CHICAGO -- Youth will be served at SoxFest 2017, which became clear upon looking at the initial list of attendees announced by the team Tuesday afternoon.
Top prospects such as righties Zack Burdi, Carson Fulmer, Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Tyler Danish; infielder Yoán Moncada and outfielder Charlie Tilson will be part of the three-day event from Jan. 27-29 at the Hilton Chicago. Moncada and Kopech were acquired from Boston last week as part of the Chris Sale deal, while Giolito came over from Washington in the Adam Eaton trade.
Based on the enthusiastic fan reaction to the early stage of this rebuild, these young players with little to no Major League experience could receive a rock-star sort of reception.
Current team members José Abreu, Tim Anderson, Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier, Miguel González, José Quintana, Carlos Rodón and Tyler Saladino also will be at SoxFest. White Sox manager Rick Renteria, pitching coach Don Cooper, bullpen coach Curt Hasler and hitting coach Todd Steverson, as well as White Sox greats Harold Baines, Carlton Fisk, Bo Jackson, Eric Soderholm, Frank Thomas and Willie Harris are scheduled to attend. Harris, who co-managed for the White Sox in the Instructional League, will manage for the first time in-season this year for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem.
Special assistant to the general manager and fellow White Sox great Jim Thome, director of player development Chris Getz and director of scouting Nick Hostetler, as well as additional members of the baseball operations staff, are scheduled to attend. Additional current and former team members will be announced closer to SoxFest.
Two-night SoxFest hotel packages include exclusive access to Friday night events and a limited edition SoxFest 2017 Thome bobblehead. Hotel packages available at whitesox.com/SoxFest are the only way to buy three-day weekend passes. Fans who book hotel packages are eligible to also purchase up to four SoxFest weekend passes. Weekend passes will be available for $40 for each adult and for $10 for each kid (ages 4 to 13).