Johnny Cueto found himself without a job during Spring Training, ultimately agreeing to a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Opening Day. After making four rehab starts, he joined their major league rotation and proved to be a vital piece of it.
Cueto had a 3.35 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 158 1⁄3 innings pitched. He arrived at that success despite a career-low 5.80 K/9. Missing bats wasn’t part of his approach as Cueto ranked in the third percentile among MLB pitchers in whiff rate, according to Baseball Savant.