Pittsburgh Roots: Elizabeth Forward’s Dan Altavilla Becomes Key White Sox Reliever
The Chicago White Sox have a young bullpen and a veteran leader with Pittsburgh roots.
Three of the eight pitchers are rookies. A fourth pitcher had appeared in just 33 major-league games before this season.
Right-hander Dan Altavilla also lacks extensive experience, having pitched in 147 MLB games over eight seasons. However, the 32-year-old has earned the respect of his bullpen mates in his first season with the White Sox.
“The guys down there look up to him because he’s been there and done it,” White Sox bullpen coach Matt Wise said. “So, he’s been great for the younger guys.”
However, Altavilla is doing more for the White Sox than being a bullpen sage. The Greenock native and Elizabeth Forward High School graduate has a 2.22 ERA and two saves in 23 games since being called up from Triple-A Charlotte in late May.
Altavilla has become a part of a closer-by-committee setup with rookie Grant Taylor and Steven Wilson.
“He’s been great,” Wise said. “He’s a guy that has a track record of success, and he’s made a couple of little tweaks, which have been really beneficial to get left-handed hitters out. He is a calm presence in a young bullpen.”
Altavilla signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox in the offseason after spending last year in the Kansas City organization, including pitching five times in the major leagues for the Royals.
The White Sox presented themselves as the land of opportunity after setting the MLB modern-era record for losses in a season, going 41-121 last year.
Altavilla did not make the major league club out of spring training. However, he pitched well at Charlotte, notching seven saves and compiling a 2.49 ERA in 20 games before being promoted to Chicago.
“It’s been great,” Altavilla said. “I think it’s a great opportunity. Just being in camp with these guys this spring was great. I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad it worked out the way it did. I’m happy with the way I’ve pitched so far, but I’m just looking ahead with the opportunity and trying to keep helping us win.”
The White Sox haven’t had a lot of wins this season as their 39-68 record is the second-worst in MLB after the Colorado Rockies (28-76). However, they are better than last year and need three more wins to exceed their total from 2024.
Altavilla had been outstanding over the last month before giving up two runs without recording an out against the crosstown Cubs on Saturday. Before that, he had made seven consecutive scoreless appearances and allowed only one run in his previous 12 games and 12 innings since June 27.
It seemed that Altavilla’s career was at a crossroads two years ago. He did not pitch in the majors in 2022 and 2023 while recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and a fractured right arm.
However, Altavilla is back in the big leagues and thriving. There is even speculation that he might get dealt to a contender before Thursday’s trade deadline.
“I think going through the surgeries and the rehab helped me grow a lot and just understand how my body works and what I need to do to get ready and be healthy,” Altavilla said. “So, I think it taught me a lot, so that’s good. I’m a better pitcher and a better person for going through all of it.”
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