RESURGENCE: The White Sox look POISED for a long-term surge of success and Locked On turns 10

The Chicago White Sox may finally be on the cusp of a sustained era of success, marking a dramatic turnaround from years of dysfunction and underperformance. In a special 10th-anniversary episode of Locked On White Sox, host Todd Welter reflects on the podcast’s journey and the team’s rollercoaster history—from the euphoric 2020 and 2021 seasons to the collapse of 2022, the chaos of 2023, and the historically bad 2024. Now, with a young, hungry core of players who genuinely love the game and are committed to improvement, the organization has a real chance to build lasting contention. Key to this resurgence is a shift in culture: players like Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and Grant Taylor aren’t just talented—they’re motivated by excellence, not just money. The front office, while still making missteps, is showing better judgment in development and retention. With a potential playoff run in 2026 and a target of winning the World Series by 2028 or 2029, the team’s future hinges on avoiding owner interference, maintaining health, and making smart additions via trade or free agency. The episode also features candid retrospectives from former hosts Herb Lawrence and Nick Mirowski, who recall the highs of the 2020 season and the emotional toll of the 2022–2023 collapses, underscoring how far the team—and the podcast—have come.