White Sox Opening Day roster, lineup and First Pitch

The White Sox chose the path of least resistance for clearing out the three 40-man spots required to complete their preferred 26-man roster. In order to make room for Jordan Leasure, Dominic Leone and Bryan Shaw, the White Sox placed Shane Drohan (left shoulder nerve decompression surgery) and Jimmy Lambert (right rotator cuff strain) on the 60-day injured list, and then designated Sammy Peralta for assignment to complete the set. Another spot will be necessary assuming the White Sox are adding Nick Nastrini when a fifth starter is necessary, but that's a job that can wait for April Guy, and it's still March.

So after all the waiting and maneuvering, here's the 26-man roster:

Pitchers (13): Tanner Banks, John Brebbia, Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, Chris Flexen, Deivi García, Tim Hill, Michael Kopech, Jordan Leasure, Dominic Leone, Bryan Shaw, Michael Soroka, Steven Wilson

Catchers (2): Korey Lee, Martín Maldonado

Infielders (6): Paul DeJong, Nicky Lopez, Yoán Moncada, Gavin Sheets, Braden Shewmake, Andrew Vaughn

Outfielders (5): Andrew Benintendi, Dominic Fletcher, Eloy Jiménez, Kevin Pillar, Luis Robert Jr.

Clubhouse notes from James Fegan

-- Sliding in to steal second base has been the origin point of wrist and knee sprains for Luis Robert Jr. the past two seasons, but after hitting the 20 stolen base plateau last year, he’s not planning on slowing down.

“That’s always been a part of my game. Last year, I was a little more cautious, especially during the first half. But then I took off with the stolen bases. This year, that’s going to be a big part of my game, too, but I’m going to be smarter, wiser on when and the kinds of situations that I can take advantage of. That’s going to be part of my game. I won’t hold back on that.”

-- Rookie reliever Jordan Leasure has a special debut patch on his jersey, and a smile so big after making the Opening Day roster that a few teammates have jokingly(?) told him to knock it off with all the grinning. The video the White Sox shared of Leasure sharing the news with his family showed him cautioning his grandfather to keep his roster status under wraps, but yesterday the dam broke before the news became official in the afternoon. Leasure said he told “hundreds” of friends via text and DMs.

He’s in a daze of happiness.

“On Tuesday, I walked around [the city] for like two hours. I walked around, found some places, walked down the Riverwalk and explored. I really love it here.”

And here's how they'll line them up against Detroit for the first of 162 on NBC Sports Chicago: