The post White Sox sign LHP Rylan Kaufman to a minor league deal appeared first on Sox On 35th.
The White Sox are adding a former top-30 prospect from a division rival.
According to Ari Alexander, the team has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Rylan Kaufman on a minor league deal. The southpaw missed all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery, but is expected to be healthy heading into the season.
Kaufman, 26, was a 12th-round pick for the Royals out of San Jacinto College in 2018. When selected, Kansas City believed that his 6-foot-4 frame and athleticism could help him unlock increased velocity, especially as he filled out physically. Baseball America even had him ranked as the team’s No. 25 prospect entering the 2019 season, but injuries and control issues have since tempered those expectations.
The Texas native has appeared in 68 games spanning seven seasons with Royals minor league affiliates, reaching as high as Double-A before his injury. Kaufman has served primarily as a starter in that span, posting a 5.41 ERA over 243.0 IP with 271 strikeouts. His swing-and-miss ability is real, but he hasn’t been able to show it consistently enough due to a lack of command.
The temps may be hot, but @Rylan_kaufman has been 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 over his first three starts!
11.2 IP
0⃣ R
14 SO
.150 OBA#BanditTogetherpic.twitter.com/M2mDJxOH9P
— Quad Cities River Bandits (@QCRiverBandits) August 24, 2023
In a recent bullpen session before this signing, Kaufman showcased a four-seamer that reached 96.6 mph with above-average ride and a two-seamer that sat around 94 mph. He also threw his curveball that had previously been described as having “plus-plus spin and movement,” which continues to look legit. Mixed in were also a slider and changeup, proving he has a well-rounded arsenal that the White Sox will look to harness.
Nearly two years removed from his last stop in Double-A, there’s a good chance that is where Kaufman begins this season pending his spring performance. The White Sox will see if he can stay healthy, first and foremost, while working to refine his command and hopefully get a consistent stretch of quality outings. If all goes well, he may have a chance to carve out a role as a starter or transition into a high-impact bullpen arm.
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Featured Photo: Quad Cities River Bandits
The post White Sox sign LHP Rylan Kaufman to a minor league deal appeared first on Sox On 35th.