CHICAGO -- The calendar read May 4, although it would be tough to tell by the 52-degree game-time temperature Sunday at Rate Field.
For White Sox third baseman Josh Rojas, his team’s come-from-behind 5-4, rain-shortened victory over the Astros in front of 19,418 fans dressed to impress for Star Wars Day literally was Opening Day. The game was called after a 1-hour, 20-minute rain delay after 6 1/2 innings.
“I felt like I was out forever,” said Rojas prior to the White Sox series victory. “I'm ready to go. I'm excited.”
Rojas, 30, has been on the injured list since the start of the 2025 season after suffering a right toe fracture during a March 15 Cactus League game against the Rockies when Brenton Doyle’s body rolled over his foot as Doyle was thrown out at third on a grounder to shortstop Jacob Amaya. At the time, Rojas was wearing newer, lighter cleats, making him feel more athletic, and the hard slide by Doyle crunched all his toes together, squished the shoe and produced a fracture in the big toe and an avulsion fracture in the second toe.
After extended time spent in Arizona and injury rehab done with Triple-A Charlotte, Rojas has returned to the bulkier cleats model he wore last year with a little more protection.
“Three days out, I was trying to get out there and take ground balls and I was pushing it pretty heavy,” Rojas said. “It hurt in every other place. I started to feel it in my ankle, my knee, just really trying to baby it and stay off of it.
“Then I got to the point where I realized I'm not going to be any help to the team out there playing 25 percent, 30 percent. So, it was better just to wait until the toe felt good enough that I could do everything full speed."
Adding Rojas to the lineup made an instant impact as the White Sox (10-24) rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the fifth inning. The White Sox had little going offensively into that fifth when right fielder Zach Dezenzo dropped an Andrew Benintendi fly ball for a one-out, two-base error. Luis Robert Jr. walked and Edgar Quero singled to load the bases, and after an Andrew Vaughn fly out, Rojas drew a four-pitch walk from Ryan Gusto to force home a run. Lenyn Sosa’s single scored two more to cut the deficit to one.
In the sixth, Chase Meidroth walked against reliever Steven Okert, swiped second and came home on Robert’s two-out single. Robert stole second (his Major League-best 15th stolen base) and scored on Quero’s single for the game-winning run and gave reliever Mike Vasil his first career victory.
Success has not permeated throughout the ‘25 White Sox, nor have they been an especially potent offensive team. But as everyday players such as Rojas are returning to their lineup and young players such as Meidroth and Quero are getting acclimated, the White Sox are coming up with big hits and playing competitive overall baseball.
“We've been having meetings, and Quero, who just got here a week and a half ago, to even Luis, are speaking in meetings, and I think that's huge, just getting that camaraderie together,” said hitting coach Marcus Thames, who spoke to the media Sunday. “Make sure we're together and being in the box with your teammates, and I think that helps you. Even when you're struggling, if you see your teammates up there on that rail, they give you confidence to go out and continue to compete.
“I just feel like everybody's having fun. Everybody's having fun just playing baseball, and that's what it's about. It's about 2025, no other years. We'll be where our feet are now, and good things are happening.”
There were five other moves made by the White Sox along with Rojas on Sunday, including the return of left-handed reliever Tyler Gilbert to the bullpen. Fraser Ellard was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain, Penn Murfee was optioned to Charlotte and infielder Bobby Dalbec was designated for assignment.
Right-hander Caleb Freeman, a 27-year-old rookie who has been in the White Sox system since 2019 when he was selected in the 15th round of the Draft out of Texas Tech, had his contract selected from Charlotte. Davis Martin, a fellow Red Raider and Freeman’s friend, picked him up at his hotel and took him to Rate Field.
“I was excited. I was like, ‘Hey I’m going to pick you up. I’ll make sure you get everything right,’” Martin said. “Just to enjoy the experience with him. He’s earned it. He’s done an incredible job just being consistent and grinding through the Minor Leagues. I couldn’t be happier for him.”