Plucky 13: White Sox staying in playoff contention, despite record-tying number of MLB debuts

NEW YORK — The White Sox have called up enough players to make their major-league debut this season to field half of a roster.

If that sounds crazy and rare, it’s because it is. With the call-up of outfielder Junior Perez from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday, the Sox tied the 1944 Reds for the most players to make their big-league debut before the All-Star break at 13.

But that inexperience hasn’t kept the Sox from vying for first place in the American League Central, which they trailed by a half-game entering their game against the Yankees. They also entered it with the second-best record in the league since April 17 at 32-21 — behind the Yankees.

Their struggles this week against the Bronx Bombers aside, this is what good teams do. When players get hurt, others take over. What makes the Sox’ situation special is that they’re not doing it with retreads; they’re doing it with prospects.

Manager Will Venable, though, said he hasn’t given much thought to keeping the Sox in the playoff race while developing their young talent. It’s just happening.

“It’s not something that we think about a ton other than wanting to support these guys to transition to the big leagues well,” he said. “Making sure that guys in the clubhouse are welcoming, which is what they do. That makes it really easy for a young guy to step into our clubhouse.

“We also have a bunch of young guys that are relatable and share a lot of the experiences that they recently had in having their call-up. I think that we’re well-positioned to do it, and it’s kind of become what we do here. I’m proud that we’ve had a lot of success and that our players have had a lot of success transitioning.”

The Sox called up Perez after putting Everson Pereira on the seven-day injured list with a concussion he suffered Wednesday when he made an incredible running, leaping catch and crashed into the wall in center field. It has been a star-crossed season for Pereira, who had just returned from the injured list a week before after recovering from a strained right pectoral.

The Sox acquired Perez, whom Venable called “a toolsy guy,” from the Athletics’ system last month. Though he isn’t a homegrown prospect, his acquisition and rapid ascent in the Sox’ system are testaments to the team’s player-development department and general manager Chris Getz, who continues to add feathers to his cap.

“It’s really exciting,” Venable said. “Getzy continues to add to the talent of our organization and do it with guys that are really arrow-up guys that are at the beginning of their careers and are still very much developing but have tools, have character and are good guys. It speaks a lot to Getzy’s plan and our PD staff and their ability to execute.”

The best example is Braden Montgomery, the Sox’ second-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com, who has played in every game since being called up June 9. He made an immediate impact, too, hitting a walk-off home run to beat the Braves.

Jacob Gonzalez, the Sox’ 23rd-ranked prospect, is playing first base regularly against right-handers and earning the Sox’ trust manning first base for the first time in his career. They couldn’t keep him in Charlotte any longer after he hit 19 home runs in 52 games there.

Now it’s Perez’s turn to show what he’s got. Venable started him in left field and batted him eighth, saying he already was one of the Sox’ best hitter against left-handers. Perez called himself “a very charismatic player.” He spoke like a very charismatic person.

But for any of this to mean anything more, the Sox must regroup from a tough series against the Yankees, who are in another weight class. The Sox will return to theirs Friday against the Tigers in Detroit, though Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal’s return won’t make that easy.

And waiting around the corner are the Guardians, the Sox’ first-place competitors.