Mike Vasil’s road back to the White Sox began with 20 throws from 45 feet Friday afternoon, but the small throwing session carried the feel of a clubhouse event. Players, coaches and manager Will Venable lined the home-dugout rail at Rate Field roughly 3 1/2 hours before first pitch to watch the right-hander pick up a baseball for the first time since Tommy John surgery on April 2.
Vasil walked out to left field as teammates gave him a measured round of applause. Major League assistant Tony Medina introduced him over a small speaker as the “Windy City Wizard,” and catcher Kyle Teel received the first toss. When the session was complete, Vasil raised both arms, tossed his glove skyward and shouted, “And the Sox win the pennant.”
The 45-foot work is the opening stage of a lengthy rehab program. If all goes as planned, Vasil could return to the White Sox around the middle of May 2027. He is scheduled to make another 45-foot throwing session Sunday, though it is expected to be a quieter affair.
A first step after a lost season on the mound
Vasil had been competing for a spot in Chicago’s rotation during Spring Training when he injured his arm in a strong March 14 outing against the Dodgers in Arizona. Surgery soon followed, ending his chances of pitching in 2026.
“It felt great,” Vasil said after Friday’s work, crediting Dr. Keith Meister. “I had a little panic this morning. I was in the shower and wondered whether I still knew how to throw a baseball.”
He said the turnout from the club made the moment more emotional than he expected. Vasil wanted to contribute on the field this season, but the support from the group has helped him remain connected while the White Sox chase the American League Central lead.
“Having my teammates behind me meant a lot,” Vasil said. “I wanted to pitch this year and it didn’t happen.”
Teammates made sure Vasil stayed in the room
After the operation, White Sox players approached Venable with a request: keep Vasil around the team. The manager said the pregame gathering grew from the same shared feeling.
“As the day got closer, a number of people reached out and said we had to do this right and make sure everybody got out there for him,” Venable said. “It was a group decision. Everybody understood how important it was to support Vas.”
Vasil said the chance to remain in the clubhouse has been anything but routine for an injured player. He credited the front office, Venable, the veterans and the rest of the roster for treating him as someone who still matters to the club’s daily work.
“I owe them a lot,” he said. “This year hasn’t been normal in any way. For them to want me around, and for Will and the veterans to want me around, that’s rare. I’m grateful they believe I can help even when I’m not playing.”
The Wizard’s place in a first-place clubhouse
The “Windy City Wizard” identity began April 27, when teammate Jordan Leasure had a $20 wand delivered and presented it to Vasil before a home game against the Angels. The gag became a fixture around the 2026 White Sox, eventually leading to a wand giveaway night against the Twins at Rate Field on Sept. 4.
Friday, however, offered Vasil something different. He said it was the first time this year he arrived at the park feeling like a genuine ballplayer again rather than simply the teammate waving a wand.
The wand has still served a purpose. Vasil has taken on a role as a steady presence for teammates through errors, strikeouts and tough innings, making sure setbacks do not alter his regard for them.
“No matter what happens this year, I love every guy in that locker room,” Vasil said. “If somebody makes an error, strikes out or can’t get a big out, it doesn’t change how I see them. I try to tell them that and make them feel valued in our own way.”
For Vasil, that connection reaches beyond the scoreboard and his eventual return from surgery.
“Baseball will end someday,” he said. “What matters most is being able to call somebody and talk about anything other than baseball. That’s meaningful to me.”
