Infielder Chase Meidroth makes successful big league debut with the Chicago White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) — It was quite a day for Chase Meidroth and the Chicago White Sox.

Meidroth singled and walked three times in his big league debut, helping the White Sox pound the Boston Red Sox 11-1 on Friday night. He also scored twice and showed off his defensive skills at second base.

Meidroth, one of the team's top prospects, was brought up from Triple-A Charlotte before the series opener against Boston. He was inserted into the lineup in the seventh spot.

“It was a lot of fun once I got out there,” he said. “We’ve got such a good group here and they made the transition super easy for me. It was another baseball game and I had a lot of fun playing here tonight.”

The White Sox also recalled left-hander Brandon Eisert from their top minor league affiliate. Left-hander Fraser Ellard was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. Outfielder Greg Jones was sent down, and right-hander Justin Anderson was designated for assignment.

Meidroth walked and scored on Jacob Amaya's double in the second inning. He singled in the fourth for his first major league hit and scored on Miguel Vargas' double. He also walked in the fifth and the seventh.

Meidroth, who also started a slick inning-ending double play in the top of the second, became the first player with a hit and three walks in his major league debut since Larry Walker with the Montreal Expos on Aug. 16, 1989, according to Stats Perform.

“I’m not exactly like looking at how much I walk," Meidroth said. "I’m just trying to win as many pitches as I can in the game.”

Manager Will Venable said Meidroth also will play shortstop with the big league club.

“I think he’s a really unique player where you get the plus-defense up the middle and obviously his at-bats and the way he goes about it with his approach," Venable said before the victory. "He’s been impactful getting on base. He’s been slugging and looking forward to seeing how that translates up here for Chase.”

The 23-year-old Meidroth was traded by the Red Sox to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet deal in December. Crochet is slated to make his first start against his former team on Sunday.

Meidroth was a fourth-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of San Diego. He hit .267 with three homers and four RBIs in nine games with Charlotte before his promotion.

He played for Triple-A Worcester last season, batting .293 with seven homers and 57 RBIs in 122 games.

"We just want him to be as comfortable as possible, go out there and be himself,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said before the game. “The plan is for him to play regularly. You know he deserves that and he’ll get the opportunity.”

Eisert struck out two in a perfect ninth inning against the Red Sox.

The 32-year-old Anderson went 1-2 with a 4.39 ERA in 56 appearances with the White Sox in 2024. He began this year with Charlotte, allowing five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings in his first four games.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (21) scores on a double from Jacob Amaya during the second inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth, left, and Boston Red Sox's Triston Casas (36) greet each other before a baseball game Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (21) scores on a double from Jacob Amaya during the second inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) runs the bases on a double from Jacob Amaya during the second inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) is walked by Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sean Newcomb (19) during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth (10) takes the field for a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nineteen players have registered a point for the Carolina Hurricanes during their nearly perfect playoff run. The Vegas Golden Knights have gotten at least one from 22 players on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.

Carolina has 12 different goal-scorers. Vegas has 15.

“They’re deep, we’re deep, so it’ll be a good matchup,” Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said.

A matchup so close on paper that the Hurricanes are a very slight favorite. They've won 12 of 13 games through three rounds and have home-ice advantage.

But after NHL-best Colorado got swept by Vegas, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he and his team “ran into a buzzsaw.” The Western Conference Final was one-sided with the Golden Knights dominating.

“They dismantled Colorado,” player-turned-ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro said. “I don’t know if there’s ever such a thing as perfect, but whatever next door to perfect was, that’s how they played in that series. It’s what they are. This is their team, and they’re healthy.”

So are the Hurricanes, which could lead to an epic series.

Games 1 and 2 are Tuesday and Thursday night in Raleigh, where the fanbase full of Caniacs has been waiting years for the team's first trip to the final since 2006. Carolina won it all that year, with now-coach Rod Brind'Amour as captain.

Games 3 and 4 are Saturday night and June 9 at the arena on the Las Vegas Strip that has become known as the Fortress. The Golden Knights hoisted the Cup on home ice there three years ago.

If necessary, Game 5 is June 11 at Carolina and Game 6 is June 14 at Vegas. If a Game 7 is required, at Carolina, it would be June 17.

Every game will air in the U.S. on ABC and in Canada in English on CBC and Sportsnet and in French on TVA Sports.

With Vegas, Mitch Marner has gone further in the playoffs than ever before in his NHL career, which included only first- and second-round exits during nine years in Toronto. Marner leads all scorers with 21 points.

Not far behind is Jack Eichel with 18, three years removed from playing a big role in the Golden Knights win the Cup. And he's just as good at keeping the puck out of his team's net.

“Jack Eichel might be the best 200-foot center in the game right now,” 2003 Cup champion Mike Rupp said.

Vegas has gotten timely saves from Carter Hart, especially in the West final when he stopped 118 of the 125 shots he faced. Carolina has ridden goaltender Frederik Andersen to this point, counting on him to come up big on quality chances while outshooting opponents.

“He’s so strong mentally,” said retired goalie Cory Schneider, who like Rupp now is with NHL Network. “He’s able to play games where he only sees eight or nine shots and make the save he has to make. Some goalies really struggle with your team possessing the puck all game and now you get that breakaway and you’ve got to find a way to make a save.”

The Hurricanes’ best players during the regular season were Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov. Their second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has led them here as their leading scorers.

“Lots of times, coaches throw three names together and it looks like it’s going to work and it doesn’t,” Ferraro said. “Stankoven and Blake and Hall, they fit.”

For Vegas, the standout scoring stars of the playoffs have been Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, with 10 goals apiece. The Golden Knights also have three players — Marner, captain Mark Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore — who lost in the Olympic final with Canada. Jarvis was also on that team.

Eichel, teammate Noah Hanifin and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin have the chance to pull off the gold medal-Stanley Cup double after winning in Milan with the U.S.

AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Mark Anderson in Vegas contributed to this report.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, file)

FILE - Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) collides with Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward, file)

FILE - Carolina Hurricanes left wing Eric Robinson (50) and Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward, file)