The Chicago White Sox made several impactful roster changes ahead of their game against the Houston Astros, highlighted by the activation of infielder Josh Rojas, who returns after suffering a hairline fracture in his right toe during spring training. Rojas expressed his excitement about making his season debut, despite still feeling some soreness. He emphasized the importance of mobility in his playing style, which was compromised by his injury.

Additionally, the Sox promoted two pitchers from Triple-A Charlotte, with Caleb Freeman making his major league debut. The White Sox bullpen has struggled this season, ranking near the bottom in ERA, making these moves crucial for the team's performance. Lefty Tyler Gilbert was also recalled, while left-handed pitcher Fraser Ellard was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a lat strain.

In a strategic move, White Sox manager Will Venable deployed Tyler Gilbert as a one-inning opener in the recent series against the Athletics, leading to mixed results from his starters Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon. While Cannon found success with a strong performance, pitching 7⅔ innings with five strikeouts in a 10-3 win, Burke struggled in his outings, leading to concerns about his slider's location which has been frequently hit hard by opponents.

Burke, who had a promising start on Opening Day, has been working diligently to improve his pitching mechanics and find consistency. His struggles stem mainly from issues with his slider placement, often leaving it over the plate where hitters capitalize. With the absence of veteran starters, he has the chance to refine his skills and tackle challenges head-on, focusing on his off-speed pitches to secure a better performance moving forward.

The 2025 MLB season has officially kicked off, featuring 28 of the 30 MLB teams on Opening Day. Highlighting the event are the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, last year's World Series participants. Notably, Lars Nootbaar stands out as the only USC alum on an active MLB roster, having played 109 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024. Garrett Stubbs, previously the No. 2 catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been optioned to Triple-A. Other former Trojans like Kyle Hurt and Tyler Gilbert are sidelined with injuries, while Blake Sabol starts the season in Triple-A with the Boston Red Sox.

The roster also features notable coaches from USC, including Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, emphasizing USC's lasting impact in Major League Baseball.

The Chicago White Sox have made a significant move by acquiring left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league right-hander Aaron Combs. Gilbert, 31, comes off a season where he recorded a solid 3.24 ERA over six relief appearances with the Phillies.

To accommodate Gilbert on their 40-man roster, the White Sox designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment. Shewmake, who was brought in from Atlanta in a previous trade, struggled at the plate last season, hitting just .125 in 29 games.

Combs, a promising 23-year-old prospect, was drafted by the White Sox in 2024 and showed potential in Class A Kannapolis, allowing only two unearned runs in nearly eight innings of work. Gilbert's acquisition comes after he was designated for assignment by Philadelphia following the Phillies' trade for left-hander Jesús Luzardo from Miami.

The Chicago White Sox have made a strategic move by acquiring left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league right-hander Aaron Combs. Gilbert, who is 31 years old, had a solid 3.24 ERA during his six relief appearances for the Phillies last season, showing promise for his new team.

In a corresponding move, the White Sox designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment to create space on their 40-man roster. Shewmake, who was obtained from Atlanta in a trade last November, struggled significantly, hitting only .125 in 29 games for Chicago.

Combs, a 23-year-old right-hander, was drafted by the White Sox in the eighth round of the 2024 amateur draft. He had a brief stint in the minors, allowing two unearned runs over 7.2 innings with Class A Kannapolis. Gilbert was previously designated for assignment by the Phillies after they acquired Jesús Luzardo from Miami.