GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jonathan Cannon, the 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, made a significant change to his sinker grip midway through the 2025 season, seeking to reverse hitters’ growing success against him. After struggling with a pitch that was being hit consistently, Cannon switched from a one-seam grip to a more traditional sinker grip, positioning his index and middle fingers between two seams, a method that had worked well for him during his time playing at the University of Georgia. This adjustment aims to enhance the effectiveness of his main pitch as he heads into the 2026 season.
Challenges Faced During a Difficult 2025 Season
Cannon’s 2025 campaign was marked by inconsistency, culminating in a 5.82 ERA over 103⅔ innings pitched. Despite his impressive stature, hitters found success against him, prompting his demotion to Triple-A in August. After a brief recall in September that saw limited success, Cannon returned to the minors, struggling to regain his form. He attributes his difficulties to attempting too many changes simultaneously, which created a chain reaction that ultimately hindered his performance.
“Just kind of hit the fire drill too soon, and it just kind of led to other things,”
Cannon said.
“It was a snowball effect. Once that snowball kind of got going, it was tough to turn around, but I thought it was a great learning experience for me.”
?Jonathan Cannon, Pitcher
The mental toll of bouncing between major and minor leagues was substantial for the young pitcher. Reflecting on his demotion and struggles, Cannon recognized the importance of this challenging period in his growth.
“[Being demoted to the minors] was tough, just very mentally challenging. I was probably a year and a half removed from being in the minor leagues, and so to get sent back down there in my second year, [when] I was hoping to take a step forward, was definitely mentally tough, definitely wore on me a little bit. So I feel like looking back on it now — it’s obviously hard to see it when you’re in it — it was just mentally what I needed.”
?Jonathan Cannon, Pitcher
Support From Teammates and Focus on Offseason Improvements
White Sox catcher Korey Lee, who also spent time in Triple-A last season, has noticed a marked maturity in Cannon during spring training. Lee emphasized the importance of continuous growth and offseason adjustments for pitchers looking to improve their craft.
“I think people grow as pitchers every single offseason. I think people learn from their mistakes, what they did during the season, then they continue to grow with what they’re really, really good at. So just making adjustments throughout the offseason is really important for all the pitchers.”
?Korey Lee, White Sox Catcher
Entering spring training, Cannon has simplified his approach and developed renewed confidence in his sinker. Alongside this pitch, he maintains a diverse arsenal including a cutter, changeup, four-seam fastball, and sweeper, which aim to keep hitters off balance.
Technical Adjustments to the Sinker and Strategic Outlook
Cannon’s previous sinker was breaking too soon after release, allowing batters to better track and connect with the pitch. His current goal is to produce more late, sharper movement on the sinker to disrupt hitters’ timing and make the pitch harder to predict.
“[I’m] trying to get it to seam-shift a little bit more. I really wasn’t doing that. . . . It [breaks] a little bit later, a little bit sharper. The feedback I’ve gotten back from the catchers and hitters has been great so far, so I think that’ll be a great pitch for me this year.”
?Jonathan Cannon, Pitcher
White Sox manager Will Venable has highlighted the necessity for Cannon to find creative solutions to retire left-handed hitters, who had a higher batting average against him last season compared to right-handed batters. Venable believes Cannon’s evolving pitch selection and improved command will be central to his success.
“Whether it’s the changeup, fastball location, there’s a lot of different ways that he’s able to get guys out. Just want to be able to make sure he understands what those things are. That was part of the calculus of sending him down, and he did a great job of kind of adding or at least rearranging his arsenal to be able to do that.”
?Will Venable, White Sox Manager
Implications for Cannon’s 2026 Season and Beyond
Jonathan Cannon’s sinker adjustment and offseason refinement signal a turning point as he aims to reestablish himself within the White Sox rotation. His willingness to learn from a difficult 2025 campaign, combined with a clearer pitching approach, could lead to improved performance against both left- and right-handed hitters. The upcoming spring training games and the season opener will provide early indicators of whether these changes translate into sustained success, potentially redefining Cannon’s trajectory for 2026 and further career development.
