Jedixson Páez goes from High-A to Opening Day in White Sox bullpen

MILWAUKEE — A smile crept across the face of Jedixson Páez Thursday as he walked onto the diamond at American Family Field Thursday, and there was no wiping it off.

Six months removed from his last appearance at High-A Greenville in the Red Sox organization, Páez arrived in Milwaukee as a big leaguer cracking the White Sox’ Opening Day roster.

Manager Will Venable delivered the news to the 6-1 right-hander that he’d achieved his boyhood dream. Páez’s first call went to his parents in Venezuela.

“They were screaming and they were very, very happy,“ Páez said through translator Billy Russo. “It was incredible. You’ve been dreaming about this moment your whole life and when it happens, you can’t believe it.”

Plucked by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft, Páez had a 2.79 ERA while limited to seven starts last year with a calf injury. Despite the inexperience, Venable said he expects Páez to fill an important long-relief role with his mid-90s fastball and a solid changeup.

“Just a calm dude, a guy that kind of feels like he’s been doing it for a while,” Venable said, praising the even-keeled demeanor Páez showed in spring training. “It never really looked like it was too fast for him, which is a good indicator here as we know it’ll speed up at this level.”

The Sox are hoping to get more from the Rule 5 well that produced rookie All-Star Shane Smith, who kicked off his second season as the Opening Day starter, and Swiss-army righty Mike Vasil, who dazzled in a slew of roles out of the bullpen last year. Tommy John surgery has wiped out Vasil’s sophomore showing.

“To replicate that is not the easiest thing in the world. We were fortunate to be able to do it last year, but [Páez] is going to get a chance, and he’s more than capable of doing it” general manager Chris Getz said. “We’ll see how it unfolds.”

Movin’ Mune

Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami made his MLB debut batting sixth, to the chagrin of some Sox fans who would’ve liked to see the powerful first baseman closer to the heart of the order.

Venable cited a strategic benefit to separating Murakami in the order from fellow left-handed bats Colson Montgomery, who batted second, and Andrew Benintendi, who hit fourth.

“He’s going to move around to the lineup. You could see him anywhere from four to seven,” Venable said of Murakami. “That just kind of makes it a little tougher on the opposition to lay a lefty [reliever] in there.”

Murakami wasn’t concerned about it ahead of his first start in a Sox uniform.

“Anything I can do to contribute to the win for this team is what I will do at the end,” the 26-year-old Nippon Professional Baseball legend said through translator Kenzo Yagi.

Teelin’ alright

Second-year catcher Kyle Teel was disappointed to miss what would’ve been his first Opening Day, but he said he’s on track track to start his season midway through April as he recovers from the hamstring injury he suffered playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Teel suited up for pre-game workouts.

“He is recovering well. We’re not going to push it just because we know that’s not an injury that you want to get overly aggressive on, but he is responding well,” Getz said of one of his two prized backstops.

Edgar Quero figures to carry the load for the first few weeks of the season.