Former Pirates outfielder earns opportunity to succeed on MLB's worst team

Jul 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Joshua Palacios (77) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Jul 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Joshua Palacios (77) celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Joshua Palacios is headed back to the big leagues, as the Chicago White Sox selected his contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday.

Palacios, who agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox earlier this month, is already getting an opportunity with the Major League club in the wake of injuries to catcher Korey Lee and outfielder Mike Tauchman. Palacios landed with the White Sox after being designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, clearing outright waivers and opting to elect free agency instead of accepting a minor league assignment from the Pirates.

Originally selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Palacios made his MLB debut with Toronto in 2021 and had a brief stint with the Washington Nationals the following season. The Pirates nabbed him in the Triple-A portion of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, and he managed to hold a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster throughout each of the past two seasons.

Former Pirates outfielder Joshua Palacios earns opportunity to succeed with Chicago White Sox

Palacios exhausted his final option year in 2024, and the Pirates' offseason additions of Adam Frazier and Tommy Pham — not to mention the solid spring performances from Jack Suwinski and Ji Hwan Bae — effectively squeezed him off the roster. Palacios was officially DFA'd on March 22 when the Pirates added right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton to their 40-man roster.

For Palacios, it was basically a matter of when, not if, he would get a big league opportunity with the White Sox this season. Chicago has several outfielders who could be available in midseason trade talks this year, which would likely open an opportunity for a non-roster depth player like Palacios later in the season; but early injuries expedited his arrival on the South Side.

Palacios is a career .302/.389/.482 hitter in 720 Triple-A plate appearances, but his Major League slash line of .230/.286/.364 needs some work. He should get a chance for significant playing time with Chicago, and he can be controlled for four additional seasons if he makes the most of it.

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