Bryce Collins: A Promising Relief Pitcher on the Rise

Bryce Collins, a 25-year-old right-handed relief pitcher, has made a name for himself within the Chicago White Sox organization, especially after bouncing back from early setbacks in his career. Standing at 6’1″ and weighing 200 pounds, Collins is an intriguing prospect with both the tools and the potential to make an impact at the MLB level. Although his 2025 season was derailed by injury, his prior performances and trajectory suggest that, if healthy, he could be a key piece of the White Sox bullpen in the near future.

Early Career and College Struggles

Collins’ baseball journey began in an unusual way. Originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 39th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Collins opted to pursue college baseball instead, choosing to play at the University of Arizona. His freshman season was a challenging one, as he posted a 5.24 ERA in 22 1/3 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was concerning, with 16 strikeouts compared to 15 walks, which contributed to his high WHIP of 1.701. An arm injury that sidelined Collins for the next two seasons added to the frustration, and it seemed as though his early career might have been over before it really began.

Transfer to LSU and Development

In 2022, Collins transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he redshirted and returned in 2023 for his junior season. At LSU, he found much more success. In 2022, he appeared in 20 games, throwing 32 1/3 innings and posting a solid 3.62 ERA. His strikeout rate improved dramatically from his Arizona days, up to 25.2%. However, Collins’ walk rate was still an issue, as he walked 13.9% of batters, which limited his overall effectiveness. The following season at LSU, Collins saw his performance take a step back. Despite the strikeouts (21.6 K%), his ERA ballooned to 9.18 over 16 2/3 innings, with an abysmal 18.2% walk rate and a disastrous 1.920 WHIP.

Although Collins struggled in his final season at LSU, the Tigers went on to win the National Championship in 2023, providing a bit of a silver lining to his college career. Despite his collegiate woes, the Chicago White Sox saw potential in Collins and signed him to a minor league deal for the 2024 season.

A Strong Bounce Back with the White Sox

In 2024, Collins showed that he still had the ability to develop and refine his game. He started the season with the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, where he immediately turned things around. Appearing in 11 games and throwing 14 innings, he posted a 3.21 ERA and struck out 24 batters, boasting a 39% strikeout rate. Most importantly, he showed significant improvement with his control, walking just six batters during that stretch.

His performance earned him a promotion to the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, where he continued to impress. In 23 appearances and 31 innings with Winston-Salem, Collins posted an even better 2.03 ERA. He transitioned into a more prominent closer role, finishing 10 games and recording five saves. His WHIP dropped to 1.194, and he maintained a strikeout rate of over 30%. However, his walk rate did creep back up to 12.4%, which is an area he’ll need to continue refining. Nevertheless, Collins demonstrated a knack for keeping runners off base, as evidenced by his 82% strand rate.

Collins’ arsenal includes a fastball that tops out at around 96 mph, and a slider and curveball that complement it well. His curveball, in particular, has shown elite movement, with an 18-inch vertical drop and an 86% efficiency rate, making it a devastating pitch for hitters. With his ability to generate swings and misses and keep hitters off balance, Collins looks like a pitcher with significant upside.

Setback in 2025: Injury and Lost Time

Unfortunately, Collins’ 2025 season was a lost one. After breaking camp with a promising return to Winston-Salem, he was sidelined with an injury that required him to go on the 60-day IL. His rehab assignment was cut short in the Arizona Complex League, further delaying his progress. It was a major setback for Collins, who had been building momentum and looking to continue his ascent through the system.

While his injury in 2025 was disappointing, there’s no reason to believe that Collins cannot get back on track in 2026. If healthy, he should be in line for a promotion to Double-A Birmingham, where he can continue to refine his game and work towards making an impact at the MLB level.

Future Outlook

Collins is still considered one of the top relief prospects in the White Sox system, ranking 62nd in their 2025 Top 100 Prospect list. While his career has been marked by some adversity, his bounce-back performance in 2024 shows that he has the potential to overcome his earlier struggles. The next step in his development will be proving that he can stay healthy and continue to improve his command, especially in limiting walks.

If Collins can do that, he has the potential to become a key piece of the White Sox bullpen in the coming seasons. His fastball, combined with his devastating curveball, gives him a strong foundation to build on. If his control improves, Collins could easily find himself contributing at the MLB level in the near future. For now, the White Sox will be keeping a close eye on his recovery and will be eager to see what he can do when fully healthy in 2026.