Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox. He throws left-handed and is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall.
A native of Lakeland, Florida, located within the Tampa Bay area, Sale played college baseball for Florida Gulf Coast University. The Chicago White Sox selected him 13th overall in the 2010 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut on August 6, 2010. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2017 season and was a key member of their pitching rotation that helped the team win the 2018 World Series.
Sale was an MLB All-Star for seven consecutive seasons from 2012 to 2018 and led the American League (AL) in strikeouts in 2015 and 2017. After reaching 300 strikeouts in a single season for the first time in 2017, he was selected as the AL Sporting News Starting Pitcher of the Year. Sale was the quickest to reach 2,000 career strikeouts in the fewest innings pitched (1,626). After a string of injuries derailed his final few years in Boston, Sale was traded to the Braves following the 2023 season and was later named to his eighth All-Star Game in 2024, as well as winning his first Cy Young Award, Triple Crown and Gold Glove Award. Sale was again named an All-Star in 2025 and 2026.
Christopher Allen Sale was born on March 30, 1989, in Lakeland, Florida. He attended and graduated from Lakeland Senior High School, where he played basketball and baseball. After his senior year for the Dreadnaughts, Sale was drafted in the 21st round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies, but chose not to sign and instead attended Florida Gulf Coast University.
Sale played college baseball for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles baseball team under head coach Dave Tollett. During the 2010 season at FGCU, Sale posted an 11–0 win–loss record and a 2.01 ERA over 17 games. Sale pitched 103 innings while recording 146 strikeouts and 14 walks. He led the NCAA in strikeouts at the end of the regular season. Sale was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year and the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year. He is one of four Eagles to play in the major leagues, along with pitchers Jacob Barnes, Richard Bleier, and Casey Coleman.
Like many top college players, Sale spent the NCAA offseason pitching in collegiate baseball summer leagues. In 2008, he was an All-Star for the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League, and it was during his time in Wisconsin that coaches suggested he adopt his now distinctive sidearm arm angle. In the summer of 2009, Sale pitched for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he posted a record of 4–2 with an earned run average of 1.47 and 57 strikeouts, was named MVP of the league's All-Star Game at Fenway Park, and received the league's Outstanding Pitcher award.
Sale was drafted by the White Sox with the 13th overall selection in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft. Once Sale signed with the White Sox in 2010, he was assigned to the White Sox' Class A affiliate Winston-Salem Dash. Sale pitched in four games with a 2.25 ERA in four innings, while giving up three hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out four during his tenure with the Dash. Sale was then promoted to the White Sox' Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights. While there, Sale pitched in seven games earning a 2.84 ERA in 6+1⁄3 innings, while giving up three hits and two earned runs while walking four and striking out 15.
Sale was called up to the majors for the first time on August 4, 2010, and made his MLB debut on August 6, against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning. He was the first 2010 draft pick to be promoted to the majors and got his first major league save on September 1, 2010, against the Cleveland Indians. In 21 appearances in his rookie year, Sale went 2–1 with a 1.93 ERA, 32 strikeouts, and 4 saves.
During the 2011 season, Sale made 58 appearances out of the bullpen with a 2–2 record, a 2.79 ERA, 8 saves, and 79 strikeouts.
Sale made the transition to a starting pitcher for the 2012 season. On May 28, Sale struck out a career-high 15 batters in 7+1⁄3 innings during a 2–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Sale's 15 strikeouts are tied for second most in franchise history with Eddie Cicotte, Ed Walsh, and Jim Scott. Jack Harshman and Lance Lynn hold the White Sox team record with 16 strikeouts in a game. Sale was named the American League (AL) Pitcher of the Month for May with a record of 4–1, an ERA of 1.71, 35 strikeouts and a .181 opponents' average over six games.
Sale was chosen by AL All-Star manager Ron Washington to pitch in the All-Star Game, Sale's first All-Star appearance.
During the 2012 season, Sale compiled a 17–8 record, a 3.05 ERA, and 192 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched. He finished sixth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award.
On March 7, 2013, Sale and the White Sox agreed on a five-year, $32 million contract with two team option years.
On May 12, Sale threw a one-hit shutout during a 3–0 White Sox victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning. With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Mike Trout singled up the middle for the only hit of the game. Sale finished the game with 7 strikeouts and no walks, allowing Trout as the only base runner. Sale began the season with a 6–8 record and a 2.85 ERA. He was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season. Sale pitched in the second and third innings, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out two National League (NL) hitters. He was named the winning pitcher for the AL, which won the game 3–0.
In 30 starts of the 2013 season, Sale had an AL-leading 4 complete games, an 11–14 record, 226 strikeouts, and a 3.07 ERA in 214.1 innings pitched. He received one of the lowest run supports in the AL. Sale finished in fifth place in Cy Young votes for 2013.
On April 21, Sale was placed on the 15-day disabled list after sustaining a flexor strain in his left (pitching) elbow. During his first start off the disabled list against the New York Yankees on May 22, Sale retired the first 17 batters in a row before allowing a single by Zoilo Almonte. He struck out 10 in 6 innings pitched as the White Sox won the game 3–2. During a game against the Angels on June 7, 2014, Sale had a 5–0 lead but surrendered 5 runs all in the 7th inning that featured a grand slam by Mike Trout. Sale continued his dominance on the mound, winning eight of his first nine decisions and carrying an 8–1 record and 2.08 ERA into the All-Star break.
After not initially making the All-Star roster, Sale was voted into the game by fans (alongside Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo) as part of the "Final Vote." Sale joined teammates Jose Abreu and Alexei Ramírez in the All-Star Game in Minneapolis.
Sale finished the season with a 12–4 record, 208 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched, and a 2.17 ERA, second-best in the American League. He finished third in voting for the AL Cy Young award, behind winner Corey Kluber and Félix Hernández.