Name: Juan Agosto
Rank: 102
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 1981-1986
Juan Agosto signed with the White Sox organization as a free agent on January 18, 1980. He made his major league debut the following year, giving up 3 earned runs in 5 innings of relief work in the White Sox 9-5 loss to the Mariners at Comiskey Park on September 7. He made one other appearance before the season came to an end.
Agosto returned to Triple A for 1982, appearing in only 1 game for the big league club where he gave up 4 runs in only 2 innings of work. The 1983 season again saw Agosto starting the year in Triple A, but he was recalled on June 2 to replace outfielder Rusty Kuntz and remained for the rest of the season. He would appear in 39 games, picking up 7 saves and posting a 4.10 ERA as the White Sox earned their first post-season berth since 1959. Agosto saw limited action during the ALCS, facing one Oriole batter for a perfect 1/3 of an inning pitched.
While the White Sox struggled to repeat their success of the previous season, 1984 was Agosto’s best as a member of the south siders. In 49 appearances, he tied his career high with 7 saves, lowered his ERA to 3.09 and finished the year with a winning record. On the negative side, he walked more batters than he struck out and gave up more hits than innings pitched.
Things rebounded for the White Sox in 1985 and Juan Agosto continued to be a useful cog in the bullpen. He lowered his WHIP to a career low, though his ERA jumped up to 3.58. He got off to a slow start in 1986, giving up 4 earned runs in just under 5 innings pitched. At the end of April, Agosto was traded to the Twins, along with Kurt Walker, for pitcher Pete Filson.
Agosto’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: