Two White Sox only Miami baseball alums on MLB opening day rosters

Infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez and catcher Yasmani Grandal of the Chicago White Sox are the only two Miami baseball alums on an opening day roster. Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is another Miami baseball alum. As fate has it, the White Sox open the season with a four-game series in Houston this weekend.

Gonzalez made his Major League Debut in 2021. In 42 career games, Gonzalez has a .241 batting average with two home runs and 13 runs batted in. Gonzalez will reportedly start in right field on opening night for the White Sox against left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez. Grandal is the White Sox first-string catcher.

Grandal is beginning his 12th season in Major League Baseball and fourth with the White Sox. In 1,117 career games, Grandal has a .237 career batting average, a .350 on-base percentage and a .435 slugging percentage with 177 HRs and 532 RBIs. Grandal hit .202 with five HRs and 27 RBIs in 2022.

Gonzalez was originally selected in the 18th round of the 2018 MLB draft with the 528th overall pick by the White Sox. Grandal was selected in the first round, 12th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 MLB Draft. Grandal has played for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and the White Sox.

Fan Graphs expects a bounce-back season from Grandal and ranks the White Sox catchers 10th in MLB. Bryan Dietzler of our partner site Southside Showdown examined “How Romy Gonzalez’s role looks for the Chicago White Sox in 2023.” Gonzalez projects as a utility infielder and outfielder.

Grandal has played in only 192 games in the last two seasons due to back and knee injuries. Backed up by Seby Zevala, the Chicago White Sox need a healthy and productive season from Grandal in 2023. Grandal was a big free agent signing for the White Sox three years ago and hasn’t produced up to expectations.