SURPRISE, Ariz. — Sean Burke was “pleasantly surprised.”
Burke got called into manager Will Venable’s office just before Sunday’s morning stretch and learned he would be the opening-day starter for the Chicago White Sox.
The right-hander didn’t see it coming.
“Obviously everyone wants to be the opening-day guy coming into camp,” Burke said at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. “I would be lying if I said that wasn’t the goal coming in or in the future for my career. Everybody wants to do that at some point.
“But I knew coming into camp, there is a ton of deserving guys for this and guys with more experience. So, I think that it’s nice the rest of the staff congratulated me and everybody was super supportive. Surprised, but definitely thankful and grateful for it.”
Venable said Burke “has had a great camp.”
“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,” Venable said.
“Everyone has been good, right? You look at Martín Pérez and start with him and his experience and the things he’s accomplished in this game — was a great candidate. Jonathan (Cannon) and Davis (Martin), also great candidates. We looked at this strategically and for us to get off to the best start and do the best thing for the White Sox, we are excited that Sean is going to take the ball first on Day 1.”
Burke, 25, impressed while getting his first taste of the big leagues after he was called up from Triple-A Charlotte in September. He went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts in four outings (three starts).
Burke has a 4.15 ERA during his three Cactus League starts this spring. He has allowed four earned runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and five walks in 8 2/3 innings.
He said spring training has been about “getting on a good routine in terms of how I take care of my body and staying on top of my stuff.”
“I think coming back from (a shoulder) injury last year, I was playing around with a couple of different things and seeing what was going to work and what made me feel better throughout the season,” Burke said. “The main thing coming into this was making sure my stuff was in a good spot and making sure I was healthy going into the season.
“So, I was able to stay on top of what I needed to stay on top of. Right now, I feel 100% with everything. I’m excited about how the progress went throughout spring and led up to this point right now.”
The Sox selected Burke in the third round of the 2021 draft out of Maryland. He reached out to his parents, sister and some buddies after learning about the opening-day assignment. The Sox begin the season against the Los Angeles Angels on March 27 at Rate Field.
“I’m grateful the organization trusts me with that role and they are supportive of me,” Burke said. “Just kind of speechless in the moment but trying to take it all in now and super thankful.
“I think it’s so special. So few people get to play in the big leagues and even fewer people get to start on opening day. So — just to keep saying — I’m grateful, thankful for the opportunity.”
Joey Gallo granted unconditional release
The Sox granted first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo his unconditional release on Sunday.
The veteran joined the Sox on Feb. 13 after signing a minor-league deal with a nonroster invitation to major-league camp. He went 2-for-20 (.100) with one RBI and 11 strikeouts in nine Cactus League games. Gallo later announced Sunday on social media that he would be attempting to pitch.
“Talking to Joey and talking this morning, just came to a mutual agreement that that was the best thing,” Venable said. “Wish him luck as he starts a new chapter as a pitcher and appreciate his dedication and his effort to the White Sox while he was here.”
Injury updates
Pitcher Mason Adams has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow. The right-hander suffered the injury during Friday’s Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds.
“It wasn’t a specific pitch that anything happened on,” Adams said Sunday. “It gradually started bugging me throughout the second inning. I figured probably take myself out before I make anything worse.
“Was just feeling some discomfort in my right elbow. Figured I should get out of there before making it worse.”
Adams had a 4.91 ERA with eight strikeouts in four outings (two starts) this spring.
“I thought it was a good spring,” Adams said. “I was competitive the whole time, learned a lot. I’m going to try to keep that going for when I’m coming back.”
The Sox said his timetable is to be determined.
Sox infielder Josh Rojas is day-to-day with a sprained big right toe.
He suffered the injury Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, getting tangled up with Brenton Doyle after catching shortstop Jacob Amaya’s throw and applying a tag at third base in the third inning. Rojas remained in the game and batted in the bottom of the third before exiting.
“It’s still a little sore this morning, so precautionary,” Venable said. “Get him some treatment and continue to evaluate.”
