Caught Off Guard: White Sox Turn Pickoffs Into a Secret Weapon

The 2025 White Sox season had its share of bright spots and growing pains. But there was one play the White Sox executed better than any team in baseball: the catcher pickoff. 

Chicago led the majors with eight catcher pickoffs this season, well above the MLB average of just two. The Red Sox, Orioles, and Tigers tied for second place with six apiece.

No one was more effective in this area than rookie catcher Edgar Quero. In just 579 innings across 72 games behind the plate, Quero recorded an MLB-best five catcher pickoffs, tying Bill Nahorodny’s 1978 mark for the most in a single season in White Sox history. Matt Thaiss, who was traded to Tampa Bay early in the season, was responsible for the White Sox other three pickoffs.

It’s an impressive feat for the rookie, considering there were just 58 catcher pickoffs in the MLB.  However, it’s also a high-risk play. A catcher pickoff carries a much greater chance of error than a throw from the mound, as a single misfire can sail into the outfield and turn an aggressive decision into an extra-base mistake. 

So why the sudden aggressive approach from White Sox catchers? 

The White Sox have historically struggled to hold on baserunners. This past season, they allowed 147 stolen bases, the fifth-most in Major League Baseball. It marked the fifth consecutive year Chicago has ranked among the top ten teams in stolen bases allowed.

Some of that can be attributed to slightly below-average pop times from Quero and Teel. However, much of the responsibility falls on the pitching staff, which struggled to hold runners — a challenge made even tougher by MLB’s disengagement limits. In that context, the catcher’s back pick has become a valuable weapon for keeping baserunners honest.

Quero’s pitch framing was well below league average, posting a Called Strike Above Average of -3. Catchers often set up with one knee in the dirt when trying to steal strikes, a stance that can limit their throwing ability. Executing a back pick is challenging enough from the catcher position, but adding the task of framing a pitch makes throwing out a runner even more difficult.

However, despite Quero’s poor pitch framing, he still had at least one knee down 97% of the time, which was higher than the league average of 95%. This made his five pickoffs even more impressive as he continues to refine his pitch framing.