On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled.[1] Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks.[2] On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.[3]
Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.[4] On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders on the season would be seven innings.[5]
On April 1, 2020, longtime White Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer died at the age of 70.[6]
For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following:[7]
Single trade deadline – there will no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year.
26-man roster – rosters will expand from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers.
Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.
Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the use of the DH in the National League, a shortened schedule, and starting extra innings with a runner at second base.[8]
Transactions
November 21, 2019: Catcher Yasmani Grandal signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a four-year, $73 million contract.
November 22, 2019: 1st Baseman José Abreu signed a three-year contract extension worth $50 million with the White Sox.
December 2, 2019: Catcher James McCann signed a one-year extension with the White Sox.
December 20, 2019: LHP Gio González signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $5 million contract.
December 30, 2019: LHP Dallas Keuchel signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a three-year, $55.5 million contract.
January 2, 2020: Outfielder Luis Robert signed a six-year contract extension worth $50 million with the White Sox.
January 9, 2020: 1B-DH Edwin Encarnación signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $12 million contract.
January 14, 2020: RHP Steve Cishek signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $6 million contract.
Regular season
On August 13, the White Sox were supposed to play the first ever MLB at Field of Dreams game against the New York Yankees at a temporary 8,000 seat ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa before the pandemic came. MLB then announced the shortened season and that the AL and NL will play against each other in the same division which took the Yankees off the matchup. Then on July 1, MLB announced that the St. Louis Cardinals would replace the Yankees for the game. Then in late July, a majority of Cardinals players and coaches tested positive for COVID-19. The MLB announced on August 3 that the Field of Dreams game would be rescheduled to August 12, 2021 in which the White Sox would still participate and their opponent will once again be the Yankees.
Game log
2020 regular season game log: 35–25 (Home: 18–12; Away: 17–13)
In the fifth inning of their August 16 game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the White Sox hit four consecutive home runs (Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu, and Eloy Jimenez), becoming the tenth team in major league history to do so and only the 2nd time it has happened in Franchise history.[10][11]
On August 22 and 23, José Abreu tied an MLB record by hitting a Home Run in 4 straight at-bats against the Chicago Cubs. Abreu hit three Home Runs in his 3 at-bats on August 22 off of pitchers Kyle Hendricks, Rowan Wick, and Duane Underwood Jr. then hit a Home Run on his first at-bat off of Yu Darvish the following day.[12]
On August 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Lucas Giolito recorded his first career no-hitter in a 4–0 win. It was the first no-hitter of the MLB season.[13] Giolito struck out 13 batters and threw 74 of 101 pitches for strikes. His only blemish was a lead off walk to Erik González in the fourth inning. It was the first no-hitter for a Sox pitcher since Philip Humber pitched a perfect game in 2012 and the 19th in White Sox History.
In August, the Sox set a new franchise record for most home runs in a month (52).[14]
The Sox became the first team in Major League history to go undefeated against left-handed pitching with a record of 14–0.[15]
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
Abreu also won his first AL MVP Award becoming the 4th player in White Sox history to do so joining Nellie Fox (1959), Dick Allen (1972), and Frank Thomas (1993–94). Abreu in 2020 batted .317 with an OBP of .370 and lead the AL in Slugging percentage at .617 and hit 19 homers on the year. Abreu also lead the MLB with 60 RBIs and 148 total bases. Abreu also won the Hank Aaron Award, the Sporting News Player of the Year Award, and the All-MLB Second Team for first base.
