WSC Birth Years: Deunte Heath

Card #129 - Deunte Heath

Born: August 8, 1985

On July 4, 2012, Deunte was called up to replace Jesse Crain on the roster. He was sent down a few days later without making an appearance, but would return in September. Heath made his MLB debut with the ChiSox on September 1, 2012, against the Tigers in Detroit. He faced Prince Fielder and got him to ground into an inning ending double play on two pitches.

Deunte looks to get more major league playing time in 2013 and is a good bet to be in the bullpen mix.

WSC Birth Years: Jose Lopez

Card #128 - Jose Lopez

Born: November 24, 1983

At one time, Jose commanded a second tier starting pitcher in return for a proposed trade, but now, his value has plummeted down to "necessity only" player, meaning he only plays if all other options are exhausted. Lopez started off his White Sox career in good fashion. He hit a single and a double in his debut in Baltimore. Lopez also finished off his White Sox career in good fashion, getting two singles in Cleveland. It was the middle that was most worrisome.

Out of fifteen games, Jose had five hits. Four of those hits came in the first and fifteenth game. It was only a six inning single in his seventh game, against Kansas City, that came between those two hit days. Lopez is another case of the ChiSox getting a player well after their apex. The White Sox had many issues at third base in 2012 and Jose Lopez was the last gasp at patching the problem.

WSC Birth Years: Brett Myers

Card #127 - Brett Myers

Born: August 17, 1980

The Sox picked up Brett in a trade with the Houston Astros on July 21, 2012. The ChiSox were in the thick of the pennant race and needed to bolster their bullpen. Myers had lights out closer stuff, but Chicago used him in more of a setup role, unless rookie Addison Reed would falter in the closer position.

Brett was solid in his role, going 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA to go along with thirty hits and twenty-one strikeouts in thirty-five games. After the 2012 season, Myers had a desire to return to starting. The Sox had no room in their starting rotation for Brett, so he was not re-signed. Myers signed with the division rival Cleveland Indians for the 2013 season.

WSC Birth Years: Hector Gimenez - In Action

Card #126 - Hector Gimenez (In Action)

Born: September 28, 1982

A bonus card from the 1982 set.

WSC Birth Years: Hector Gimenez

Card #125 - Hector Gimenez

Born: September 28, 1982

Hector is the next in a long line of backup catchers for the White Sox, who have hung on successfully in Chicago after bouncing around other organizations. Gimenez made his debut with the Houston Astros in 2006. He made two pinch hitting appearances. Hector next appeared in seven games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011.

Gimemez signed a minor league contract with the ChiSox in 2012. He was called up as a third string catcher in late 2012, appearing in five games. Hector then won the backup catcher position, behind Tyler Flowers in 2013.

WSC Birth Years: Francisco Liriano

Card #124 - Francisco Liriano

Born: October 26, 1983

On July 28, 2012, Liriano was part of a rare trade between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. It was the first time the two teams traded with each other since 1986, ending the ChiSox's longest tenure between trades with a single team. The Sox sent Pedro Hernandez and Eduardo Escobar to the Twins in exchange for the southpaw strikeout machine.

The move helped bolster the starting rotation. Francisco started ten games out of eleven appearances in a White Sox uniform, managing three wins and two losses. He gave the Pale Hose four games where he reached one-hundred pitches or more, giving the taxed bullpen a deserved break. Liriano wasn't enough to put the Sox over the top for the division, but he helped keep them in the race until a late September collapse. Francisco singed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2013 season.

WSC Birth Years: Dan Johnson

Card #123 - Dan Johnson

Born: August 10, 1979

Dan signed with the White Sox on February 1, 2012 and made things interesting in spring training. Ultimately, Johnson was cut and sent to the Sox AAA affiliate, where he banged out twenty-eight homers and finished second in the AAA All-Star Home Run Derby.

When the rosters expanded in September 2012, Dan was called up to the Sox. In fourteen games, Johnson mostly appeared as a pinch hitter. He also occasionally took over as designated hitter and at first base during the final weeks of the season. Despite limited action, Dan sported a .364 average in thirty-one plate appearances.

