Right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger was brought back by the Chicago White Sox and gave up four runs and six hits in his first game of the season on Monday night in an 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Clevinger walked four batters and didn’t get any strikeouts. He threw 31 of his 54 pitches for strikes. Clevinger had a late start to the season because he signed a $3 million, one-year contract on April 4.
“I’m excited,” Clevinger said. “This was a long time coming. It’s cool to get in here and feel energy in this clubhouse again.” Not signing until April allowed Clevinger to spend time with his sick father, who died on March 20.
“It was a different off-season,” Clevinger said, “I think everything happens for a reason. I lost my father this offseason. If I was out in Arizona (for spring training), I wouldn’t be able to make it back for the day before. I got to drive back up to Jacksonville and see him.”
The 33-year-old made two starts for Triple-A Charlotte, allowing three runs and 10 hits, along with seven strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings.
The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the second before scoring three times on Jonny DeLuca’s two-run opposite-field ground single to right and a run-scoring fielder’s choice grounder by Yandy Díaz.
Amed Rosario started the third inning with a triple and scored on Harold Ramírez’s RBI single, putting the Rays ahead 4-2. Clevinger left the game after walking José Caballero, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Jared Shuster took over and retired all three hitters he faced in the third.
“Command was a little off,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “I’ve seen his stuff obviously a lot crisper than where it was today. But you know what, it’s his first time out and we got to just build from there. Clev is going to be okay.”
Clevinger has the chance to earn up to an additional $3 million in bonuses for starts and innings: $100,000 per start from 11-25 and $100,000 for 55 innings and each additional five through 125.
Last season, Clevinger went 9-9 with a 3.77 ERA and two complete games in 24 starts with the White Sox, then became a free agent.
He has a record of 60-39 with a 3.45 ERA in 128 starts and 24 relief appearances over eight seasons with Cleveland (2016-20), San Diego (2020-22), and Chicago (2023). He missed the 2021 season after Tommy John surgery.
Chicago also put right-hander Dominic Leone on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness.
