Left-hander Martin Perez looks to be veteran presence for rebuilding White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Lucas Giolito from 2020 to 2022, Dylan Cease in 2023 and Garrett Crochet in 2024. Those are the White Sox’ last three Opening Day starters spanning five years and it’s an impressive list for a team that hasn’t had much to brag about in recent memory.

And in 2025?

Well …

There’s David Martin, Jonathan Cannon and Martin Perez, who allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits in three innings Wednesday, taking the loss in a 3-2 setback to the Brewers in a split-squad game.

The calendar shows Opening Day against the Angels is exactly three weeks away, yet manager Will Venable has yet to announce his Game 1 starter.

“Whoever is going to get that chance, it doesn’t matter,” Perez said. “You have to go out there and do your job and try to win the game. It’s just one game. You have to get off on the right foot. We have the talent here.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to pitch. I’m not here for a competition with my teammates or something like that. Whoever gets that chance for the first game, I will be happy for them and support them.”

Perez, who turns 34 on April 4, has never started an Opening Day. The left-hander signed a one-year, $5 million contract in January after splitting last season with the Pirates and Padres, going a combined 5-6 with a 4.53 ERA in 26 starts.

He was an All-Star with the Rangers in 2022, going 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA in 32 starts. The next year, he won a World Series with the Rangers, going 10-4 with a 4.45 ERA while splitting his time between the rotation and bullpen.

Perez is an interesting addition to the Sox’ rotation. He’s at the tail end of a career that has included stops in Texas, Minnesota, Boston, back to Texas before his time in Pittsburgh and San Diego.

He debuted as a 21-year-old with the Rangers in 2012 and has seen the game change dramatically over that time.

“I’m going to share with my teammates my experience and tell them what is good and what is not good,” Perez said. “It’s nice now because we don’t have too many rules in the big leagues. Ten years ago, there were a lot of old-school guys. You do something wrong and they fine you. Now, that doesn’t happen.

“The players now feel more comfortable, and that’s nice. You have to enjoy this level. Not everybody has the chance to play at the big-league level.”

Wait … no more rules? No more kangaroo court? Is that a good thing or bad thing?

“Good,” Perez said. “Nothing crazy. You can do anything you want, but you have to respect the game. I have two things I learned from a lot of guys over there years: Be on time and respect your teammates.”

On a Sox team that’s mixing in plenty of veterans with young talent, Perez can play a key role in this clubhouse, especially with Venable navigating his first season as a big-league manager.

“We have a good group here,” Perez said. “We are all on the same page. I try to tell the guys, especially the younger guys, what we need to do to go out there and win as many games as we can.”

Despite the ugly line Wednesday, Perez was actually pleased with his outing.

“I was happy with my breaking ball today,” he said. “Even though I gave up the homer. I’m using it a little more and I think that’s the one pitch that’s going to make a difference. Overall everything was good.”