Non-Roster Invites With the Best Chance to Make the White Sox in 2026

Last week, the Chicago White Sox made a series of minor league deals official and issued big-league spring training invites to 22 non-roster players.

Combine those names with the players already on the 40-man roster, and you’ve got the group that will report to Camelback Ranch in Glendale in a few weeks for spring training — with, of course, the possibility of additional moves still to come.

That’s the pool of players fighting to make Chicago’s Opening Day roster for 2026. And while everyone of the players technically has a chance, some are clearly positioned better than others.

I’ll spare you a one-by-one breakdown of all 22 non-roster invitees. Instead, I want to focus on a handful of players who I believe have the best chance to make the team and contribute immediately.

Many of these players could see time in Chicago at some point during the regular season. Others may need more development, or an injury or unforeseen circumstance to open the door. This list is specifically about the players I view as frontrunners to be with the White Sox when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Opening Day. 

The White Sox clearly like Jarred Kelenic, and the outfield remains wide open even after the addition of Austin Hays.

There’s been plenty of speculation that Hays could stick primarily to left field in 2026, pushing Andrew Benintendi into more of a DH role. And if that happens, two outfield spots are still up for grabs — giving Kelenic a very real path to everyday at-bats.

His biggest competition figures to come from players like Everson Pereira and Brooks Baldwin — younger outfielders with offensive upside who can handle center or right field. Pereira, notably, is out of minor league options.

At the end of the day, Kelenic has shown more at the major league level than any of the other reclamation-project outfielders in the mix. He also received a Zoom introductory press conference after signing a minor league deal, which is far from common and, in my view, says a lot about how highly the White Sox think of him.

This is an offensive profile that director of hitting Ryan Fuller is anxious to get working with. And with a strong spring, Chicago won't hesitate to throw Kelenic on the big league club. 

Another area that feels wide open is the bullpen, especially when it comes to left-handed relief.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the White Sox carry three lefties on Opening Day, and those spots are very much up for grabs. If Sean Newcomb ends up in the bullpen rather than the rotation — which still feels like the most likely outcome — he’ll probably claim one of them, but that still leaves room for competition.

Ryan Borucki stands out among the non-roster invites because of his MLB track record and his potential value as a multi-inning relief option.

If he outperforms the other left-handers in camp and shows good stamina, he could fill a clear need for Will Venable. And with several other pitchers holding minor league options, adding Borucki to the roster would come with relatively little friction.

However, I do feel as if he's on the outside looking in as pitchers and catcher report and will need to upset the current depth chart. 

I said it in a piece I published last week, and I’ll say it again here: I wouldn’t be surprised if Noah Schultz breaks camp with the team and opens the season in the White Sox rotation.

He’ll have plenty to prove in spring training to make that happen. Still, the White Sox remain bullish on Schultz’s long-term outlook, despite his struggles down the stretch in 2025.

The organization attributes much of his Triple-A Charlotte issues to lingering knee problems, which are reportedly resolved as he enters camp. The raw stuff has never been the concern — but his control deteriorated significantly while dealing with that injury.

GM Chris Getz has expressed confidence that even without seeing it firsthand, a healthy Schultz can get big-league hitters out. I don’t disagree.

As things currently stand, the White Sox have at least one rotation spot completely up for grabs. Schultz should be in the mix alongside pitchers like David Sandlin and Tanner McDougal — and it’s a competition he could realistically win.

Schultz is just a freak of nature. He's been drawing Randy Johnson comparisons his entire pro career. And if he shows up healthy, he's definitely the kind of pitcher that could leave jaws on the floor and force Chicago's hand.  

I’ll admit this one up front: I’m not entirely sure where LaMonte Wade Jr. fits, or exactly what it would take for him to make the team. Including him here is a bit of a leap.

At this stage of his career, the outfield isn’t a realistic option, which limits Wade primarily to first base. That’s a tough sell coming off a brutal offensive season in which he was cut loose by two organizations.

Still, his 2024 version was a legitimately productive hitter with advanced metrics that jumped off the page. His walk rate and chase rate ranked among the best in baseball, and those underlying skills largely remained intact even during a miserable 2025.

That puts Wade squarely in the category of “mature bat” the White Sox have shown interest in acquiring. It’s still a long shot, but I wouldn’t completely rule out Chicago valuing a veteran bench presence who can see pitches, grind out professional at-bats, and provide leadership to a young roster still finding its footing.

Relief pitching is volatile. That’s about as certain as gravity or the sun rising in the east. And because of that volatility, every spring seems to produce at least one bullpen arm who turns heads and forces his way onto the roster.

Ben Peoples could be that guy in 2026.

Peoples posted a 3.42 ERA as a starter in the Rays organization in 2024. In 2025, he reached Triple-A and transitioned to a bullpen role, where he found immediate success — putting up a 2.65 ERA with the Durham Bulls before being traded to the White Sox at the deadline for Adrian Houser.

While his performance dipped after the trade, it hasn’t soured me on his ability — or his readiness — to contribute as a big-league reliever.

Peoples turns 25 in early May and features a fastball/slider foundation built to miss bats. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with cut-ride action, and paired with his age and athleticism, he profiles as a relatively high-floor arm that could pitch in a big leaguegame tomorrow if he was needed. 

If the White Sox truly lean into their mantra of competition and letting the cream rise to the top, a big spring from Peoples — combined with a disappointing camp from someone else with options — could land him a spot on the Opening Day roster.

That said, this still feels like the longest shot of the group.