Ky Bush’s MLB Debut Overshadowed By White Sox 21-Game Losing Streak

Every baseball player dreams of making it to the MLB one day. For White Sox prospect Ky Bush that dream finally came true Monday night in Oakland. Unfortunately for Bush, any enthusiasm for his debut was overshadowed by the White Sox historic 21-game losing streak which he is now part of. 

Bush was tasked with snapping the 20-game skid as the White Sox crawled closer to the all-time record of 23 consecutive losses. On paper, the Oakland Athletics represented a good matchup. They have the second-worst record in the American League and 23rd-ranked offense in the MLB. But baseball is a funny game. Despite the A’s 47-67 record, they are nearly .500 at the Oakland Coliseum, a ballpark that has been a house of horrors for the White Sox in years past. Monday night was no different.

With a place in baseball infamy on the line the White Sox No. 17 prospect was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs in four innings of work. Bush only allowed two hits but struggled with command, walking five batters and hitting one after throwing just 45 of his 85 pitches for strikes. The outing wasn’t a total loss for Bush who showcased that his stuff can play in the big leagues. But he doesn't have much margin for error.

The 24-year-old southpaw picked up his first MLB strikeout in the second inning after painting a 93 mph fastball at the bottom of the strikeout to punch out Zach Gelof on strikes. It was the first of three on the night for Bush. In the third inning, he got Oakland right fielder Daz Cameron to whiff on a slider. Cameron fell victim to Bush’s slider once again the following inning on a pitch that tagged the outside corner for a backward K. 

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game that he thought nerves played a factor in the volume of walks Bush allowed but admitted that his squad had a tough time picking up the ball early on. 

“I thought, for the first couple innings, our guys were having a tough time maybe recognizing the breaking ball. Maybe it was a little bit of an extension to the fastball,” Kotsay said. 

Bush did not allow a hit until the fourth inning. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that he liked the way the young left-hander threw the ball but would have liked to see him cut down on some of the free passes. Bush agreed. 

“Obviously the stuff was not there,” Bush told reporters after the game. “I was spraying it a little bit. I mean, after that first inning, settled in and just figured, ‘Just go right at them and compete, really. Just give ‘em your best stuff.”  

Scouts credited Bush’s ability to pound the strike zone early in his career. His arsenal consists of a three-pitch mix that includes a mid-90s fastball, low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. His slider is considered his best pitch. However, after suffering a lat injury early in 2023, it took him some time to regain his rhythm on the mound. 

White Sox catcher Chuckie Robinson is very familiar with Bush’s arsenal. He worked with Bush in Spring Training then caught one of his outings in Triple-A. Robinson was Bush’s battery mate once again for his MLB debut, telling reporters after the game that Bush “has really good stuff.” 

Bush was added to the organization last year in a trade that sent Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito to the Angels. He got off to a hot start in Double-A Birmingham posting a 5-3 record with a 2.12 ERA in 80.2 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte in early July but struggled to replicate his early success. In four appearances, which included a pair of starts, Bush owned a 6.16 ERA. 

With one start in the big leagues under his belt there is plenty of room to grow. But in four innings the White Sox rookie showed promise.