By Olivia Sayer
Jonathan Cannon (12) pitches the ball. On Saturday, May 7, the University of Georgia baseball team defeated Vanderbilt 13-7 at Foley Field in Athens, Georgia. (Photo: Conor Dillon; @cjdphoto)
Jonathan Cannon stood on the back of the mound at Guaranteed Rate Field on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon in Chicago. As first pitch drew closer, he looked around and attempted to take it all in. A few hours later, the former Bulldog pitched five innings of one-run ball in his MLB debut.
“What a day,” Cannon said after his first major league start. “This has really been awesome, just a dream come true.”
As good as his final line was, Cannon was privy to some bad luck. His one earned run came after White Sox center fielder Dominic Fletcher slipped on a fly ball off the bat of Nelson Velázquez. Rather than heading back to the dugout with three outs, the mishap allowed Velázquez to take second. Former All-Star Adam Frazier then singled him home with a base hit to center field.
In his first start facing major league hitters, Cannon struck out three batters and only walked one.
“He’s got really good movement,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s got weapons, and he comes right at you. He’s really aggressive. He’s got good mound presence.”
Cannon’s pitch repertoire dates back to his time at Georgia, where his 92-96 mph fastball consistently fooled college baseball’s strongest hitters.Through his three seasons with the Bulldogs, Cannon compiled a 16-6 record with a 3.71 ERA. In 153 innings, he struck out 137 batters and only walked 27.
Following his sophomore season, Cannon considered turning pro. However, the business major was enticed by the opportunity to earn his college degree. His price tag to leave Georgia was high, and the Bulldogs were beneficiaries of teams’ reluctance to meet his requests.
“It was going to take a lot for me to leave [Athens],” Cannon said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In 2022, Cannon was the ace of Georgia’s staff. His performance earned him a first team All-SEC selection and a third team All-American mention. He finished his junior campaign as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s top college baseball player.
Following the 2022 season, Cannon declared for the MLB draft. The White Sox selected the Alpharetta, Georgia native with the 101st pick.
“He checks all the boxes, does all the right things,” former Georgia head coach Scott Stricklin said of Cannon in March 2022. “He’s structured, he’s smart. I think he’s going to pitch for a long time. He’s really good.”
Cannon’s path to the major leagues was expedited. He spent the 2023 season split between High-A and Double-A, where he posted a 4.46 ERA overin 121 innings.
That summer, Cannon was selected to represent the White Sox in the All-Star Futures Game, which showcases the top talent from across the minor leagues. The game provides MLB’s top prospects with an opportunity to play on the game’s biggest stage during the All-Star break.
After beginning the 2024 season in Triple-A, the stars aligned for Cannon. The White Sox’s lackluster rotation, paired with his 2.79 ERA, resulted in a call up to the majors. Chicago officially selected Cannon’s contract Tuesday, lining him up to start game two of its series against the Kansas City Royals.
Although the start was pushed back to Wednesday afternoon due to rain, Cannon still delivered. His sinker kept his pitches in the ballpark, and his ability to induce ground balls limited the Royals to just three hits.
Although Cannon was in line for the win, Chicago’s bullpen surrendered the lead on two home runs in the eighth and ninth innings. The offense was unable to overcome the two-run deficit, and the White Sox lost 4-2.
Despite the loss, it was still a memorable day for Cannon, who had an extensive list of family in attendance.
“It was everything that I’ve dreamed about,” Cannon said. “I know there are a lot of families out there that go to travel ball events all summer long, high school, whatever it may be. It’s a lot of commitment, so to see all that work come to fruition and see [my family] after was a wonderful moment.”
Cannon, who was the first starting pitcher from his draft class to debut, will have another opportunity Monday when the White Sox travel to Minnesota. The former Bulldog’s start will be broadcast on FS1 at 7:40 p.m.