VC grad Karinchak signs with White Sox

By Kyle Adams
Posted 1/30/25

Valley Central graduate James Karinchak is set to begin the next phase of his professional baseball career. On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox announced that the organization had signed the …

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VC grad Karinchak signs with White Sox

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Valley Central graduate James Karinchak is set to begin the next phase of his professional baseball career.
On Saturday, the Chicago White Sox announced that the organization had signed the right-handed relief pitcher to a minor league contract, which includes a non-roster invite to spring training.

After spending most of the 2024 season recovering from a shoulder injury, last September he got back on the mound on a rehab assignment with the Cleveland Guardians’ Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers.

In November, at the conclusion of the regular season, Karinchak was officially added back to the roster from the injured list. However, instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A, he elected to become a free agent.

Up until he signed with the White Sox, Karinchak had spent the entirety of his professional baseball career with the Guardians organization.

Karinchak had a three-year career at Bryant University, after graduating from Valley Central in 2014. He was selected in the ninth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, and ultimately made his big league debut with the

Guardians on Sept. 14, 2019 against the Minnesota Twins.
His last appearance in a MLB game came on Sept. 30, 2023, before dealing with injuries throughout last season.

Throughout his MLB career, Karinchak has a 12-11 record, with a 3.10 ERA in 174 appearances. Over 165 2-3 innings, he has compiled 253 strikeouts, 42 holds and 15 saves.

Over seven seasons in the minor leagues, the 29-year-old has pitched 149 1-3 innings in 132 games. He has a 9-6 record with 28 saves and 266 strikeouts.

The White Sox spring training is based out of Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, with their spring opener slated for Feb. 24 against the Texas Rangers.

If the right-hander isn’t able to make the trip to the South Side out of spring training with the big league club, he’d most likely be assigned to the White Sox’s Triple-A affiliate in North Carolina, the Charlotte Knights.