While his home run hitting heroics are remembered on the last day of the 2011 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, Dan saved his home run display for the last day of the 2012 season. Johnson hit three home runs for the White Sox in 2012 and they all came on the last day of the season against the Cleveland Indians, propelling the Pale Hose to a 9-0 victory.

WSC Birth Years: Ray Olmedo

Card #122 - Ray Olmedo

Born: May 31, 1981

Ray signed with the White Sox on November 25, 2011 and remained in AAA Charlotte for the majority of the 2012 season, until Eduardo Escobar was traded to Minnesota in the Francisco Liriano trade. Olmedo made his Pale Hose debut on August 5, 2012, against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, pinch running for Paul Konerko, after his single that led off the eighth inning. He would score on Alexei Ramirez's triple later that inning. It would be his first time on playing in a MLB game since September 30, 2007, with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Perhaps his best day with the ChiSox was on August 26, 2012, at home against Seattle, when he went two for three, and scored on a Kevin Youkilis triple in the bottom of the third inning. He only repeated two hits in a game once more in a White Sox uniform, on October 3, 2012, the last day of the season, Ray went two for five with a run scored.

Olmedo played twenty games with the Sox, in various roles. He played third base, shortstop, second base and designated hitter in his short time with the team. After the 2012 season, Ray was option back to AAA, but opted for free agency instead, where he signed with the Minnesota Twins.

WSC Birth Years: Donnie Veal

Card #121 - Donnie Veal

Born: September 18, 1984

Originally drafted in the second round by the Chicago Cubs in 2005, Donnie was taken from the Cubs in the 2008 rule V draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was in Pittsburgh that Veal made his MLB debut on April 7, 2009, against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Donnie worked the fifth inning after Ian Snell got rocked for eight runs (six earned) in the first four. Veal would appear in nineteen games for the Pirates that year. In 2010, Donnie got off to a promising start in the Pittsburgh minor league system before being sidelined by an injury in late May, which required Tommy John surgery.

Veal was signed by the White Sox on November 10, 2011 and made his White Sox debut on July 20, 2012 against the Tigers in Detroit. Donnie retired twenty-six consecutive left-handed batters before Shin-Soo Choo broke the streak with an RBI double on September 24, 2012, in a game which also saw Veal record his first career save. It looks like Donnie has found a comfortable spot in the Sox bullpen. He will definitely be in the mix for a roster spot on the 2013 team.

WSC Birth Years: Jhan Marinez

Card #120 - Jhan Marinez

Born: August 12, 1988

Jhan was part of the compensation package from the Florida Marlins, when manager Ozzie Guillen left the White Sox, with one year left on his contract, to helm the vacated manager position in Miami. Marinez made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2010 and made his White Sox debut on July 13, 2012, in the eleventh inning of a game against the Royals in Kansas City. Jhan loaded the bases with one out before getting Yuniesky Betancourt to fly weakly to the shortstop.

Marinez would not get another chance until September call-ups. In the top of the ninth inning, with a 10-4 deficit against the Tampa Bay Rays, Jhan dominated Stephen Vogt, Desmond Jennings, and Elliot Johnson to retire the Rays in order. The Sox couldn't overcome a six run dearth, but Marinez's last appearance of 2012 left a lasting impression.

WSC Birth Years: Pedro Hernandez

Card #119 - Pedro Hernandez

Born: April 12, 1989

Chris Sale, Jake Peavy and Jose Quintana all needed an extra day of rest, so the White Sox reached into their minor leagues and plucked out the ninth rookie pitcher to take the mound in 2012 for the Pale Hose on July 18th. Paul Konerko provided Pedro with the lead, when he singled home Alejandro De Aza in the top of the first. Call it butterflies. Call it inexperience. Call it whatever you will. Hernandez took the mound in the bottom of the first and tied the game.

