Sean Burke will throw out the actual official first pitch of the Chicago White Sox season but a local legend will throw the ceremonial first toss next Thursday.
The White Sox announced Chicago Bulls and Simeon hoops legend Derrick Rose will throw out the first pitch before the game's official start.
Chicago’s Own @drose coming to Opening Day 3/27 🌹 pic.twitter.com/HaEqjmbfA6
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 20, 2025
This is another example of the White Sox having to focus on making sure there are attractions outside of the actual roster to draw fans and attention.
The on-field product is expected to lose 100 games or more for the third straight season. This 26-man roster is filled with "who are these guys" after you get past Luis Robert Jr.
He still might not make the Opening Day roster if the front office can find a trade partner before next Thursday.
Since the White Sox are in the early stages of a massive rebuild, the organization will have to rely on getting big names to show up to receive ceremonial honors.
The team should draw a good crowd to Rate Field on July 11th when Sox legendary pitcher Mark Buehrle's statue is unveiled, and the team celebrates the 20th anniversary of the 2005 World Series team.
The club also has a great promotional schedule for those buying tickets this season along with a great ballpark pass deal for the first two months of the season.
That still might not be enough to draw fans in to watch a team that everyone expects to be terrible.
Despite a mixed legacy of what could have been had Rose not had those knee injuries, he is still beloved in this city. The love is based on him coming up through the Chicago Public League hoops system and then being the Bulls first legit superstar since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen left the city.
Therefore, getting D-Rose to show up is another way the White Sox are trying to make Opening Day feel special. The expectation is after he throws out the ceremonial first pitch, it will be all downhill from there.