White Sox Dark Horse Closer Candidate Continues To Impress

When White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz asked Andrew Benintendi to name the toughest pitcher he has faced so far at camp the name Jordan Leasure came up. 

Salvador Perez learned how tough Leasure was the hard way on Thursday. Leasure tossed his second scoreless inning of the Spring, which included striking out Garrett Hampson on three straight pitches to kick off the top of the fifth. Then with two outs and runners on first and second, Leasure blew three consecutive pitches past Perez to earn his second punchout of the day and escape the jam. 

The 25-year-old is one of 30 non-roster invitees in White Sox camp. Former GM Rick Hahn acquired Leasure in a package deal with the Dodgers that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to Los Angeles in exchange for outfielder Trayce Thompson and right-hander Nick Nastrini. MLB.com had Leasure ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the White Sox farm system by the end of last season. 

The White Sox bullpen competition is wide open. Not only could Leasure earn a spot in the White Sox bullpen but he also has the stuff to develop into a late-inning weapon.

The hard-throwing right-hander has all the makings of a potential closer, a role that Leasure was not afraid to embrace.

“I like that role. I like high-leverage situations,” Leasure told MLB.com after his first Cactus League appearance. “But there’s a lot of guys in this clubhouse that have done that in the past. Even if it’s them, learn something from them through their years of doing it. It’s all learning. It’s all good things that can be taken away.

“There are a lot of guys here fighting for a few spots, but I think I have a pretty good chance. As long as I go out there and do my thing, if they think I can be a part of this team and help, I’m all for it. If not, somewhere down the line this season I’ll be called up and be ready.”

Last season Leasure logged 11 saves in the minor leagues. But before he can become a closer he is going to have to earn a roster spot. His biggest competition comes in the form of several veterans such as Jesse Chavez Corey Knebel, and John Brebbia. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol was recently asked about some of the White Sox positional battles. 

“At the end of the day, it’s probably not going to be who has the best stats with us in the spring,” Grifol told MLB.com. “It’s going to be on who helps us win many different ways off the bench.” 

While his comments are in reference to positional players, it is easy to apply the same thought process to the bullpen. 

Leasure has an intimidating presence on the mound with a 6’3” 215 lb frame. His height gives him a good extension, making his fastball nearly unhittable for Double-A hitters. With his large stride and low release point, it looks like the ball is quickly rising from the batter's box. 

#AppyLeague alum Jordan Leasure (@elzriverriders ‘21) notched a strikeout during a perfect 4th inning yesterday in his #WhiteSox Spring Training debut.@JLeasure8 pic.twitter.com/8mXOedoC30

— Appalachian League (@AppyLeague) February 27, 2024

Last season opponents hit just .169 off of him in 29 games in Double-A Tulsa. Upon getting traded to the White Sox organization he was immediately promoted to Triple-A. Leasure didn’t fair as well in Charlotte. In 13.1 innings of work, he posted a 6.08 ERA and 1.80 WHIP while opponents hit .286 off him. His Triple-A numbers shouldn't be enough to prevent the White Sox from giving him a serious look. His stuff can play in the MLB. 

Leasure’s fastball averages 97.2 mph and has nearly the same spin rate as Spencer Strider’s fastball. Strider led the MLB in strikeouts last season. At 2313 RPM it’s easy to see why Leasure was so effective last season. 

Lance Brozdowski of the Marquee Sports Network recently did a breakdown of Leasure’s pitches. Brozdowski’s analysis showed that Leasure’s four-seam fastball had an 18" iVB from a 5.8' release in AAA, which drew comparisons to Ryan Helsley's fastball, minus 2 ticks. Hesley was named an All-Star for the Cardinals in 2022 and averaged 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings last season. 

Brozdowski compared Leasure’s slider, which sits at 88 mph, with 6 inches of sweep, to Adbert Alzolay. Alzolay’s slider had a Run-Value of 1o last season, which was the highest of any pitch in his arsenal. It also produced a 40.6% whiff rate and a 33.6% strikeout rate. 

With the White Sox pitching staff already losing a handful of arms to injury this spring, Leasure has a golden opportunity to set himself apart. If he can keep stacking good outings like Tuesday’s performance, then a spot on the Opening Day roster may be heading his way.