The Red Sox at Fenway Park are usually tough. Throw in a twenty-three year old pitcher making his MLB debut and things can go south quickly. After settling down in the second inning, Hernandez gave up four runs in the third and four runs in the fourth, before giving way to Hector Santiago after two batters in the fifth inning. Pedro ended up with an ERA of 18.00 after one outing. After the game, Hernandez was optioned back to AAA Charlotte. Ten days later, Pedro was traded, along with infielder Eduardo Escobar, to the Minnesota Twins for Fransico Liriano. It would mark the first time in twenty-six years that the two teams traded players.

WSC Birth Years: Leyson Septimo

Card #118 - Leyson Septimo

Born: July 7, 1985

Originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2003, Leyson was selected off of waivers by the Chicago White Sox on June 13, 2011. After making his way through AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte, Septimo found himself pitching in the big leagues on June 29, 2012, against the Yankees in New York, pitching a perfect ninth inning, striking out Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano.

Septimo throws a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a slider and a changeup. He has been used primarily as a left-handed specialist, since his MLB debut, a role in which he has excelled.

WSC Birth Years: Brian Omogrosso

Card #117 - Brian Omogrosso

Born: April 26, 1984

To say that injuries haven't been a factor in delaying Brian's promotion to the majors would be like saying frozen water didn't play a major role in the sinking of the Titanic. Injuries were the only reason, but they played a huge part in why. Omogrosso was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2006, in the sixth round of the amateur draft. Brian already had Tommy John surgery in 2005, which led to a season out of college ball.

Omogrosso rose through the ranks slowly in the White Sox minor league system. By 2009, he had finally worked his way up to AAA Charlotte, when a torn labrum sidelined him again. Brian started back at the bottom in 2010, while returning from that injury. By 2011, he was back in AAA and finally made his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers on July 3, 2012. His first two games weren't at all spectacular, but Brian has settled down since and was brought back up to the parent club in the first wave of September call-ups.

WSC Birth Years: Kevin Youkilis

Card #116 - Kevin Youkilis

Born: March 15, 1979

Kevin came to the White Sox through a trade with the Red Sox. Boston got fan favorite Brent Lillibridge and pitcher Zach Stewart. The Red Sox thought they were unloading a broken down veteran. What the White Sox got was a revitalized Youkilis who has helped to shore up a troublesome position.

Kevin has been mostly on a tear since landing on the South Side. His production has far exceeded any player before him at third base. His average, home runs and clutch hits are up. Youk also fits in well in the clubhouse. Kevin's value increased further when he was able to fill in at first base to relieve Adam Dunn while Paul Konerko was out for a week with a concussion. Youkilis may not be the All-Star that he once was, but he doesn't need to be either. His presence adds strength to the lineup and the infield.

WSC Birth Years: Jordan Danks

Card #115 - Jordan Danks

Born: August 7, 1986

Jordan was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the nineteenth round of the 2005 draft, but did not sign. He was again selected by the Sox in the second round of the 2008 draft. This time, Danks did sign with the ChiSox. It may have helped that his older brother John was already playing for the White Sox at the major league level. Jordan began his career in the White Sox system in 2008, with the Kannapolis Intimidators Class A team, for ten games.

Danks rose through the ranks of the farm system, but seemed to have hit a wall entering the higher levels of the minors. Jordan's defensive skills were fine, but his plate discipline and average took a nosedive. In 2012, his batting skills improved enough to get the call and on June 7, 2012, Danks made his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays as a pinch runner for Paul Konerko in the eighth inning. Jordan's first hit came the next day, when he replaced Dayan Viciedo in left field at the start of the sixth inning against the Houston Astros. On August 10, 2012, Danks hit his first home run, off Pat Neshek of the Oakland Athletics, for a thrilling White Sox winner in the bottom of the ninth.

WSC Birth Years: Jose Quintana

Card #114 - Jose Quintana

Born: January 24, 1989

Picked up as a minor league free agent after the 2011 season, Jose has proven to be a steal. He was brought up to fill in on May 7, 2012, under a new rule that allows teams to have a twenty-sixth player for a doubleheader. Quintana was brought up again to take John Danks spot in the rotation, when Danks went down with an injury. Jose has pitched above and beyond during that stretch, earning a permanent spot in the rotation.

