Jacob Gonzalez’s White Sox debut began with a late flight and a long wait—then turned into production once he reached Charlotte Triple-A form. On Saturday, the Sox called him up for Munetaka Murakami, adjusted the lineup around him at first base, and made room
Jacob Gonzalez’s trip to the big leagues started the way his season has, with momentum—then a detour.
On his 24th birthday. the former first-round pick was officially called up to the White Sox. taking the spot of the injured Munetaka Murakami. Before he could even meet his new teammates. Gonzalez had to make his way from Charlotte to Chicago with his flight running late. Lightning in the area pushed departure from 7:40 a.m. to 9:40 a.m., and the delay stretched further because of a door needing repair.
Gonzalez joked that those extra two hours might give the Sox front office time to change its mind—time enough, he said, to turn the whole thing into something he could only watch from the plane.
“I was just hoping they weren’t going to change their minds,” Gonzalez said. “I was going to turn my phone off and stay on the flight.”
They didn’t change their minds. But his call-up still felt like it came with a question attached: would this promotion match the breakthrough he’s earned at Triple-A Charlotte?
It has.
After struggling at multiple minor-league levels in both 2024 and 2025, Gonzalez has broken out this year at Triple-A Charlotte. In 52 games, he has 19 home runs, a .419 on-base percentage and a .668 slugging percentage.
“He’s crushing baseballs is what he’s been doing,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “It’s really impressive.”
Saturday’s first step into the majors didn’t come with a complicated role or a rush to reshape the entire infield. Gonzalez, a left-handed hitter, wasn’t slated to start against Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez—at least not at first. To begin, Gonzalez will play first base against righties to keep the rest of the infield intact.
“I’ll play anywhere,” Gonzalez said. “I grew up playing everywhere and ready to help this team win some games.”
He’s played six games at first base in the minors, but this was about more than familiarity. The Sox also had to clear roster space for his arrival.
To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, the Sox moved Jordan Leasure (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.
The day had plenty of other movement too, especially for catcher Edgar Quero, who didn’t have a quiet start to his call to attention.
Quero and fellow catcher Kyle Teel were among the players celebrated with bobbleheads the Sox gave away before the game. Minutes before first pitch, Quero’s wife, Maira, threw him a ceremonial first pitch. Then. even after a day of taking a beating behind the plate. Quero swung through it—hitting his second home run of the season.
In the seventh inning, his solo homer gave the Sox a 3-1 lead.
With two hits, Quero raised his average to .196 and is showing signs of improvement at the plate.
“I was feeling pretty good [over] the last couple of games, making a couple adjustments in my setup in the box,” Quero said. “Feeling pretty good right now.”
On the field, the Tigers had their own moments of pressure.
When Randal Grichuk dropped a fly ball in right, Detroit turned that into a rally, getting runners to first and second with no outs in the sixth. Reliever Grant Taylor replaced starter Anthony Kay, and the Tigers’ momentum stalled there.
Taylor got through the inning scoreless, striking out a batter, recording a flyout, and retiring a grounder. In the seventh, he tightened further by striking out the side.
“He pretty much saved the day there,” Kay said. “First and second, no outs and [for] him to retire three guys was massive. The boys tacked on and kind of made it a comfortable win.”
Kay went five innings and allowed a run.
In other changes tied to the day’s game planning, Derek Hill (upper back tightness) was a late scratch. Rikuu Nishida replaced him in center field.
And beyond the box score, there was at least one transaction ripple: outfielder Jarred Kelenic cleared waivers and declined an outright assignment, making him a free agent.
By the time the day’s final outs came. Gonzalez had still been delayed. still had still arrived through travel problems—but the Sox stayed with the plan. Whether the extra two hours of uncertainty became a metaphor or just another hurdle. Saturday’s roster decisions made one thing clear: the White Sox were ready to bet on what he’s been doing. even if the flight wasn’t smooth getting there.
Jacob Gonzalez White Sox Munetaka Murakami Will Venable Framber Valdez Edgar Quero Kyle Teel Grant Taylor Anthony Kay Jordan Leasure Derek Hill Rikuu Nishida Jarred Kelenic
Lightning delayed him? so the Sox were scared of weather or what lol.
Wait, they called him up on his 24th birthday and he didn’t even get to meet the team? That’s kind of brutal. Also 19 homers in 52 games is insane, so hopefully he doesn’t just vanish after the flight drama.
I read “door needing repair” and I’m like… was it the wrong door?? Like they couldn’t open it or the plane door was broken so he missed the whole callup. But if he was “taking Murakami’s spot” isn’t Murakami just gonna come back and steal it again anyway?
Sounds like his phone was gonna be off and then the front office didn’t change their mind like… ok but MLB delays happen all the time? Feels like they’re making it a bigger story than it is. Still, those numbers at Charlotte (419 OBP?? 668 slug??) like man maybe he’s the real deal and the lightning was just random timing. I just wanna know if he’s gonna be a first baseman forever or if they move him when the injured guy is back.