This former Orioles prospect is off to a hot start in the White Sox system

When the Orioles acquired Eloy Jimenez from the White Sox, nobody thought much about the nondescript prospect heading back to Chicago in return. Left hander Trey McGough was a former minor league Rule 5 pick, a guy who was never quite good enough to break through and get a call up to the majors.

That might change in the near future, as the former O's prospect has shined in his brief time with the Sox' Triple-A club. In three appearances down in Charlotte, McGough has yet to allow an earned run, throwing 6 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts and a lone walk.

The 26 year old missed most of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in a few games at three different levels toward the end of last year but wasn't impressive. He didn't have his full velocity back and wasn't producing encouraging results.

That changed in 2024, as McGough looked like the best version of himself while working out of the bullpen at both Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. After pitching to a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings with the BaySox, he was promoted to Norfolk where he continued to shine.

With the Tides, McGough posted a 2.08 ERA in 34.2 innings. He struck out nearly a batter per inning at Triple-A while keeping the walks under control.

Lefty Trey McGough could make his MLB debut later this year

However, after landing in Charlotte, he's ramped the strikeouts back up to the same 31.6% figure that he'd posted in Double-A earlier in the year. That increased strikeout rate, along with a sharp decrease in his walk rate, could lead the White Sox to add him to the active roster before the end of the year.

McGough isn't on the White Sox 40-man but their bullpen has been atrocious all year, pitching to a combined 4.92 ERA that's been good for 28th in the majors.

With a number of pitchers on the IL and guys like Michael Kopech and Erick Fedde pitching elsewhere after the trade deadline, spots could open up in the Sox bullpen. They've currently got Fraser Ellard pitching to an ERA over 10, and two other lefties in Jake Eder and Sammy Peralta down in the minors pitching poorly.

The White Sox might not want to make the requisite roster move to get McGough to Chicago but he's currently looking like their next best option if they need a left handed reliever in the majors. The September roster expansion could be a good reason to get McGough into the MLB bullpen as well.

As of now, the White Sox don't have anything to play for. If McGough keeps pitching this well, he's going to force the Sox hand sooner than later.