Opening Day for Major League Baseball is Thursday, but it will make a stop Monday evening in Charlotte. The Chicago White Sox are in town to take on their Triple-A team, the Charlotte Knights. The game gets underway at 6:05 p.m. at BB&T Ballpark. The game offers the White Sox a final tuneup before Thursday’s opening day game against the Kansas City Royals.
The White Sox have several former Knights players, including leader hitter Yoan Moncada – who spent much of last season on the Knights’ roster.
Perhaps another familiar name to WFAE listeners on the White Sox’ roster is Tyler Saladino. He was the subject of several NPR segments over four seasons as the network followed the ups and downs of Saladino trying to make the Big Leagues.
In 2015 shortly after being called up to the White Sox after playing parts of two season for the Knights.
“It’s such a blessing and great opportunity play baseball, it doesn’t matter what comes your way," Saladino told NPR's Russell Lewis in 2015 shortly after being promoted from from the Knights to the White Sox.
The Knights have six players on the White Sox's 40-man roster, which means they can be easily called up to the Sox during the season.
The Knights begin play in the International League on April 5 at Durham. The Knights’ home opener is April 12.