The White Sox have designated Declan Cronin for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster after left-handed reliever Tim Hill signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract on Thursday.
Cronin threw 11 innings for the White Sox last season, allowing 11 earned runs during that stretch. The 26-year-old reliever spent the bulk of his season in Triple-A Charlotte. In 51.2 innings of work, the right-hander posted a 3.83 ERA. In his 47 appearances, he owned an 8.8% walk rate and an 18.6% strikeout rate.
The White Sox drafted Cronin in the 36th round of the 2019 draft. The Holy Cross graduate received First-Team All-Patriot League honors that season as well as Patriot League All-Tournament Team recognition.
Cronin showed some promise as he worked his way up through the minor league ranks. In his first professional season, he combined to go 2-2 with a 2.88 ERA between the Arizona Fall League and Kannapolis. After the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic Cronin earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham in August of 2021, after surrendering just six runs in a 12-outing stretch between May 8th to June 29th.
In 2022 Cronin combined for a 3.71 ERA with 36 strikeouts over 49 appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte. During that stretch, he limited opponents to a .206 average with runners in scoring position. He was off to a hot start in Charlotte holding the opposing hitter to a .192 average with no walks between July 17th and August 18th but suffered a strained right thigh in September that forced him to miss the rest of the season.
Cronin had a limited opportunity to try and impress the front office last season after the bullpen was torn apart at the trade deadline. He was only given nine opportunities but in that small sample size, he produced a 13.7% walk rate and struggled to draw swings and misses. However, he did show a 52.9 ground ball percentage which could be enough to attract some suitors. The high-ground ball rate is on par with what he has done throughout his career. Cronin has produced a ground ball rate north of 50% in every professional level he has pitched in.
The front office now has seven days to try to trade Cronin, place him on waivers, or outright him to the minor leagues.
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