White Sox sign outfielder Austin Hays

Austin Hays (All Pro Reels, Wikimedia Commons)

The Chicago White Sox have signed outfielder Austin Hays of Daytona Beach, Florida to a one-year contract worth $6 million according to Rogers Sportsnet. The White Sox are the fourth Major League Baseball team Hays has played for. He previously spent seven seasons with the Baltimore Orioles from 2017 to 2024, and one season each with the Philadelphia Phillies (2024) and Cincinnati Reds (2025).

In 2025 with the Reds, Hays batted .266 with 15 home runs and 64 runs batted in. During 103 games, 416 plate appearances and 380 at bats, Hays scored 60 runs and had 101 hits, 16 doubles, five triples, seven stolen bases, 29 walks, 172 total bases, six sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .315 and a slugging percentage of .453.

This past season, Hays had a four hit game (three singles and one double) in a 24-2 Reds win over the Baltimore Orioles on April 20. That was followed by two two-home run games. The first came in a 6-4 Reds win over the Colorado Rockies on April 26, and the second came in an 8-4 Reds win over the New York Mets on July 18.

While with the Orioles in 2023, Hays was an American League All-Star. He batted .275 with 16 home runs and 67 runs batted in. Hays had career highs in runs (76), hits (143), doubles (36), and total bases (231).

Last year, the White Sox were the worst team in the American League with a records of 60 wins and 102 losses. However, they were not as bad as the Colorado Rockies, who were at 43 wins and 119 losses.The White Sox were in need of an outfielder after trading Luis Robert Jr. of Ciego de Avila, Cuba to the New York Mets on January 20.