HOUSTON — Director of hitting Ryan Fuller can point to several statistics that highlight the strides the Chicago White Sox have made at the plate in 2026.
Take runs per game. The Sox entered Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park averaging an American League-best 4.78 runs per game, up from 3.99 in 2025.
“Last year, the first year of the new hitting program, that was selling the vision of what could be,” Fuller said on Sunday in Minneapolis. “And now it’s pointing to the players at the big-league level who are actually doing it.
“So what it means to be a White Sox hitter now, we have tangible ways of showing them what we value. It’s been a ton of fun.”
The Sox are working to extend that fun into the postseason. They had a three-game lead in the AL Central over the second-place Cleveland Guardians coming into Wednesday.
With plenty of big games still ahead, Fuller recently offered some offensive assessments.
Home runs continue to be a major factor — they are third in the AL with 181. The Sox are second in the majors with 50 home runs since July 26.
They have three players with 29 home runs this season: Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas.
Murakami last homered on Aug. 18. He was 4-for-47 (.085) with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks in his last 13 games.
Fuller said, “It’s only a matter of time before he gets back to doing what he’s going to do.”
“We’ve seen — even though it’s getting out a little bit more, a little bit more swing-and-miss right now — the ability to take the walks when they’re presented, to continue to have really good at-bats,” Fuller said. “It feels like every count is a 3-2 count where he’s taking a borderline pitch and finding a way to get to first.
“But yeah, obviously, like all the guys, more consistency in the at-bats, being able to put mistakes forward and when they throw it over the heart of the plate, being able to impact it and hitting it hard and far like Mune can.”
Manager Will Venable added on Wednesday, “I don’t know how many of these 110 mph fly balls that he’s hit straight up that you feel like he’s just kind of a tick away. No panic with him. And at the same time, Mune is in a good spot, making good swing decisions and hasn’t shown any of the indicators of a guy who’s pressing or stressing out there.”
Montgomery has had his second-half struggles (.207 average since the All-Star break), but he’s collected three multi-hit performances in the last five games.
“He’s very aware of when things are going well, when things aren’t going well,” Fuller said. “He’s not trying to make excuses. It’s looking in the mirror and saying, ‘This is how it’s been going. Here are the adjustments I need to make.’
“So those conversations are really easy when you can point to: ‘This is what’s real and this is what we’ve got to go after.'”
Outfielder Tristan Peters provided a spark in August, hitting .320 in the month. That included a stretch of hitting a home run in five straight games, tying the franchise record.
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“To be able to have the year he’s having, and in the moment, it doesn’t feel great when you’re scuffling (right after the All-Star break), but we can point to, ‘Man, look at the first half you had, an All-Star.’ And then to be able to catch it back,” Fuller said. “Those are the moments where guys can turn, too and go, ‘I had some tough at-bats, a tough stretch. I’m going to get back to who I am.’
“And to see him have the stretch that he’s on is incredible. But really more than anything, to learn those lessons and to be able to provide himself confidence when he does have a few bad days, of, ‘I’ll get it back.'”
A fellow All-Star, Vargas entered Wednesday having reached base safely in each of his last 18 games. He had a .381/.530/.635 slash line during the stretch with 14 runs and 20 walks. He leads the AL with 93 runs this year.
“We always talk about the three skills we value: decisions, contact, damage,” Fuller said. “For (Vargas) in the past, it was great decisions, good contact, damage a little bit below average. This year, it’s all three skills. One of the best decision-makers in MLB. Above-average contact rates, and now this year with his body, his swing, improved bat speed, like there’s a lot of things we can point to.
“But so consistent this year, so proud of him, and he’s really someone we can point to having a great offseason, building on the year before and building on your skills and what happens because of it.”
Davis Martin returns from the IL
The Sox reinstated pitcher Davis Martin from the 15-day injured list before Wednesday’s game. The right-hander, who went on the IL on Aug. 14 with a blister on his right middle finger, was scheduled to be the team’s starter Wednesday against the Astros.
In the corresponding move, the Sox optioned Tanner McDougal to Triple-A Charlotte. McDougal was recalled on Tuesday when rosters expanded, but did not pitch in the 5-1 win.