The Chicago White Sox and the rest of Major League Baseball is well underway in 2021. It is fair to wonder how the Minor League Baseball season is going to work this year following a canceled season in 2020 due to COVID-19. Well, for one, the season is going to happen in 2021 but it is just a little bit delayed. They are going to get the season going on May 4th. Until then, every AAA level player is going to play at a designated “alternate site”.
The Chicago White Sox are going to have their alternate site filled with important players.
The White Sox, for the second year in a row, will have their alternate site at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg, Illinois. The White Sox have a few players that will be there that should see some time in the MLB down the line this season and in their careers.
They announced some details about that alternate site yesterday before their game against the Seattle Mariners. For one, the roster that is being sent there is out. There are some names on there that most fans will recognize:
RHP:
- Zack Burdi
- Ryan Burr
- Will Carter
- Danny Dopico
- Tayron Guerrero
- Tyler Johnson
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Kade McClure
- Alex McRae
- Connor Sadzeck
- Jonathan Stiever
- Mike Wright
LHP:
- Kodi Medeiros
- Nick Turley
C:
- Carlos Perez
- Seby Zavala
INF:
- Tim Beckham
- Marco Hernandez
- Danny Mendick
- Zach Remillard
- Matt Reynolds
- Gavin Sheets
OF:
- Luis Gonzalez
- Mikie Mahtook
- Blake Rutherford
- Nick Williams
Of course, there are some names on there that contributed to wins in 2020. Names like Reynaldo Lopez, Danny Mendick, and Seby Zavala stick out as notable players who have played in the MLB at some point in their careers. Some of those guys will be called up sooner than later but will be at the alternate site for a little bit. These are the players that are eligible to be called up before the Minor League season gets underway in May.
There are select games in Schaumburg that are under consideration to have fans in attendance. When the White Sox play the Cubs in an alternate squad game at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 19th, there will be no fans allowed. With all of the health and safety protocols being considered, we can only hope that some fans will be allowed to see in person as long as it is safe.
This is an important group because the White Sox are going to need a lot of them in the future. There are always injuries and performance issues amongst other things so you never know who ends up where. It will, however, be nice to see the MiLB season get underway in short order as well.