Sean Burke became just the seventh pitcher in the last 100 years to start on opening day with fewer than 20 career innings pitched in the majors.
Burke showed the poise of a veteran when Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field could have gotten away from the Chicago White Sox early.
The right-hander worked out of danger in the first and second innings and then settled into a groove as the Sox opened the 2025 season with an 8-1 victory in front of 31,403 at Rate Field.
“It was awesome,” Burke said. “That’s definitely the most fun I’ve ever had pitching in front of these fans at home. Not too much nerves, but just a little amped up to start the game. Just making sure I’m making quality pitches. The defense played really good behind me, they were making plays the entire time I was out there, so when they’re in a rhythm like that it makes my job a lot easier.”
Burke allowed three hits and struck out three in six scoreless innings to aid the Sox in Will Venable’s first game as manager.
“Will’s our guy,” Burke said. “We love Will. To get the first one out of the way in the first game and just the joy on his face, I think everyone in the locker room was super happy with a lot of emotion.”
Burke, 25, made his fourth career start and fifth overall appearance Thursday.
In the process, he joined the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela (17 2/3) in 1981, St. Louis’ Tom Poholsky (14 2/3) in 1951, Pittsburgh’s Preacher Roe (2 2/3) in 1944, Brooklyn’s Hal Gregg (18 2/3) in 1944, Philadelphia’s Eddie Smith (19) in 1937 and Philadelphia’s Carroll Yerkes (9 2/3) in 1929 as pitchers in the last 100 years to start on opening day with fewer than 20 career innings pitched.
Burke’s 19 career innings entering the day were the fewest for a Sox opening-day starter, eclipsing the previous mark of 61 by Patsy Flaherty in 1903. Garrett Crochet had 73 before his start in 2024.
Burke became the sixth pitcher in the last 70 years to start on opening day with three or fewer career starts, joining the Crochet in 2024 (zero), Texas’ Tanner Scheppers in 2014 (zero), Colorado’s David Nied in 1993 (two), San Francisco’s Al Holland in 1982 (three) and Valenzuela in 1981 (zero).
White Sox starter Sean Burke delivers the first pitch of the season to the Angels on March 27, 2025, at Rate Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Burke had to navigate through some tough early stretches.
The Angels had runners on the corners with one out in the first when Burke struck out Jorge Soler swinging on a 3-2 slider. Burke then struck out former Sox shortstop Tim Anderson — who received an extended ovation before the at-bat in his return to Rate Field — looking with a 2-2 inside fastball.
“Obviously in two-strike counts I’m going to try to put him away but I’m not starting the at-bat with ‘I’ve got to strike this guy out’ when it’s 0-0,” Burke said. “That situation I’m just trying to get them to put the ball on the ground, that was the main thing. Just making quality pitches in the zone, getting ahead of guys.
“I think we had a good game plan going in against the lineup as a whole and I did a pretty good job executing. (Catcher) Korey (Lee) did a great job calling the game. So I think the combination of that was able to get that out of the situation.”
The Angels placed runners on the corners with two outs in the second. Taylor Ward bounced out to shortstop Jacob Amaya.
“A lot of poise,” Venable said of Burke. “He’s under control at all times. I think he likes those moments where he has to find another gear to get him through that stuff. And he’s got the stuff to do it. Just really fun to watch him go to work and fight through some adversity there.”
The Sox broke through with three runs in the second with a blast and a bloop.
White Sox reliever Penn Murfee celebrates after getting the last out in the top of the seventh inning against the Angels on March 27, 2025, at Rate Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Slater, an offseason free-agent addition, led off the inning with a home run to left in his first at-bat with the Sox.
“Not a better way to start the season than that,” Slater said.
Lee and Amaya singled with one out. They moved up a base on a groundout and scored when Miguel Vargas blooped a double just out of the reach of diving center fielder Jo Adell.
Meanwhile, Burke was locked in. He retired the final 14 batters he faced.
Reliever Penn Murfee struck out the side in the seventh. The Angels had two on with two outs in the eighth when Mike Clevinger entered to face Mike Trout with the Sox still ahead 3-0.
Clevinger walked Trout in a nine-pitch battle, loading the bases for Soler. The count went full before Clevinger struck out Soler swinging to end the inning.
“When that guy is healthy, a special pitcher,” Lee said of Clevinger.
Insurance in the form of a three-run home run from Andrew Benintendi came in the eighth. Lenyn Sosa added a two-run blast later in the inning.
Logan O’Hoppe’s solo home run with two outs in the top of the ninth off Cam Booser accounted for the Angels’ run.
With the victory, the Sox are over .500 for the first time since winning the 2023 season opener in Houston.
“This is a new season and a clean slate, and we’re excited to get off to a good start,” Venable said. “These guys put in a lot of work in the offseason and obviously in spring training. And so for that to end in a win to start the season means a lot for us.”
Roster moves
Before the game, the Sox officially selected the contracts of Clevinger, outfielder Travis Jankowski and infielder Nick Maton.
They also placed infielders Bryan Ramos (right elbow strain) and Josh Rojas (right toe fracture) and outfielder Mike Tauchman (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list, placed pitcher Tyler Gilbert (left knee bursitis) on the 15-day IL and pitcher Drew Thorpe (Tommy John surgery) on the 60-day IL.
Pitcher Jake Eder and outfielder Dominic Fletcher were designated for assignment.
Originally Published: March 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM CDT
