The Chicago White Sox will have numerous choices for the vacant positions as they bring 24 players into camp this spring.
A selection of players from their current 40-man roster is available to potentially start on Opening Day. Among the contenders are newly signed left-hander Martin Perez, right-handers Jonathan Cannon, Bryse Wilson, and possibly Sean Burke. One of these players is speculated to be the frontrunner, and it would be a significant achievement for them to kick off their second full season in the majors.
White Sox beat writer and MLB.com columnist Scott Merkin spoke with 24-year-old Cannon at this year’s Soxfest and inquired about his feelings on the possibility of being the White Sox Opening Day starter for the upcoming season. Cannon responded with a notably humble answer.
Cannon commented on the possibility of being the Opening Day starter, saying, “It would be a tremendous honor for me. We still have a lot to accomplish during spring training, so I’m eager to finish up Spring Training and establish a solid routine.”
Cannon on being the potential Opening Day starter: "I mean, that would be a huge honor for me. We have a long way to go with spring and everything so I’m looking forward to getting out of Spring Training and starting to get dialed in on a routine."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 24, 2025
The 6-foot-6 right-hander, aside from Garrett Crochet, was one of the more effective starting pitchers for the White Sox last season, making 21 starts with a record of 5-10, a 4.49 ERA, and 91 strikeouts over 124.1 innings. Cannon employs a five-pitch repertoire, including a sinker, sweeper, cutter, changeup, and four-seam fastball, all of which he uses at a similar frequency. What stands out about Cannon is that he ranked in the 70th percentile for hard-hit percentage. FanGraphs anticipates that he will take the number one spot in the White Sox starting rotation, but if he earns the Opening Day start, he could very well become the ‘Ace’ of the team.
Last night, Jonathan Cannon struck out a career-high 7 batters over 7.0 IP pic.twitter.com/kDHPqIeRDk
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 13, 2024
Although Cannon lacks extensive major league experience, he will need to assume a leadership role if he receives this significant opportunity, a challenge he is likely to handle well. Having experienced players like Perez and Wilson on the team will be essential in guiding Cannon on how to thrive as a successful big-league pitcher, which is crucial for his growth.
If Cannon is given the chance to start on Opening Day for the White Sox, he would join the ranks of elite company, sharing that distinction with Garrett Crochet and Chris Sale as one of the youngest pitchers to start for the team. At only 24 years old, Cannon has the chance to achieve significant milestones, including becoming the Ace of the White Sox rotation, despite never having been considered a highly regarded prospect. If he performs well in spring training and demonstrates progress in his development, there’s a strong possibility he could be selected for the Opening Day start.
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