Chris Sale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Sale
Sale with the Boston Red Sox in 2017
Atlanta Braves – No. 51
Pitcher
Born: (1989-03-30) March 30, 1989 (age 36) Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
August 6, 2010, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics (through June 18, 2025)
Win–loss record	143–87
Earned run average	3.02
Strikeouts	2,528
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2010–2016) Boston Red Sox (2017–2019, 2021–2023) Atlanta Braves (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
9× All-Star (2012–2018, 2024, 2025) World Series champion (2018) NL Cy Young Award (2024) Triple Crown (2024) All-MLB First Team (2024) Gold Glove Award (2024) NL Comeback Player of the Year (2024) NL wins leader (2024) NL ERA leader (2024) 3× strikeout leader (2015, 2017, 2024)

Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is a professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball (MLB). He is known for his unique throwing style and his ability to strike out many batters. Sale is a tall, left-handed pitcher who has also played for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.

Sale grew up in Lakeland, Florida, and played college baseball at Florida Gulf Coast University. The Chicago White Sox picked him 13th overall in the 2010 MLB draft. He quickly made his MLB debut on August 6, 2010. Later, he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2017 and helped them win the 2018 World Series.

Sale has been an MLB All-Star nine times, from 2012 to 2018, and again in 2024 and 2025. He led the American League in strikeouts in 2015 and 2017. In 2017, he became the first pitcher since 2015 to get 300 strikeouts in one season. Sale also holds the record for reaching 2,000 career strikeouts in the fewest innings pitched. After dealing with several injuries while with the Red Sox, Sale was traded to the Braves after the 2023 season. In 2024, he had an amazing year, winning his first Cy Young Award, a Triple Crown, and a Gold Glove Award.

Early Life and College Baseball

Growing Up in Florida

Christopher Allen Sale was born on March 30, 1989, in Lakeland, Florida. He went to Lakeland Senior High School. There, he played both basketball and baseball. After high school, the Colorado Rockies drafted him in 2007. However, Sale decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to go to Florida Gulf Coast University to play college baseball.

Playing for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

Sale played college baseball for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. In 2010, he had an impressive season. He won 11 games and didn't lose any, with a low 2.01 ERA (Earned Run Average). An ERA shows how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings. He also struck out 146 batters in 103 innings. Sale led the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) in strikeouts that year. He was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year. He also won the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year award.

During college summers, Sale played in special baseball leagues. In 2008, he was an All-Star for the La Crosse Loggers. Coaches there suggested he try a "low three-quarter arm angle" when pitching. This is a unique way of throwing the ball. In 2009, he played for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. He had a great record of 4–2 with a 1.47 ERA. He was even named MVP of the league's All-Star Game.

Starting His Professional Baseball Career

Drafted by the White Sox

The White Sox picked Chris Sale as the 13th overall player in the 2010 MLB Draft. After signing with them, he started playing in the minor leagues. He played for the Winston-Salem Dash (Class A) and then the Charlotte Knights (Triple-A). He showed his talent quickly, striking out many batters.

Joining the Chicago White Sox (2010–2016)

First Years in the Majors

Sale was called up to the major leagues on August 4, 2010. He made his MLB debut on August 6. He was the first player from the 2010 draft class to reach the majors. In his first year, he mostly pitched out of the bullpen. He finished with a 2–1 record and a 1.93 ERA.

Sale with the White Sox in 2011

In 2011, Sale continued as a relief pitcher. He appeared in 58 games. He had a 2–2 record with a 2.79 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

Becoming a Starting Pitcher

In 2012, Sale became a starting pitcher. On May 28, he struck out 15 batters in one game. This was a career high for him. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for May. He had a 4–1 record and a 1.71 ERA that month. Sale was chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2012. He finished the season with a 17–8 record and a 3.05 ERA.

In 2013, Sale signed a five-year contract with the White Sox. On May 12, he pitched a one-hit shutout. This means he allowed only one hit and no runs in the entire game. He was named an All-Star for the second year in a row. He finished the 2013 season with 226 strikeouts.

Continued Success and All-Star Selections

In 2014, Sale was placed on the disabled list for a short time due to an elbow strain. When he returned, he continued to pitch very well. He was voted into the All-Star Game by fans. He finished the season with a 12–4 record and a 2.17 ERA. This was the second-best ERA in the American League.

In 2015, Sale started the year on the disabled list with a foot injury. He returned in April and quickly showed his dominance. He had five games in a row with 12 or more strikeouts. He also tied a major league record with eight straight starts of 10 or more strikeouts. On October 2, he set a White Sox team record for strikeouts in a season with 270.

In 2016, Sale started the season by winning his first nine games. He was named the starting pitcher for the All-Star Game. During the season, he had a disagreement about the team's throwback uniforms. He cut up some jerseys, which led to a five-day suspension. He later said he regretted his actions. He finished 2016 with a 17–10 record and 233 strikeouts.

