Here's how the '25 White Sox roster could shake out

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Position battles loom on the White Sox horizon as pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch on Wednesday.

Which prospects will push their way on to the Opening Day roster? Which ones still need a little more time? Here¡¯s a look at the first of a few 2025 White Sox roster projections for their season¡¯s start on March 27 at Guaranteed Rate Field against the Angels.

Catcher (2): Korey Lee, Matt Thaiss
Others: Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero
A decision between Lee or Thaiss behind the plate on Day 1 probably depends on if a right-hander or southpaw is starting for the Angels. But keep an eye on Teel, the No. 32 prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Quero, at No. 66 overall, who are on the fast track to the Majors. It¡¯s a position of clear strength.

First base (1): Andrew Vaughn
Others: Tim Elko, Bobby Dalbec
Vaughn embarks on his fifth season with the White Sox, having slashed .253/.310/.415 with 72 home runs, 110 doubles and 274 RBIs. His numbers often are judged against being the third pick overall in the 2019 Draft, but the 26-year-old has another level of untapped results to be found. Elko has hit over every Minor League stop during the last two years and has big power.

Second base (1): Josh Rojas
Others: Chase Meidroth, Brooks Baldwin, Lenyn Sosa
Don¡¯t overlook Meidroth, who has 199 walks and a .425 on-base percentage over three seasons and 255 games in the Minors. Rojas, one of the White Sox free-agent acquisitions, has played more games at third base than any other spot, but second base ranks second. Sosa finished 2024 with a 1.018 OPS over his last 21 games, can play across the infield and is out of Minor League options.

Shortstop (1): Colson Montgomery
Others: Rojas, Sosa, Baldwin, Jacob Amaya
Montgomery will have legitimate opportunities to break camp with the team, employing mental and physical changes he found during his 2024 struggles for Triple-A Charlotte. He still could be back with the Knights for a short time, but let¡¯s take a chance and go with an Opening Day debut for the No. 39 prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline.

Third base (2): Miguel Vargas, Bryan Ramos
Others: Rojas
Vargas, Ramos and Rojas are potential starters at third, and all should see time at the spot during the season. Vargas also could be used in the outfield, as he tries to bounce back from a miserable 2024 opening with the White Sox when he hit .104 over 42 games following a trade from the Dodgers.

Outfield (4): Andrew Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., Mike Tauchman, Austin Slater
Others: Dominic Fletcher, Oscar Colás
The big question is whether Robert will be part of the White Sox by the time Spring Training ends? If he is not traded, can he produce numbers more akin to his All-Star campaign of 2023 as opposed to his injury-plagued struggles of ¡¯24?

Designated hitter (1): Ramos
Others: Vaughn, Elko, Vargas, Col¨¢s, Dalbec
There doesn¡¯t appear to be a full-time candidate, at least not at the start of Spring Training. Manager Will Venable has the option to rotate players, even giving time off the field for everyday position players.

Bench/Utility (3): Slater, Baldwin, Meidroth
Others: Brandon Drury, Fletcher, Col¨¢s, Sosa, Amaya
If Meidroth does not force his way into the starting lineup, is he considered someone who could play three or four times per week? Drury, as a veteran with a non-roster invite, is an interesting late add.

Starting pitchers (5): Jonathan Cannon, Martín Pérez (L), Davis Martin, Bryse Wilson, Sean Burke
Others: Drew Thorpe, Ky Bush, Nick Nastrini, Jonathan Heasley
The battle figured to be between Wilson and Burke for the final rotation spot. But with Thorpe suffering a couple of offseason setbacks in relation to a Sept. 7 surgery shaving down a bone spur in his right elbow, requiring a cortisone shot on Jan. 24, it appears he won¡¯t be available at the season¡¯s outset. Cannon could have the edge for the Opening Day nod.

Bullpen (8): Justin Anderson, Jared Shuster (L), Prelander Berroa, Cam Booser (L), Gus Varland, Penn Murfee, Fraser Ellard (L), Shane Smith
Others: Jake Eder (L), Tyler Gilbert (L), Jordan Leasure, Jairo Iriarte, Brandon Eisert (L)
Who will be the first White Sox closer of 2025? Anderson picked up one save last season, and Berroa had a strong finish to his first year in Chicago, with a 2.25 ERA in his final 12 innings. Social media star Varland also pitched very well for the White Sox in 2024.