The White Sox announced Saturday afternoon the team claimed INF Mike Olt off waivers from the Cubs. Olt was designated for assignment on Aug. 31 to open a spot on the 40-man roster for OF Austin Jackson.
Mike Olt began the season on the Cubs roster and was at third base on Opening Night against the Cardinals.
Olt was hit in the right wrist with a pitch by Adam Ottavino on April 11 in Colorado. Olt was placed on the 15-day DL on April 17 with a hairline fracture in his right wrist. Olt was transferred to the 60-day DL two days later. Olt was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Iowa on July 10.
Mike Olt appeared in six games for the Cubs this season. Olt was 2-for-15 with a home run and six strikeouts in 16 plate appearances. Olt played in 62 games in two levels of the Cubs’ system this season. Olt batted .273/.346/.477 with 16 doubles, a triple and nine home runs for a .823 OPS
In 59 games with Triple-A Iowa, Olt hit .265/.333/.460 with 14 doubles, nine home runs and a .793 OPS. Olt walked 20 times with 71 strikeouts in 235 plate appearances.
The Cubs acquired Mike Olt, along with Carl Edwards Jr., Justin Grimm and a PTBNL (Neil Ramirez) from the Rangers for RHP Matt Garza on July 22, 2013. Olt spent the remainder of the 2013 season with Triple-A Iowa.
Mike Olt played in 89 games for the Cubs in 2014 before he was optioned down to get regular playing time. Olt was recalled in September and showed improvement over the final month from the struggles he had at the big league level earlier in the season.
Olt hit .160/.248/.356 with eight doubles and 12 home runs last year in the majors. Olt had 25 walks with 100 strikeouts in 258 plate appearances with a .604 OPS.
Mike Olt turned 27 at the end of August.
According to multiple reports, Mike Olt will be added to the White Sox active roster this week. By claiming Olt, the White Sox placed him on their 40-man roster. Olt is out of options and will have to make the team out of Spring Training.
Mike Olt is an excellent defensive third baseman and better than average at first base. The question with Mike Olt has always been can he make enough contact against Major League pitching.
• Mike Olt’s Page on Baseball-Reference