34 ERA. He had 17 wins to 10 losses and 233 strikeouts to 45 walks in a career high 226.2 innings in 32 games.
Sale was traded to the Red Sox on December 6, 2016. He had an outstanding first season with the Red Sox in 2017, finishing a 2.90 ERA in 32 games. He led all of MLB in strikeouts with 308 (to just 43 walks) and he had 17 wins and 8 losses in 214.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 9.2 innings in 1 game as a starter and 1 game in relief. He gave up 13 hits, including 4 home runs, and 9 runs and he struck out 12 batters and walked just one.
Sale had another strong season in 2018, finishing with a 2.11 ERA in 27 games. He had 12 wins and 4 losses and 237 strikeouts to 34 walks in 158.0 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 15.1 innings in 5 games and he gave up 11 hits, 1 home run, and 7 runs. He had one win and one loss and he struck out 24 batters and walked 8.
Sale signed a six-year, $145 million contract extension with the Red Sox on March 22, 2019. He spent part of the 2019 season on the DL with left elbow inflammation. He pitched in 25 games and he had 6 wins and 11 losses, 218 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a 4.40 ERA in 147.1 innings.
Sale had Tommy John surgery in March, 2020. He missed the shortened 2020 season.
Sale pitched 42.2 innings in 9 games in 2021. He finished the season with 5 wins and 1 loss, 52 strikeouts to 12 walks, and a 3.16 ERA. In the postseason, he gave up 12 hits, 2 home runs, and 8 earned runs in 9.0 innings in 3 games. He struck out 9 batters and walked 3.
Career pitching statistics for Sale through 2021 include:
- 321 games played
- 1,672.1 innings pitched
- 114-74 win-loss record
- 2,059 strikeouts to 386 walks
- 3.03 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Chris Sale
ESPN - Chris Sale