Cleveland Guardians grounds crew prepares the field for the home opener in 2023. The Guardians will throw the first pitch at their 2024 home opener after the earth, moon and sun align. Cleveland’s first game at Progressive Field against the Chicago White Sox will begin on April 8 at 5:10 p.m. — two hours following a total solar eclipse, an event that hasn’t happened in Northeast Ohio since 1806 and won’t again until 2444. (AP)
Ron Schwane/AP Photos
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The White Sox are the Cleveland Guardians’ guests for their home opener at Progressive Field on April 8, which means the visitors will have front-row seats for a rare phenomenon – a total solar eclipse.
The first pitch, which was pushed back because of the event, is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. in Cleveland.
A total eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and pass over Mexico, the U.S. and Canada that day, with Cleveland one of the prime viewing spots on its path. Gates are opening at 2 p.m., more than an hour before the eclipse peaks around 3:13 p.m., when the orbiting moon will totally block the sun's light.
Officials estimate over 200,000 visitors trekking to Cleveland for the event, including 26 Sox players and the team's traveling crew. Most schools will be closed, and residents in the suburbs are renting their homes to eclipse enthusiasts from around the world.
Sox players seemed largely unaware of the event, which has been in the news in recent weeks.
“Excellent,” Sox right-hander John Brebbia said. “I’ll keep my eyes peeled for sure. Should I be excited, is it that cool? That’s what I would need to know, and if it is I am now excited.”
“Interesting,” Dylan Cease said. “Being at the ballpark will be cool. Something you’ve never seen, I suppose.”
Day will turn into night, with the peak spectacle lasting up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds in the path of total darkness, twice as long as the total solar eclipse over the U.S. in 2017. The last total solar eclipse over Cleveland was in 1806.
Lee's new swing
Catcher Korey Lee's revamped swing has caught manager Pedro Grifol's attention this spring but Lee, who caught 24 games and batted a woeful .077 after coming to the Sox in a trade for Kendall Graveman, will be hard-pressed to beat out veterans Martin Maldonado and Max Stassi. Lee could be the first catcher up from Triple-A Charlotte.
"He’s a strong kid that’s got catching ability, leadership ability," Grifol said.
Prospecting
Shortstop Colson Montgomery is rated as the No. 8 prospect by ESPN, and left-hander Noah Schultz is No. 35 by FanGraphs.
The Sox have 13 of their top 30 prospects per MLB Pipeline in camp: Montgomery (1), Schultz (2), third baseman Bryan Ramos (3), catcher Edgar Quero (4), right-hander Nick Nastrini (6), left-hander Jake Eder (7), righty Jonathan Cannon (8), outfielder Dominic Fletcher (13), infielder Jose Rodriguez (14), right-hander Prelander Berroa (16), left-hander Ky Bush (17), right-hander Alex Speas (28) and outfielder Zach DeLoach (29).
This and that
*Candidates for the one utility infielder job include Braden Shewmake, Danny Mendick, Zach Remillard, Lenyn Sosa and Jose Rodriguez. “It’s probably not going to be who had the best stats in the spring,” Grifol said. “It’s going to be one who helps us win many different ways off the bench.”
Left-hander Garrett Crochet is slated to start Tuesday against the Dodgers. Pitching coach Ethan Katz said Crochet, who is being stretched out as a starter, will likely pitch one inning.
Diamondbacks 5, White Sox 0
Cactus League no-hit drama unfolded until Oscar Colas singled against Francisco Morales with one out in the ninth. A scoring change from error to hit on Bryan Ramos infield smash in the eighth extended the D-backs’ bid, but Ramos was later awarded a hit. The Cubs’ Justin Steele and six relievers combined on a no-hitter against the Padres last March, the first Cactus League no-hitter since 2017.
*Prospect Jonathan Cannon, whom Sox higher-ups like because of his strike-throwing ability, started and pitched two no-hit innings. Cannon, who could see major league innings this season, hit the first batter he faced, then recorded six outs including strikeouts of Joc Pederson and Pavin Smith. “Something that’s been a knock against me for a long time is throwing too many strikes sometimes,” said Cannon, who featured a sinker-cutter mix. “It really is just working on going out of the zone and when to go out of the zone and when to try and get those chases and work ahead of guys and go for the chase.”
*The Sox (1-2) made no errors after committing four the day before, but center fielder Dominic Fletcher, playing against his former team, mis-read an Adrian Del Castillo’s 106-mph liner, allowing three bases.
On deck
Rangers at Sox, 2:10 p.m., Monday, Glendale, Cole Winn vs. Nick Nastrini