Quintana has done so well in 2012, he has forced Philip Humber (who had pitched a perfect game in 2012) back to the bullpen, when the ChiSox went back to a five man rotation. The Yankees may be kicking themselves for not re-signing Jose, but the White Sox have been grateful for the move. Quintana has been one of the factors that have kept Chicago in the pennant race during the 2012 season.

WSC Birth Years: Orlando Hudson

Card #113 - Orlando Hudson

Born: December 12, 1977

When Brent Morel went down with back issues, the White Sox looked to recently released infielder Orlando Hudson to fill in at third base, a position he had not played at the major league level. The experiment worked well in the short term for the Pale Hose. Orlando came in and immediately contributed both in the field, making fantastic ranging plays, and at the plate, where he brought a spark of life to the dormant position.

His appearances tailed off after another third base acquisition took over his regular duties at third, but Hudson still provides speed and versatility off the bench and another option for spot starts. Orlando has taken his reduced role in stride, choosing to focus on the team as a whole rather than complain about his playing time. Playing on a White Sox team that has been in first place the majority of the time Hudson has been on the team surely makes that decision easier.

WSC Birth Years: Nate Jones

Card #112 - Nate Jones

Born: January 28, 1986

Nate was drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2007 amateur draft. Originally, Jones flirted the line between starter and reliever in the minors. 2007 and 2008 saw him mostly start with a few relief appearances mixed in for good measure. In 2009, all of his appearances were in relief and he earned his first professional save and a 4-1 record, his first winning record. In 2010, the Sox switched him to full time starter and Nate thrived, going 11-6 with a complete game in twenty-eight starts. In 2011, with a promotion to AA, he was switched to full time reliever. Jones' ERA went down, but his win-loss record went down. His command improved and 2012 saw him break with the parent club.

As a key member of the bullpen, Nate brings the heat with a five pitch selection that includes two different fastballs, a slider, a changeup and an occasional curve. While every pitcher will experience ups and downs in the early goings, Jones has persevered through some rough outings and has come out on top. Through the 2012 All-Star break, Nate has had over twice as many strikeouts as walks allowed and a very respectable ERA in the mid threes.

WSC Birth Years: Robin Ventura

Card #111 - Robin Ventura

Born: July 14, 1967

On October 6, 2011, the Chicago White Sox made a move that nobody anticipated and hired Robin Ventura as their new manager. While there were more experienced candidates for the job, Robin had deep ties to the organization. Despite never coaching anywhere in organized professional baseball before, the White Sox had faith that Ventura would be the right man for the job.

After a dismal 2011, under a vacationing Ozzie Guillen and a two game tenure under Don Cooper, the ChiSox took the baseball world by surprise with a nice balance of veteran bounce back years and overachieving rookies. The most surprising rookie may be Ventura himself. He has managed a rare feat, having the same core values as his predecessor without the whirlwind circus act. At the 2012 All-Star break, Robin has his team in first place by three games. This is a remarkable start for a rookie manager that no one expected to know the job very well and a team known more for its amazing freefall ability than its steady winning ways in the past few seasons. It may just be a perfect match.

WSC Birth Years: Kosuke Fukudome

Card #110 - Kosuke Fukudome

Born: April 26, 1977

In February 2012, Kosuke Fukudome signed with the Chicago White Sox as their fourth outfielder. Fukudome has a reputation in the majors for having hot starts before fading down the stretch. It made sense to exploit that history for early season gains, especially when there were many question marks in the Sox outfield. As luck would have it, the South Siders outfield gelled quickly, leaving Kosuke a much smaller role to fill on the team.

Fukudome started off in grand fashion, pinch hitting for Alexei Ramirez in the ninth inning of a game against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas. He hit a solid line drive single to left off of Rangers relief pitcher Koji Uehara, but that initial success was short lived. Kosuke played in twenty-four games for the ChiSox, mostly as a spot starter, pinch hitter or defensive replacement. He hit a MLB career low .171 and could only get seven hits and four RBI in forty-one at-bats. Once outfielder Jordan Danks was called up, Kosuke became the odd man out on the roster. Fukudome was designated for assignment by the White Sox on June 26, 2012.