It’s never too early to start thinking about Opening Day, especially with pitchers and catchers now in camp.
According to reports out of Glendale, several starters have already begun discussing the opportunity. Davis Martin, Jonathan Cannon, and Martín Pérez are among those firmly in the mix to earn the prized first nod of the season.
“I said, ‘You better bring it,’” Martin told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin of his conversation with Cannon and Perez. “I want it. I know [Jonathan Cannon] wants it. And I know Martín [Pérez] wants it. You are not a competitor if you don’t want to be the No. 1 guy and the responsibilities that come with that.
“You see the responsibilities Garrett [Crochet] held, that [Dylan] Cease held. You need to be the guy who goes out there and executes 33 starts on the year and the whole team looks to you to be successful. This is the guaranteed one day we are going to have a really good shot of winning. So, you dream about that opportunity, to cherish that role.”
Martin, 28, returned last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery the year before. He made his first start in late July and posted a 4.32 ERA over 11 games (10 starts), owning a 21.4% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate across 50 innings pitched. Martin’s stuff looked promising over this short stretch and included the immediate success of his kick change instituted by Brian Bannister. With a full offseason of standard training under his belt, the team’s former 14th-round draft pick enters 2025 with much optimism and the potential for a breakout campaign.
Joining Martin as a returner on staff is Cannon, who was among the young pitchers to get his first shot at the majors last season. Ranked as the team’s No. 11 prospect when he debuted, the 24-year-old recorded a 4.49 ERA with 91 strikeouts over 124.1 innings. Cannon started 21 of his 23 games, making it the most among active Sox pitchers after the departure of Garrett Crochet. With this experience to build off of in 2025, Cannon is ready to continue his development and looks to do so with the help of his teammates.
“I think I still have a lot to learn, but just kind of leaning on each other is good,” Cannon told Lamond Pope of the Chicago Tribune. “We talk about pitching all the time. That’s what we’re going to do for the next seven months — just having those conversations, figuring out what works for guys, what doesn’t, and how we attack lineups.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know Martín [Perez] and just what’s kept him successful in this league for so long.”
Pérez, the newcomer on staff, spent the 2024 season with both the Pirates and Padres. The 34-year-old combined for 135 innings across both stints, going 5-6 with a 4.52 ERA and 4.90 FIP. He struck out 18.1% of hitters while walking 8.3% of them. He’s not far removed from what was the best season of his career, going 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA over 196.1 innings with the Rangers in 2022. His 2023 campaign in Texas overlapped with new White Sox manager Will Venable’s time in the Lone Star State, making it the most recent encounter between the two as they have also spent time together on other teams.
Pérez features a five-pitch arsenal: sinker (35.8%), changeup (22.7%), cutter (22.1%), curveball (14.1%), and four-seam fastball (5.3%). His profile is similar to other signings for the White Sox this offseason, such as Tyler Gilbert and Bryse Wilson to name a few. It’s clear the team wanted a veteran presence to stabilize their rotation when they made this signing, and as a 13-year major league mainstay, Pérez instantly becomes a contender for the Opening Day job.
One big name who likely will be left out of the mix is right-hander Drew Thorpe. The key return piece of the Dylan Cease trade is coming off surgery for a bone spur in his right elbow and is slightly behind schedule. CHSN’s Chuck Garfien reports that Thorpe is planning to throw off a mound next week and is eyeing full health by the end of Spring Training. Chris Getz echoed a similar sentiment on Wednesday, telling the media that though Thorpe is not currently on par with the other starters, he will still be active in camp.
Thorpe, 24, debuted this past season and made nine starts for the White Sox. In those games, he owned a 5.48 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 21 walks. While in Double-A Birmingham, where he spent most of his season, Thorpe owned an impressive 1.35 ERA over 60 innings. He still figures to be a key member of the rotation this season, though the team may have to fill his spot early on if he’s not ready to go.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the White Sox’s starting pitchers, especially as Cactus League games begin next week. Be sure to follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more throughout Spring Training!
Featured Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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