PHILADELPHIA — Last season, the White Sox showed the makings of an infield core that could serve them well into the future with Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Miguel Vargas.
A few more pieces falling into place early this season — hello, Munetaka Murakami, Tristan Peters and Sam Antonacci — have boosted the Sox to their most promising start in five years. Davis Martin’s star turn as the ace of an improved pitching staff hasn’t hurt, either.
But a reliable cast of bench players and bullpen arms are cementing the Sox’ belief that their competitive window finally is cracking open, and it’s not just that second-year manager Will Venable has more talent to work with. He also is learning how to use it.
‘‘Will has done a good job of keeping his bench in games,’’ said veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk, who has hit .315/.339/.685 with six home runs and 19 RBI since signing with the Sox last month. ‘‘There are opportunities to leave the guys out there, and there are opportunities to get the bench some reps — even if it’s one at-bat here and there — to stay as fresh as you can. It’s tough, and he’s done a great job.”
Grichuk had a pinch-hit, two-run single in the Sox’ 9-5 loss Sunday to the Phillies, just his latest clutch showing after two pinch-hit homers in the last month. Derek Hill, the Sox’ other reserve outfielder, has swatted two pinch-hit dingers in the same time frame.
Clutch hitting from Randal Grichuk! pic.twitter.com/sUlFthtQg0
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 7, 2026
Their contributions have come at an opportune moment for the Sox, who are trying to fill the offensive void left by Murakami’s hamstring injury that could sideline him till next month.
The Sox’ batting order hardly has skipped a beat since the slugging rookie went down, posting 44 runs in eight games, with a lift from rookie call-up Jacob Gonzalez (6-for-20 with a homer and four RBI).
‘‘It’s huge,’’ Grichuk said. ‘‘There are some ballclubs out there that don’t use their bench and there are some that do, and [Venable] does a great job of keeping us all as fresh as he can while trying to win ballgames, playing the matchups and understanding who’s hot and who needs more at-bats.’’
Just as important has been Venable’s bullpen management, which he has acknowledged posed his steepest learning curve in his first season.
With stronger arms in the pen this season, Sox relievers entered play Sunday with a major-league-high 280⅓ innings pitched and had held opponents to a .232 batting average, the fourth-lowest in the bigs.
‘‘We just talk about it on a daily basis, and he’s wide-open to all input,’’ bullpen coach Matt Wise said. ‘‘It’s probably the toughest thing for any manager in the first couple of years, but having flexible guys down there makes it a little easier.’’
That was on display in the Sox’ victory Saturday, when the pen posted a season-high 13 strikeouts. Seven came from bulk pitcher Sean Burke and three from veteran Sean Newcomb (2.35 ERA in 38⅓ innings), who has proved himself to be one of Venable’s most reliable and versatile arms.
‘‘He’s a leader down there,’’ said Wise, who coached Newcomb earlier in his career in the Angels’ farm system.
‘‘I’m ready for the ball whenever, whether it’s the ninth or right after the starter or if something else happens,’’ Newcomb said. ‘‘I take a lot of pride in taking the ball whenever and for as long as I can.’’
Add in pitchers such as fireballer Grant Taylor, big-money closer Seranthony Dominguez and lanky hurler Bryan Hudson, and Wise called it ‘‘the most fun I’ve ever had as a coach.’’
‘‘It’s not even close,’’ he said. ‘‘The guys, the energy after the game, the energy before the game, just the camaraderie that the guys have. It’s easy to say that when you’re winning, but it truly is the most fun to be around.’’