The White Sox have traded left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations. Horn was DFA’d by the team four days before Tuesday’s trade. Tuesday’s trade marks the second time that the White Sox have traded him away.
The White Sox acquired Horn back in February via a trade with the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league arm Matthew Thompson. The trade began his second stint in the White Sox organization. Horn was originally selected by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He was traded away a year later at the deadline for reliever Ryan Tepera.
The 26-year-old had a good opportunity to carve out a role in a White Sox bullpen that lacks quality left-handers. However, in nine games with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights this season Horn has struggled to the tune of an 11.32 ERA in 10.1 innings. He allowed six of his 13 runs this season during a rough outing against the Norfolk Tides. He still has three minor league option years remaining which could be one of the reasons a team like the Red Sox is interested in taking a flier on him as he continues to develop.
Horn has struggled to find a permanent MLB home. He was traded by the Cubs in February to make room on the 40-man roster for Cody Bellinger. Before being traded, he was graded as the 28th prospect in a loaded Cubs farm system. General manager Chris Getz is very familiar with Horn, after overseeing his development as the team’s farm director while he was in the White Sox system from 2020-21, which is why it was surprising to see him let go so quickly.
The former Auburn Tiger posted a 4.21 ERA in 45 appearances between Double-A Tennesse and Triple-A Iowa. In 62 innings out of the bullpen, he punched out 28.7% of opponents. His high strikeout rate was thanks in part to a fastball that sits around 94-96 mph and an above-average offspeed combination. His slider sits in the low 80s and was graded as a 55 by scouts after the draft on a 20-80 scale. That slider has turned into a plus pitch. He also has an effective curveball in the mid-70s.
During his minor league career Horn is averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings. However, last year he struggled with command, walking 12.5% of opponents. He also got knocked around a bit in Triple-A, with opponents hitting .265 of him.
Scouts are also concerned his violent arm action could lead to arm injuries down the road. Horn already underwent Tommy John surgery while he was pitching at McLennan Community College in 2018 before he transferred to Auburn. When he returned to the mound he quickly established himself as an effective starter in the Tigers rotation, posting a 2.08 ERA in four starts, which was enough to earn him $150,000 when he was drafted by the White Sox in 2020.
Now he will have an opportunity to try and stick with the Red Sox.