Joining the Boston Red Sox (2017–2023)

Winning a World Series

On December 6, 2016, the White Sox traded Sale to the Boston Red Sox. In 2017, Sale started the season by striking out 10 or more batters in eight straight games. This tied a major league record. He was named the American League's starting pitcher for the All-Star Game for the second year in a row. On August 29, he recorded his 1,500th career strikeout. He reached this milestone faster than any other pitcher in terms of innings pitched. Sale reached 300 strikeouts for the season on September 20. This was the first time an American League pitcher had done this since 1999. He finished 2017 with a 17–8 record and an MLB-leading 308 strikeouts.

In 2018, Sale was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Red Sox. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for June. On July 6, he earned his 100th career MLB win. He was named to the 2018 MLB All-Star Game and was the AL starting pitcher for the third year in a row. Sale dealt with shoulder inflammation during the season, which put him on the disabled list twice.

In the 2018 postseason, Sale helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series. He pitched in Game 1 of the World Series. In Game 5, he closed out the final inning, striking out Manny Machado to win the championship. This was his first World Series title.

Dealing with Injuries

Sale delivers a pitch for the Red Sox in 2019

On March 23, 2019, Sale signed a five-year contract extension with the Red Sox. On May 8, he threw an "immaculate inning". This means he struck out three batters on only nine pitches. On May 14, he struck out a career-high 17 batters in one game. On August 13, Sale recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. He reached this mark in the fewest innings pitched in MLB history. However, he was placed on the injured list in August due to elbow inflammation, which ended his 2019 season. He finished 2019 with a 6–11 record and 218 strikeouts.

In March 2020, Sale had Tommy John surgery. This is a common surgery for pitchers to repair a ligament in their elbow. This meant he missed the entire 2020 season.

In 2021, Sale continued to recover from his surgery. He also had a mild case of COVID-19 in January. He returned to pitch for the Red Sox on August 14. On August 26, he threw his third immaculate inning, tying a major league record. He made nine starts in 2021, with a 5–1 record and a 3.16 ERA.

The 2022 season was also tough for Sale due to injuries. He suffered a stress fracture in his rib, a broken finger from a line drive, and a broken wrist from a bicycle accident. He only made two starts that season.

In 2023, Sale started the season in Boston's pitching rotation. He had a 5–2 record through 11 starts. However, he experienced shoulder discomfort in June and was placed on the injured list again. He returned in August and finished the season with a 6–5 record in 20 starts. He pitched over 102 innings, which was more than his previous two seasons combined.

Playing for the Atlanta Braves (2024–present)

A New Team and Big Awards

Sale warming up before a start for the Braves in 2024

On December 30, 2023, the Red Sox traded Sale to the Atlanta Braves. He also signed a new contract extension with the Braves. In 2024, Sale was selected for the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game roster.

On August 13, 2024, Sale had a fantastic game against the San Francisco Giants. He allowed no earned runs and three or fewer hits while striking out 12 or more batters. This was his eleventh such game, tying him with Sandy Koufax for third all-time. He finished the 2024 regular season with an 18–3 record. He led the National League in ERA (2.38), strikeouts (225), and wins (18). This made him the first Braves pitcher to win a Triple Crown. A Triple Crown for a pitcher means leading their league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.

Sale also won his first Gold Glove Award in 2024. This award is given to the best defensive players at each position. He was also named the NL Comeback Player of the Year. This award recognizes a player who has overcome challenges to perform well. He was also named to the All-MLB First Team and won the NL Cy Young Award. The Cy Young Award is given to the best pitcher in each league.

Reaching New Strikeout Milestones

On May 29, 2025, Sale recorded his 2,500th career strikeout. He became the 38th pitcher in MLB's modern era to reach this milestone. He also became the fastest pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts, doing it in 2,026 innings. This broke the previous record held by Randy Johnson. On June 18, Sale pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings against the New York Mets. This was his longest outing since 2019. During that game, he made a diving play that unfortunately caused a fractured rib cage. He was placed on the injured list on July 1. Sale was still named to the 2025 All-Star Game roster as a player and coach selection.

Awards and Achievements

Chris Sale's Pitching Style

Sale delivers a pitch for the Red Sox in 2017

Sale uses four main pitches:

• A fastball that goes between 93 and 101 miles per hour.
• A changeup that is a bit slower, around 85 to 89 miles per hour.
• A sinker that moves downward, at 90 to 94 miles per hour.
• A slider that curves, thrown at 77 to 84 miles per hour.

His slider is very effective, especially when he has two strikes on a batter. It makes hitters miss the ball about 43% of the time.

Sale throws with a "funky" sidearm motion. This means his arm is lower when he throws, almost parallel to the ground. He learned this unique way of throwing in college. Because of his unusual delivery, he is sometimes called "The Condor." This nickname comes from how his body looks like a California condor when he pitches.

Personal Life

Chris Sale is married to Brianne, and they have three sons. The family lives in Naples, Florida.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning