In a move that could either be a stroke of genius or a forgotten footnote, the Chicago White Sox have scooped up left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. But here's where it gets intriguing: Rolison, once a highly touted prospect, has seen his career take a series of unexpected turns. Let’s break it down.
The Braves designated Rolison for assignment earlier this week to make room for newly signed right-hander Robert Suarez. With multiple openings on their 40-man roster, the White Sox didn’t need to make any corresponding moves to add Rolison, making this a low-risk, high-reward play. But is it a gamble worth taking?
Rolison, now 28, was the 22nd overall pick by the Colorado Rockies in the 2018 draft. His journey to the majors, however, has been anything but smooth. The pandemic wiped out the 2020 minor league season, and injuries—particularly shoulder issues—sidetracked his progress. From 2021 to 2023, he barely pitched, missing the entire 2022 season. It wasn’t until 2025 that he finally made his major league debut, but his performance left much to be desired. In 42 1/3 innings with the Rockies this year, he posted a staggering 7.02 ERA, with underwhelming strikeout (13%) and walk (10.4%) rates. And this is the part most people miss: While his major league numbers are concerning, his minor league stats tell a different story.
In the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, Rolison delivered a solid 3.34 ERA over 29 2/3 innings, with a 25.2% strikeout rate and a 7.1% walk rate. These numbers suggest there’s still potential lurking beneath the surface. Yet, despite this promise, the Rockies cut ties with him last month, and the Braves, who acquired him in a cash deal, quickly moved on after just a few weeks.
For the White Sox, this is a calculated risk. After a 102-loss season in 2025, they’re clearly still in rebuilding mode. But their position allows them to take chances on unproven talent like Rolison. He still has an option year remaining, meaning he can shuttle between the majors and Triple-A as needed. With less than three years of service time, he could remain under team control through 2029 if he finds his footing in Chicago. But here’s the controversial question: Is Rolison a diamond in the rough, or just another cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Photo courtesy of David Frerker, Imagn Images. (View Comments: 6)
