Spring training has concluded for Major League Baseball teams ahead of the 2024 season.
Opening day is slated for Thursday.
The White Sox will host Detroit on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Former Vol Garrett Crochet will start at pitcher for Chicago. Thursday’s start will be Crochet’s first during his MLB career.
He will become the ninth MLB player in the last 110 years, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, to make a first career start on opening day.
Tanner Scheppers (2014), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Preacher Roe (1944), Al Gerhauser (1943), Red Evans (1939), Jim Bagby (1938), Lefty Grove (1925) and Eddie Eayrs (1920) all made their first MLB career start on opening day.
Crochet was selected by the White Sox in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft (No. 11 overall).
He played for the Vols from 2018-20, appearing in 36 games. Crochet (10-9) recorded 149 strikeouts during his career at Tennessee.
The former Vol went to Tennessee from Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Crochet was selected by Milwaukee in the 34th round of the 2017 MLB draft. He signed with the Vols over Texas and Tulane.
