White Sox Designate Austin Hays for Assignment

Hays, 31, joined Chicago in February on a one-year, $6 million deal that includes an $8 million mutual option for 2027 or a $1 million buyout. He played just 12 games with the White Sox, missing most of April because of a hamstring strain before a left calf strain sent him back to the injured list on May 4.

In his brief stint with the White Sox, Hays batted .233/.250/.326 with one home run and seven RBIs in 44 plate appearances. After being pulled from his initial rehab assignment on June 1, he began a new one on July 17. The right-handed slugger was productive during his recent 11-game stint with Triple-A Charlotte, posting an .894 OPS with four home runs and 11 RBIs.

This is the third consecutive season in which Hays has been limited by injuries. He appeared in just 85 games in 2024 and 103 games in 2025, missing time because of calf and hamstring injuries, as well as a kidney infection. When healthy, the right-handed slugger displayed the hitting ability that made him an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2023.

In 2025, Hays’ .768 OPS ranked second among Cincinnati Reds players with at least 200 plate appearances. He also homered 15 times and drove in 64 runs, finishing just three RBIs shy of his career-high.

Hays was initially expected to fill a platoon role with the White Sox, but in his absence, the club found other productive alternatives. Randal Grichuk has hit .275/.312/.565 with nine home runs and 22 RBIs in 59 games since joining Chicago in April. The club also added Brenton Doyle at the trade deadline, giving them another right-handed bat capable of handling center field on a regular basis.

With no obvious fit on Chicago’s bench, Hays will now head to waivers with an opportunity to find consistent playing time elsewhere. The former All-Star could be an enticing addition for teams seeking a right-handed platoon bat, especially since he owns a career .816 OPS against left-handed pitching.