Last season was pretty much a punt. Let’s hope this righthander is back to full health this summer
Right-Handed Starting Pitcher
6´1´´
185 pounds
Age: 25
2024 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking 70
2024 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level -0.5 years
SSS rank among all right-handed starters in the system 17
Overall 2024 stats 3-1 ⚾️ 4 games (1 start, 1 finish) ⚾️ 13 1⁄3 IP ⚾️ 3.38 ERA ⚾️ 1.125 WHIP ⚾️ 13 K ⚾️ 4 BB
Connor McCullough went undrafted out of Kansas State University, and it’s a bit mystifying as to why. No, his numbers weren’t electric (career 10-9, 4.63 ERA, 1.389 WHIP) but he took the ball regularly as a junior and senior, pitching in the Big 12. It seems that every year we see players selected on more of a hunch than that.
At any rate, less than two weeks after the draft, the White Sox had snapped up McCullough and got him an inning of work in Arizona — where the lifetime starter earned a save in his pro debut.
It was a tale of two seasons in 2023 for McCullough. The good was his outstanding seven-start run against younger (1.4 years) competition at Kannapolis, which included a remarkable seven-inning no-hitter that highlighted his great May. Throughout that month, he logged 24 innings with a stellar 1.13 ERA, demonstrating consistent effectiveness on the mound. McCullough’s control and command were evident from his low walk totals; that month, he issued just two walks over the 24 innings pitched. McCullough displayed an impressive strikeout ability as well. He recorded 27 strikeouts in May as well, showcasing his knack for generating swings-and-misses, with a strikeout rate of 31.7%
Following his miracle month, McCullough was promoted on May 31 to the Dash. In his first start with them, he pitched four innings and allowed four runs. Looking at McCullough’s performance in Low-A overall and why he earned that promotion: He maintained an impressive 2.17 ERA. That 31.7% K-rate was coupled with a miniscule 5% BB-rate: A 26.6% rate difference was definitely a clear sign Low-A was a little too easy for him.
The righty did struggle overall against age-appropriate competition in High-A, with a propensity to give up big hits while still maintaining reasonable walk and hit totals. Another factor in McCullough’s favor in spite of a scary 5.33 ERA is his ability to shoulder a heavy workload: He threw no fewer than 59 pitches in any Dash outing and went at least four innings (for some arms, the MAX that would be allowed them) in all but two of 16 High-A starts.
The 2024 season ended up a lost one for McCullough, who only lasted until the end of April before getting shelved with injury — serious enough to warrant 60-day IL status that took out his season. The promising righty ended up with 100 innings fewer than he threw in 2023, which is never the direction you want to head on your way to the majors.
McCullough’s Baseball Cube player ratings
K/BB 71 (unchanged from last season)
Walks 69 (0)
Durability 51 (-9)
vsPower 59 (0)
Hittable 59 (0)
Strikeouts 57 (0)
Average 61.00 (-1.50)
Obviously given his injury, McCullough will be on track to repeat Birmingham to start 2025, with hopes of seeing Charlotte at some time. However, he may need extended spring work and possibly even stops back up the ladder in working himself back to the Barons — in which case Double-A becomes a goal for 2025 vs. a launching point.
100. Cole McConnell, CF
99. Drake Logan, LF
98. Marcelo Alcala, RF
97. Lyle Miller-Green, 1B
96. Jared Kelley, RHRP
95. Adrian Gil, 1B
94. Adam Hackenberg, C
93. Loidel Chapelli, 2B
92. Eddie Park, CF
91. Chase Plymell, RHRP
90. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, RHRP
89. Tristan Stivors, RHRP
88. Pierce George, RHRP
87. Wes Kath, 3B
86. Daniel González, LHRP
85. Mikey Kane, 1B
84. Shane Murphy, LHSP
83. Connor McCullough, RHSP
