GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox recalled pitcher Jonathan Cannon from Triple-A Charlotte on June 7 last season.
The right-hander tossed three scoreless innings later that evening against the Boston Red Sox, allowing three hits while striking out four and surrendering no walks to earn the save and help the White Sox snap a 14-game losing streak.
Cannon carried that success over to his next outing, a June 12 start at Seattle. He allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, striking out seven with one walk.
The 24-year-old points to those consecutive appearances as big moments of growth during his rookie season in 2024.
“The Red Sox outing in relief and the start in Seattle were like, ‘OK, I feel like I’ve got a clear plan, I can be successful, I’ve just got to go out and execute it,’” Cannon told the Tribune on Thursday morning at Camelback Ranch. “Even in August and September, looking back (at those two outings), and I was ‘OK, what was I able to do, how can I replicate some of those pitches.’”
Cannon looks to utilize all those lessons throughout 2025. After coming to spring training in 2024 as a nonroster invitee, he arrived at this year’s camp as one of the options to be the opening-day starter.
Manager Will Venable said the Sox are in the early stages of those types of decisions.
“We are still talking about it,” Venable said Thursday. “(We’ll) see how the schedule lines up. There are certainly a few guys we are discussing. But we haven’t gotten that far yet.”
Cannon’s 21 starts in 2024 are the most among returning Sox pitchers.
“(That experience is) huge, and to have a guy like that that had the success he has and to get those starts, that’s meaningful,” Venable said. “Really looking for him to build on that this year and take that next step.”
Cannon went 5-10 with a 4.49 ERA and one save in 23 appearances in 2024. He struck out 91 and walked 40 in 124 1/3 innings.
Cannon had a role in ending three lengthy Sox losing streaks last season. First, he picked up the save against the Red Sox to end the 14-game skid. Then he earned the victory on Aug. 6 at Oakland to snap the American League record-tying 21-game slide. And he was the winning pitcher on Sept. 4 at Baltimore as a 12-game losing streak came to an end.
“One of the biggest lessons (from 2024) was just the ability to get lefties out,” Cannon said. “I don’t think I’ve ever really faced seven (or) eight lefties in a lineup before, normally it’s pretty split (or) you might face two or three. But facing seven or eight, it’s like, ‘OK, they’re going to try and take the sinker out of play a little bit. How are we going to combat that?’”
Cannon said the catchers and coaches helped him navigate those hurdles. He also soaked up a lot from his fellow starters.
“Last year, I was able to learn a lot from (Garrett) Crochet, Chris Flexen and (Erick) Fedde, all those guys, what to look for,” Cannon said. “Just develop those routines and get into a good spot.”
Crochet, Flexen and Fedde are no longer with the Sox. That leaves Cannon and Davis Martin (10 starts) as the only returnees on the staff to make at least 10 starts last season.
Cannon is ready to do whatever he can to help the next group of Sox hurlers while also seeking advice from new additions like veteran pitcher Martín Pérez.
“I think I still have a lot to learn, but just kind of leaning on each other is good,” Cannon said. “We talk about pitching all the time. That’s what we’re going to do for the next seven months — just having those conversations, figuring out what works for guys, what doesn’t, and how we attack lineups.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know Martín and just what’s kept him successful in this league for so long.”
Cannon is entering his second big-league camp with a better idea of what he wants to work on.
“It’s all about developing that feel, especially for the changeup and sweeper, it’s just being consistent about that in camp and going out there in games and really make sure I’m honing in on it,” Cannon said.
“This year, having a clear plan of what I want to do (is a focus) and then just going out and executing it in this camp.”
