Saturday, January 24

CHICAGO – The 2025 inaugural year for SoxFest Live, which took place in late January, featured the natural attention-getters of Mark Buehrle’s appearance within the 20th anniversary celebration for the ’05 World Series champions and the 125th anniversary of the franchise. 

Buehrle, who had his Rate Field concourse statue announced on the Friday night of this two-day event, even paid for a round of drinks for everyone in attendance at the Ramova Theatre. But with a slight tweak to the format in place, the White Sox are just as upbeat regarding Year 2 of the event on Jan. 30-31, 2026, once again at the Ramova. 

“It’s going to be another fun one in ways that are kind of surprising, delighting folks, but also providing opportunities to be interactive with the team again,” White Sox vice president of public relations Sheena Quinn told MLB.com. “So, I think it’s one they are not going to want to miss.  

“We learned a lot last year, and it’s going to be even bigger and better this year. I mean, how much people liked the up-close, personal connection. And it wasn’t just about autographs. It was more about connecting with people, learning more about the clubhouse and very much like a party vibe. It felt very neighborhood. It was intentional in that way. People who attended, they responded.” 

SoxFest Live became a new incarnation of the team’s winter convention model replacing SoxFest, which was absent after January 2020. The hotel weekend plan was moved aside, with more of that neighborhood get-together vibe as Quinn referenced. Fans enjoyed the live music and the interactive panels on Friday and Saturday. 

For ’26, the Friday night programming will solely be for season ticket holders with the White Sox at their limit for people attending. They are close to full for Saturday, where everyone can purchase tickets. There is a SoxFest Live kids camp scheduled for Saturday afternoon, a popular part of last year’s debut.  

General manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable will be in attendance, as will one-time multi-sport sensation Bo Jackson, who played for the White Sox in 1991 and 1993. Right-hander Tanner McDougal, the No. 7 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and infielder Sam Antonacci, the No. 11 White Sox prospect, will also be in Chicago. 

Current players such as left-hander Anthony Kay, right-handers Shane Smith, Grant Taylor and Davis Martin, infielders Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth and catcher Kyle Teel are scheduled to be part of the festivities. Montgomery, who had the chance to celebrate his home state Indiana University’s college football title Monday, launched 21 home runs over his first 71 games during his ’25 rookie campaign. 

“They are all excited to come back and be part of SoxFest and see the fans,” Quinn said. “It’s a really good energy when you are going to Year 2 of the event and players are asking when it is and they are excited to be here. There’s certainly an energy of momentum looking forward to starting the season. It’s cool. I think it’s going to be fun. 

“Last year was Year 1, and we were testing that format. This year we are ready, and everybody is excited to get the party started.” 

Munetaka Murakami, the White Sox offseason addition from Japan on a two-year, $34 million deal, had expressed interest in attending SoxFest Live when he first signed. His attendance is still not certain. 

“He’s excited about the full experience, and that’s the sense I got from him in just short conversations in the day he spent here,” said Quinn of Murakami. “I think he’s all in on Chicago and wants to experience it from the cold to the warm weather.” 

Murakami might have to wait until April to get that greater understanding of Chicago. But other talented young members of the South Side core soon will be mingling with the White Sox masses. 

“They are all coming together, so it’s fun to see them outside of the ballpark setting in the setting that’s more laid back, and engaging with fans in fun ways,” Quinn said. “It’s an opportunity to bond not only as a team, roster and clubhouse, but also bond as an entire institution, as larger White Sox family. 

“You are bonding with the people you are cheering for. You are understanding and learning more about them as somebody who is beyond the uniform, which I think is cool.” 

I had an interesting recent talk with Getz, with the bulk of that extended conversation coming soon to MLB.com and Whitesox.com. But I was able to ask him about the team’s reported connection to free agent hurler Tatsuya Imai, who signed with the Astros at three years, $54 million, with opt-outs after ’26 and ’27. 

"We weren’t close," Getz told me. "We weren’t close."

When I asked if it was accurate the team had expressed interest but was not close, Getz responded with, “Correct.” 

• I’m not sure I’ve seen a greater show of Chicago sports devotion than what was given to Jonathan Toews Monday night when he was back at the United Center with Winnipeg to face the Blackhawks. That extended standing ovation certainly was well deserved, as Chicago fans recognize overall excellence.  

• As thrilling as the Bears were throughout this season and especially during the playoffs, nobody received greater postseason plaudits than Jim Cornelison via Sunday’s rousing rendition of the national anthem. 

• I heard Cubs president Jed Hoyer talking at Friday’s Cubs Convention media session about the Nos. 9 and 10 starting pitchers now being as important as starters 1 through 5. How does the White Sox support system feel about starters 9 and 10? How about 1 through 8?

• Vince Lloyd was inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame Friday, which reminded me how much I loved listening to Vince Lloyd. 

“It’s combining the culture with experience. With the organization being younger, the exciting part is we are going to be able to hopefully experience some ups and downs together this year and to continue to grow … There are some ballplayers. They want to win. They know what it takes to win.” -- Jarred Kelenic, on joining the developing White Sox 

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