Burke earns White Sox Opening Day nod after ascending in camp

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The names of Davis Martin, Jonathan Cannon and Martín Pérez were at the center of attention when trying to figure out the White Sox Opening Day starter permutations and ramifications.

So, who did Chicago pick to take the mound on March 27 for Game 1 of the 2025 season against the Angels at Rate Field? Sean Burke, of course.

It’s the same Burke who is just two seasons removed from being the White Sox No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. It’s the same Burke who fought his way through right rotator cuff tendinitis limiting the right-hander to nine up-and-down starts with Triple-A Charlotte in 2023 before putting together a solid Major League season in ‘24, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings.

This is also the same Burke who came to Spring Training this season fighting for a spot in the rotation, despite being as confident as he had ever been. Now, the 25-year-old joins the ranks of Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito, Chris Sale and Mark Buehrle, to name a few, with this special White Sox honor.

“I was surprised, pleasantly surprised,” Burke said. “But I’m grateful the organization trusts me with that role and they are supportive of me. Just kind of speechless in the moment, but trying to take it all in now and super thankful.”

“Sean has had a great camp,” manager Will Venable said. “We probably had a few guys that were great candidates, but for us as we were looking at things, strategically to get off to a great start, we couldn’t be more excited to name Sean our Opening Day starter.”

Crochet was a surprise Opening Day choice prior to last season with no previous starting experience and 73 innings total in relief. He quickly developed into one of the game’s top starters.

With just those three starts on his resume from Sept. ‘24, Burke joins Crochet, Tanner Scheppers (2014, no career starts), David Nied (1993, two), Al Holland (1982, three) and Fernando Valenzuela (1981, none) as the only Major League pitchers to start Opening Day having made three or fewer career starts prior in the expansion era (since 1961), according to Elias Sports.

Venable and pitching coach Ethan Katz delivered the news to Burke shortly before he went out for the Sunday morning workout. Burke immediately contacted his parents, his sister and a few friends to share the news.

“You guys see all the talent we have in terms of pitching,” Burke said. “I definitely didn’t think anything was going to be given to me coming in here. I wanted to be sharp. I wanted to be on top of my game coming into camp and show I was ready to go pitch in the big leagues. I feel like I’ve done that and then they kind of see that too. This is just the culmination of everything coming together."

“Everyone has their path,” Venable said. “I’m certainly happy for Sean and the fact that his has brought him to be our Opening Day starter and really excited for him and the organization.”

Over three Cactus League starts covering 8 2/3 innings, Burke has a 4.15 ERA with six strikeouts and five walks. He also possesses a chutzpah, a bravado dating back to his AAU basketball days, making him a perfect fit for this big moment in the potentially chilly temperatures of Chicago.

It would have been easy for Burke to give up during the tough times from parts of the last two seasons. But his confidence almost never wavered.

“I never really stopped believing in myself,” Burke said. “I knew who I was as a pitcher and just kind of staying the course with it, stay even-keeled, not ride the roller coaster of emotions, and health and whatever comes with it. I feel like I'm in a good point now.

“It's tough. I would like to say I did a better job than I probably did in real life with [the injury]. After that season I was hurt, getting back home to my family and just being with them, hanging out with them kind of kept me level-headed.”

Burke, who was originally on Sunday’s Spring Breakout roster with top prospects Noah Schultz (White Sox No. 1 prospect), Hagen Smith (No. 3) and Grant Taylor (No. 7), now has bigger opening days ahead of him.