Thursday, August 05, 2010

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Less than two months after being selected in the first round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, FGCU pitcher Chris Sale’s fast-track to the major leagues is complete. Sale has been elevated from Triple-A Charlotte to join the Chicago White Sox in time for Wednesday night’s game at Detroit.

It took Sale all of 11 days to earn his first promotion from Advanced Single-A Winston-Salem to Triple-A Charlotte on July 13. Now just 22 days after joining the Knights, Sale is on his way to the “The Show” where he’ll be available in the bullpen during tonight’s game against the Tigers at 7:05 p.m. ET on ESPN. Sale will wear No. 49. He wore No. 41 at FGCU and No. 14 at Winston-Salem and Charlotte, respectively.

Sale is the second FGCU pitcher to be called up to the major leagues and the “Windy City” in the last three days. The White Sox’s cross-town rival Chicago Cubs elevated former FGCU right-hander Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

“We’re excited for Chris and excited for our program,” said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett, who is the reigning three-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year. “It’s amazing how fast this has all happened, but if anyone is ready for it, it’s Chris. It’s been an amazing week for FGCU baseball and we couldn’t be more proud.”

According to Baseball America, Sale’s arrival in Chicago after being selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft on June 7, will be the quickest major league debut of any draftee since Reds 2003 first-rounder Ryan Wagner. Sale is also the first Sox player since Alex Fernandez in 1990 to reach the majors in the season in which he was drafted. Just 13 of the 32 first round picks from this year’s draft have signed contracts.