One of the most fascinating competitions in Chicago White Sox spring training continues to unfold in the outfield.
While several roster spots appear secure, the fight for the remaining positions has grown increasingly intense. With Opening Day fast approaching, two powerful hitters — Jarred Kelenic and Everson Pereira — are now battling for what could be the final outfield spot on the roster.
Several spots already locked in
Chicago’s outfield picture starts with a few players who seem firmly established.
Austin Hays, Andrew Benintendi, and Luisangel Acuña are widely viewed as near-locks to make the Opening Day roster. Beyond them, however, the depth chart remains far less certain.
Early in spring training, poor performance from Jarred Kelenic and an early injury to Everson Pereira left the competition wide open.
But the narrative has shifted dramatically over the past week.
Kelenic’s hot streak changes the equation
The White Sox signed Jarred Kelenic to a minor league deal this offseason, but the move was far from a low-risk gamble.
Chicago’s front office made it clear they were excited to add a player who once ranked among the top five prospects in baseball. While Kelenic has yet to fully realize that potential at the major league level, his raw talent has never been in doubt.
His left-handed power, elite bat speed, and strong exit velocity numbers have always hinted at untapped upside.
After working closely with White Sox hitting director Ryan Fuller during the offseason, Kelenic entered camp with a clear plan for improving his swing and approach.
The early results were uneven, but his bat has recently caught fire.
Over the last few games, Kelenic has launched two home runs and consistently barreled the baseball, driving his spring OPS to .857. His underlying metrics are equally impressive — including an average exit velocity of 98.3 mph, placing him in the 98th percentile of hitters.
He’s also posting a 61.5% hard-hit rate, showing that his recent success is backed by strong contact quality.
Kelenic will likely always strike out at a high rate. But if he continues pairing those strikeouts with elite power, he could still become a valuable contributor.
One complication, however, is his minor league contract, which gives the White Sox the flexibility to send him to Triple-A without losing him.
Pereira returning at the right time
On the other side of the roster battle is Everson Pereira, another player with a high ceiling.
The former Top 100 prospect had been generating positive feedback early in camp before suffering an injury that forced him to miss more than two weeks of action.
Pereira finally returned to game action earlier this week, appearing briefly in a spring contest and playing three innings.
While his return is encouraging, the missed time has placed him slightly behind the rest of Chicago’s hitters as the roster deadline approaches.
Still, manager Will Venable remains highly optimistic about Pereira’s potential.
“For him, it’s about health right now,” Venable said. “There is a pathway for him. He’s somebody we are very high on.”
Unlike Kelenic, Pereira is out of minor league options, which means the White Sox cannot send him to the minors without first exposing him to waivers.
That roster reality makes the decision significantly more complicated.
A roster puzzle for Chicago
Because of Pereira’s roster status, the White Sox may feel pressure to keep him on the 26-man roster rather than risk losing him.
That scenario could still leave room for Kelenic — depending on how the team constructs the rest of its roster.
Versatility could play a major role in that decision. Players like Brooks Baldwin and Luisangel Acuña have the ability to move between positions, potentially allowing Chicago to carry an extra outfielder.
Another factor involves the infield competition. If only one of Curtis Mead or Lenyn Sosa makes the roster, it could open the door for both Pereira and Kelenic to stay.
Veteran outfielder Derek Hill also remains in the conversation. Hill offers elite defense but lacks the offensive upside of either Pereira or Kelenic.
Final weeks will decide everything
With only two weeks left in spring training, the White Sox still have difficult roster decisions ahead.
If Kelenic continues his power surge, it will be hard for the organization to ignore his upside.
At the same time, if Pereira stays healthy and performs, Chicago may have little choice but to keep him on the roster to avoid losing him.
The result could be one of the most intriguing roster decisions of the spring — and the final two weeks of camp will determine which outfielders head to Milwaukee for Opening Day.
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