White Sox consider Rojas for Opening Day lineup

The Chicago White Sox are still hopeful that infielder Josh Rojas will be ready for Opening Day, despite him dealing with a hairline fracture in his right big toe. Rojas is optimistic and has been staying active by riding a stationary bike, lifting weights, and receiving treatment. He stated that his recovery will depend on pain tolerance and he doesn’t want to return to the field until he feels fully capable. The White Sox will host the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday to begin the season. Although it may be optimistic to expect Rojas to play, the team is keeping their options open as his recovery unfolds. Rojas wants to ensure he is in good shape before returning, avoiding a situation where he’s healthy but not game-ready. Rojas, who is 30 years old, suffered the injury while playing third base when a baserunner landed on his foot. He has ordered new cleats for better protection moving forward. Last year, Rojas batted .225 with eight home runs but has shown promise this spring with a batting average of .313 over 11 games. In other news, outfielders Andrew Benintendi and Austin Slater have returned to the lineup. Benintendi, who had a broken bone in his right hand, played as the designated hitter and is expected to resume playing in the outfield soon. On the other hand, Slater has been dealing with an oblique strain and went 0-for-3 in his return. Looking ahead, White Sox manager Mike Venable indicated that the order of the starting rotation after Sean Burke will be revealed next week. He also noted that decisions regarding the bullpen are still ongoing. The White Sox will face the Angels this Thursday afternoon.