Munetaka Murakami will make his spring training debut on Saturday, with Cannon starting the first game of the spring.

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable revealed that Munetaka Murakami will make his Cactus League debut for the White Sox in the spring training game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

“We’re still working on the lineup for the first game,” Venable said, “and we have to manage the players who will be participating in the Classic. Sam Antonacci will play, and Murakami will also be in the lineup. Curtis Mead and Kyle Teel will be included as well.”

Teel and Antonacci will represent Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Mead will don the Australian team uniform, relief pitcher Seranthony Domínguez will play for the Dominican Republic, and Murakami will leave next Friday to join the Japanese team.

Murakami remains a hot topic at spring training. Former White Sox reliever and current Japanese journalist Shingo Takatsu visited the White Sox today to interview Hall of Famer Jim Thome and Venable, focusing on this powerful first baseman.

Cannon leads the rotation competition.

Jonathan Cannon has always seen himself as a starting pitcher.

In Saturday’s spring training opener against the Cubs, the White Sox right-hander will get two innings as a starter.

“I know I’ll start at least one of the early games. Over the offseason, I stayed in touch with pitching coach Zach Bove,” Cannon said. “That was part of my preparation plan. I knew I might only get one live batting practice start, so I threw once before coming here to make sure I was ready.”

“Spring training is about preparing for the new season and proving yourself. When the opportunity comes, you have to seize it. So whenever I get a chance, I’ll give it my all.”

At 25, Cannon is one of the most consistent starters on the team for the 2024 season, with 124.1 innings pitched and a 4.49 ERA. Last year, his performance declined noticeably, pitching 103.2 innings with a 5.82 ERA, including seven starts in AAA Charlotte. During the offseason, he told MLB.com that 2026 could be the most critical year of his career and that he must make changes to secure a rotation spot.

Venable previously mentioned that during spring training, ten pitchers will extend their innings as they prepare for starting roles, not including top prospects Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Tanner McDougal. Cannon is on this list and calmly accepts the challenge of competing for the final two rotation spots to start the season.

“In the major leagues, there’s always someone behind you, and there’s constant competition on the team,” Cannon said. “In this league, if you don’t perform well, you won’t last long. So competition is always part of the job. It’s about competing with yourself, doing your best, and giving your team a chance to win every time you pitch.”

After two weeks of spring training, Cannon feels good and confident. He’s ready to prove once again that he belongs among the White Sox’s top five starters.

“This is definitely my strength,” Cannon said about the starting role. “It’s part of my rhythm and my plan for the future. This year, I’m focused on earning a starting spot, pitching deep into games, and giving the team chances to win.”

“Last year is behind me now. There are new faces in the clubhouse this season. I’m really looking forward to pitching on Friday and getting back into the competition.”