SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- With less than two weeks remaining in Spring Training, White Sox general manager Chris Getz, manager Will Venable and their respective staffs have some tough decisions to make.
Tough in a positive way, as a successful Cactus League effort has displayed the talent built within the organization. Here’s a look at my second Opening Day roster projection.
Catcher (2): Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
Injured: Kyle Teel
There was a chance three catchers would break camp with the team after Spring Training, with Lee having a strong spring and giving Venable an easier route to use Quero and Teel in the same lineup. But Teel’s Grade 2 right hamstring strain, suffered Tuesday with Team Italy at the World Baseball Classic, will sideline him for four to six weeks and place him on the injured list at the season’s outset.
First baseman (1): Munetaka Murakami
Others: Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, LaMonte Wade Jr.
It’s an exciting time for the organization, adding their most prominent presence from the Pacific Rim in franchise history. The power-packed Murakami, who recently hit a grand slam against Czechia, continues with Team Japan in the WBC but will return to Arizona before the end of camp.
Second baseman (1): Chase Meidroth
Others: Luisangel Acuña, Sosa, Sam Antonacci
Meidroth provides that gritty presence, along with his natural talent, needed by every solid squad. Keep an eye on Antonacci, a non-roster invitee who made a huge impression within the White Sox system in 2025 and has been great in Spring Training as well as for Team Italy in the WBC.
Shortstop (1): Colson Montgomery
Others: Sosa, Meidroth, Antonacci
Montgomery went from his needed overall reset in Arizona at the end of April, a struggling period he clearly has moved on from, to finishing fifth in the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year balloting. The left-handed hitter knocked out 21 home runs in 71 games, while playing stellar defense up the middle.
Third baseman (1): Vargas
Others: Sosa, Curtis Mead
Vargas can play third or first but is excited to be getting that chance at third.
“One hundred percent,” Vargas told MLB.com. “I’m a third baseman since I was a kid, so I love playing third. I really want to help my team any place I can. Now, I’m back to third base. I love it.”
Outfielders (3): Andrew Benintendi, Acuña, Austin Hays
Others: Brooks Baldwin, Derek Hill, Everson Pereira, Tristan Peters, Jarred Kelenic
The fleet-footed Acuña could become the team’s regular center fielder after getting time there during winter ball, while Baldwin deals with right elbow soreness. The White Sox still like Benintendi’s left-handed power bat, but Getz admitted Benintendi’s legs and not being able to cover ground he once did has held him back. Benintendi feels excellent physically but will get at-bats at designated hitter.
DH (1): Sosa
Others: Benintendi, Sosa, Vargas, Teel, Murakami
This spot will rotate players over the course of the season. As mentioned above, it gives Quero and Teel a chance to be in the same lineup when Teel is healthy.
Bench/Utility (3): Baldwin, Mead, Kelenic
Injured: Pereira
Others: Hill, Peters
Acuña, Lee, Sosa, Pereira, Hill and Mead are out of options. The White Sox like the defense and athleticism provided in center by Hill, which could be valuable with the inexperience at that spot after the trade of Luis Robert Jr. Pereira is back in action after dealing with oblique soreness, but will he have enough time to be fully ready for Opening Day on March 26 in Milwaukee?
Starting pitchers (5): Shane Smith, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Erick Fedde, Sean Burke
Others: Jonathan Cannon, Sean Newcomb, Mike Vasil, Jedixson Paez, Chris Murphy
Smith becomes the fifth White Sox hurler in the last five seasons to earn the Opening Day nod, facing his original team in Milwaukee. The White Sox stretched out nine pitchers during Spring Training, not to mention having Tanner McDougal, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith at Triple-A Charlotte. So, they will have options.
Relief pitchers (8): Seranthony Domínguez(CL), Grant Taylor, Jordan Leasure, Vasil, Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb (L), Tyler Gilbert (L), Alexander Alberto
Others: Murphy (L), Brandon Eisert (L), Cannon, Ryan Borucki (L), Paez, Austin Voth, Lucas Sims
Newcomb eventually could be a key component from the bullpen but is being built up to start during Spring Training. The same goes for Vasil, although Getz said the right-hander will be working toward a multi-inning role.
“We’re still kind of open-minded on that,” said Getz of Vasil. “It is nice now that the Rule 5 handcuffs are off, so that allows us to be perhaps a little bit more creative with him.”
Gilbert has one option remaining, and while Eisert is not on this current list, the southpaw produced a 4.39 ERA over a team-best 72 games in ’25. He’s in the mix, as are Borucki and Murphy. Alberto and Paez are selections from the '25 Rule 5 Draft.