The White Sox bullpen desperately needed a rest on Sunday. It had been nine days since the team had an off day and during that nine-game stretch, the bullpen had logged a total of 36 innings.
Forcing your relievers to eat an average of four innings a game is not a sustainable strategy early in the season. It’s one of the reasons the White Sox made a series of moves before Sunday’s game in hopes of getting some fresh arms in the bullpen.
Erick Fedde got the ball on Sunday tasked with pitching deep into the game while also helping clinch the White Sox first series sweep of the season. Fedde entered the game with momentum. During is last start against the Minnesota Twins he notched a career-high 11 strikeouts in six strong innings of work.
He picked up right where he left off on Sunday. The former KBO MVP looked like an ace, tossing 8.1 innings of two-run ball, on seven hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. Prior to the game, Fedde had never pitched into the eighth inning before. By the end of the game, he had an opportunity for his first career complete game. Despite falling just two outs shy of a complete game his performance was just what the doctor ordered for the White Sox.
Fedde had command of the strike zone all day and was efficient with his pitches. The 31-year-old threw 72 of his 108 pitches for strikes. He was able to attack hitters from both sides of the plate, something that he struggled with during his first MLB stint with the Nationals.
His struggles with the Nationals ultimately resulted in him having to spend a year in Korea playing for the NC Dinos to try and reinvent his game. Fedde was never known as a strikeout pitcher, but in the KBO he racked up 209 strikeouts in 180 ⅓ innings. His 2.00 ERA and 20-6 record gave him a newfound confidence when he signed a two-year deal for $15 million with the White Sox. However, there was still a lingering doubt if the success would translate.
“There’s always thoughts in the back of your head of, ‘Is it still going to play here? Is it still going to work out?’” Fedde told MLB.com. “But I think it’s still just proof of such a different player I am now.”
Since leaving the Nationals, Fedde added two new pitches, a sweeper and split-changeup, to his arsenal. During the offseason, he worked out in the same facility as Giants ace Logan Webb who also utilizes a sweeper and split-change. According to White Sox Senior Pitching advisor Brian Banninster, pitching coach Ethan Katz and Bannister were each with Fedde when he made the adjustment. The sweeper and splitter were prevalent on Sunday.
Fedde threw his sweeper 52 times, all against right-handers. Four of his nine punchouts came on the sweeper. He also mixed in a balanced attack of 25 sinkers and 24 cutters. The sweeper has emerged as his weapon of choice against right-handed hitters. Against the Rays he was able to move it in and out of the strike zone at various heights.
Fedde also notched two strikeouts with the sinker and two more with the cutter. Both strikeouts with the sinker came against right-handers while he earned one punchout against a left-hander with the cutter. While he only threw his splitter seven times, it was instrumental against left-handers. He threw six of his seven splitters to left-handers, all located on the outside edge of the plate. His split-change and cutter have emerged as an effective tool against left-handers this season. A healthy dose of splitters and cutters was how Fedde navigated a Twins lineup stacked with lefties. That four-pitch gives Fedde weapons to attack both sides of the plate with authority.
“Can’t just stack me,” Fedde said after Sunday’s game. “That’s probably the biggest difference.”
Fedde now has a career-high 27.5% strikeout rate on the season. Even with the high strikeout numbers he has still been able to minimize his pitch count. That’s helped by the fact he only has a 6.3% walk rate. In six starts he now owns a 2.60 ERA.
Time will tell if the early success is sustainable. Teams are starting to gain tape of Fedde’s new pitch repertoire and will slowly begin to adjust. If he can continue his success, the White Sox may have a valuable trade piece on their hands. Or perhaps even a piece that can help them compete in 2025.
