Infielder Tanner Murray gets his first MLB opportunity with a call up after the White Sox placed Everson Pereira on the IL.
The Chicago White Sox had 11 different players make their MLB debut during the 2025 season. That group helped form the foundation of a young core that has left fans feeling optimistic about the future.
In 2026, only two players had gotten their first taste of big league action with the White Sox entering Sunday—right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez, who appeared in just three games before being designated for assignment and ultimately returned to the Boston Red Sox, and first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who has hit the ground running. Not only did Murakami homer in his MLB debut, but eight games into his career, he already has four home runs and seven RBIs.
On Sunday afternoon, infielder Tanner Murray will become the next name on that list.
The White Sox recalled Murray from Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday morning while placing outfielder Everson Pereira on the 10-day injured list with an ankle sprain. The move is retroactive to April 2, so Pereira is expected to miss only about another week. In the meantime, it opens the door for Murray to make his MLB debut.
Even though Sunday isn’t a getaway day, Murray is in the starting lineup, replacing Colson Montgomery at shortstop. He’ll bat seventh.
Murray, 26, was a fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 MLB Draft out of UC Davis. He was acquired by the White Sox in the same November trade that brought Pereira to Chicago and sent Steven Wilson and Yelendra Gomez to Tampa Bay—a bit of irony, considering it’s Pereira’s injury that created this opportunity.
Murray put together a strong spring training, hitting two home runs with a .952 OPS in 12 Cactus League games, and he carried that momentum into the regular season. In six games at Triple-A, he posted a 1.075 OPS with two home runs, seven RBIs, two stolen bases, and a .467 on-base percentage.
He has consistently produced solid offensive numbers throughout his minor league career, though he took a slight step back in 2025, posting a .700 OPS over 137 Triple-A games despite tallying 29 doubles and 18 home runs. Improving his walk rate was a key area of focus, and early returns suggest a more patient approach that’s boosting his on-base percentage—something that significantly raises his overall value.
That value is further enhanced by his defensive versatility. Murray has logged time at second base, third base, and shortstop throughout his minor league career, along with the occasional appearance in the outfield.
So while he’ll start at shortstop for his MLB debut on Sunday, if he takes advantage of this opportunity and produces at the big league level, it shouldn’t be difficult for the White Sox to find him consistent playing time. His ability to move all over the diamond might be exactly what it takes for him to stick.