Why Austin Hays believes the White Sox can take a big step in 2026

The White Sox Podcast w/ Chuck Garfien

Chicago Sports Network

Sports, Sports:baseball, Baseball

4.7 • 620 Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2026

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chuck Garfien’s Spring Training Podcast-pa-looza rolls on with new White Sox outfielder Austin Hays, who explains why he chose the South Side and what he sees brewing inside the 2026 clubhouse. Hays reflects on going from 110 losses to 101 wins in a two-year span in Baltimore and draws parallels to a Sox team looking to rebound from a 102-loss season, while sharing what he can bring to help spark that turnaround. He also compares this group to last year’s Reds club that battled through adversity to reach the postseason. Hays opens up about overcoming a kidney infection in 2024 and how a conversation with Kyle Schwarber helped him address the issues he was dealing with, plus his strong relationship with hitting director Ryan Fuller, who played a key role in his 2023 All-Star campaign. He offers advice to Colson Montgomery on avoiding a sophomore slump and gives his early impressions of the 2026 Sox. And yes, he gives his two cents on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, too.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are you ready for your winning moment?
0:02.6	Find it at Wind Creek, Chicago, Southland, where the action never stops.
0:07.6	Play the hottest table games.
0:09.3	Enjoy the newest slots and celebrate big jackpots.
0:12.9	At Win Creek, there's a win waiting for you around every corner.
0:17.7	...women. around every corner.
0:26.4	Hey everybody, it's Chuck Garfine.
0:28.1	Welcome to the White Sox podcast.
0:33.2	It is brought you, as always, by Wind Creek, Chicago, Southland.
0:36.5	And we are here at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, Arizona.
0:38.3	And on the podcast today, we have New White Sox outfielder, Austin Hayes.
0:41.1	I really wanted to talk to Austin because everybody watching, everybody listening, you're wondering,
0:47.4	can the White Sox take a big leap forward, maybe as big, if not bigger, as what they did
0:53.3	last year.
0:54.3	Well, he has been a part of two teams, specifically one team, the Baltimore Orioles,
0:59.7	who went from 110 losses in one season to almost making the playoffs the next season,
1:07.1	and then winning 100 games the year after that.
1:11.5	This is part of that?
1:17.5	I'm going to get all sorts of intel for you about what it took for that team to make that kind of leap.
1:18.6	And if he thinks this White Sox team can do the same.
1:23.0	Ryan Fuller was with him when he was in Baltimore.
1:26.0	He helped him make the All-Star team in 2023.
	...

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