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White Sox reach first place despite missing their most important hitter

Chicago has climbed to the top of the AL Central while waiting for Munetaka Murakami to return from injury.
ByCasey McAleer|
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Jun 1, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) reacts to hitting a two run home run during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images
Jun 1, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas (20) reacts to hitting a two run home run during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

The Chicago White Sox have finally at long last taken a narrow lead on that AL Central. It's been a long time coming, but with the White Sox winning close games against some of the top teams in baseball, Chicago has positioned themselves well moving into mid-June. 

The White Sox are winning without their biggest bat

The team is currently without their biggest bat in Munetaka Murakami, as he deals through a Hamstring injury that could see him on the bench for several more weeks. With the addition of young Braden Montgomery to the lineup, this team is set up for success. When Murakami returns, the White Sox are truly in a position to sincerely hold a place among the American League elite. No small feat for a team that was recently at the bottom of the table as it goes. 

The competition that the White Sox have been facing hasn’t been easy, either. Taking a series victory against the Braves is surely something to write home about. The White Sox move on from their home series against Atlanta to take on the Dodgers, only then to take on the Yankees, both on the road. Chicago sure picked an excellent time to get hot. 

It’s important to not get too excited and to acknowledge that it’s only mid-June. Additionally, the White Sox only hold a 0.5 game lead on top of the Guardians that could be removed almost at once. The mere idea that this is the topic of discussion is cause for celebration among the south siders. 

From the start of the season to now, this year has seen a catastrophic rise given the expectations the White Sox had to begin the season. Player development was the emphasis from the start, as Chris Getz and Will Venable have repeated on multiple occasions. Now we’re one small step away from the White Sox being potentially buyers to make a playoff push in the second half of the season.

The White Sox still have a long way to go before anyone can confidently call them contenders, but they have earned the right to be taken seriously. For a franchise that spent the last year searching for signs of progress, sitting atop the AL Central in mid-June is a reminder of just how far this team has come in a short amount of time.

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