Matt Foster prepared to pitch in the eighth inning for the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park on Friday night, eager to return to the mound after completing his recovery and rehab from Tommy John surgery. “When the seventh inning ended, I knew it was time to go,” the right-handed reliever shared on Saturday in Houston. Foster, who missed the entire previous season following his surgery on April 19, spent much of this season working toward his comeback, which finally happened against the Houston Astros. “It was awesome,” Foster said. “I was super excited, though a bit nervous. It’s been a long wait—nearly two years.”
Foster pitched a perfect inning, contributing to the White Sox’s 5-4 victory. “It’s not easy to come in late in a game after such a long layoff, but he did well, got ahead of hitters, and gave us a crucial inning,” said interim manager Grady Sizemore. “The biggest challenge is getting comfortable again. After such a long time off, adjusting to the speed and feel of the game isn’t easy. But to come in, throw strikes, and have a clean inning was huge for his confidence and for us.”
Foster entered the game with the Sox leading 5-3. He retired Jeremy Peña with a fly out, struck out Victor Caratini, and finished the inning when Jake Meyers lined out. Foster threw 11 pitches, nine of which were strikes. “I’ve had rough outings here before,” he admitted. “(Friday) was a great confidence booster, especially after everything I’ve been through. It was a lot of fun.”
Before Friday’s game, Foster had a career ERA of 4.39 with 113 strikeouts in 108 major league games, including two starts. He played a key role in the Sox bullpen during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, posting a 6-1 record with a 2.20 ERA as the team reached the postseason for the first time since 2008. His performance dipped in subsequent seasons, with a 6.00 ERA in 2021 and a 4.40 ERA in 2022, making his last major-league appearance on September 1, 2022, against the Kansas City Royals.
“Being out so long gives you a new appreciation,” Foster said. “You play for so long, and then being sidelined for that long really sucks. But once the bullpen sessions started during rehab, it felt amazing. Even though it can get monotonous, once the games start, the adrenaline kicks back in.”
Foster credited teammates like Davis Martin, who also returned to the majors after Tommy John surgery, for their support during the rehab process. “Davis and I spent last year together in Phoenix, which helped keep our spirits up. Going through the recovery process can be lonely, but having others going through the same thing really helps.”
At 29, Foster acknowledged the challenges of rehab. “There are good days and bad days, but you just take it one day at a time and keep moving forward. Thankfully, I didn’t have any major issues with my elbow or shoulder during the process, just a small setback with my back a few weeks ago. But we’ve overcome that, and now I’m just focusing on staying healthy.”
Foster built himself back up with Triple-A Charlotte before being reinstated by the front office. “Everything felt really good,” he said. “The decision on when to return was up to the front office, but my job was to stay healthy and ready.”
Friday was the moment he had been waiting for. “Everything felt great coming out of my hand,” Foster said. “I even threw a curveball, something I hadn’t done in a while. With all the rehab time, I’ve had a chance to refine my pitches, and that’s one I’ve become more comfortable with.” Looking ahead, Foster hopes the rest of this season can serve as a launchpad for 2025. “My goal is to stay healthy, pitch as much as I can, and get ready for next year.”
