Foster’s return came Friday night against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. He warmed up in the bullpen, eager to get back on the mound after such a long absence.
“As soon as the seventh inning finished, I was like, ‘Alright, it’s time to go. Get back on again,'” Foster said.
The pressure was on, entering the game late and facing a strong Astros lineup. However, Foster rose to the occasion, pitching a scoreless eighth inning to help secure a 5-4 victory for the White Sox.
“Not an easy position to come into, late in a game and first game back in a while, but he threw well, got ahead of guys and gave us a big inning when we needed it,” said interim manager Grady Sizemore.
Foster struck out one batter and induced two flyouts, showcasing control and command of his pitches. He threw nine strikes in his 11-pitch outing.
“There’s been times I’ve pitched (in Houston) and it hasn’t gone well,” he said. “(Friday) night it was a good confidence booster, especially coming back after all these things. (Friday) night was a lot of fun.”
A Long Road Back
This successful outing marked the culmination of a challenging journey for Foster. Before his surgery, he was a reliable reliever for the White Sox, particularly during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when he went 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA. However, injuries plagued him in the following seasons, leading to the need for Tommy John surgery.
“For sure a new appreciation,” Foster said about his return. “You play so long and to have to sit out that long, it sucks. Finally getting back going when the bullpens started (during rehab), it was like, ‘This is awesome.’ But then you are throwing so many bullpens, it gets monotonous at times.”
Support from teammates like pitcher Davis Martin, who also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023, helped Foster stay motivated throughout the process.
“Davis and I were there in Phoenix all last year,” Foster said. “That’s one of the things that keeps it uplifting, that you are not there alone going through it.”
Looking Ahead
Despite some setbacks, including a minor back issue, Foster persevered. He rehabbed with Triple-A Charlotte and is now healthy and ready to contribute to the White Sox bullpen. He aims to finish the 2024 season strong and use it as a springboard for an even better 2025.
“Just stay healthy, keep going and throw as much as I can,” Foster said about his goals for the rest of 2024. “Just get ready for next year.”
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