ESPN

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis said Tuesday he would not have played on Sept. 25 if the team hadn’t moved its home game to the afternoon due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

The White Sox announced Tuesday their Sept. 25 game against the Cleveland Indians had been moved from 7:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. CT after fans contacted them about the game time conflicting with Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown.

“Over the past several weeks, we have had a number of our fans communicate their concerns with the game’s start time on Sept. 25,” White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing Brooks Boyer said in a statement. “Along with the Cleveland Indians, we have agreed to move up the start time of the game to 1:10 p.m. to accommodate many fans’ interests.”

Youkilis, who is Jewish, said prior to Tuesday’s game he was pleased with the White Sox’s decision.

“I guess that means I can play,” Youkilis said. “I really didn’t know. I know there was talk that there was something about maybe changing it for the fans and stuff like that on that day. It’s a good thing for the playoff stretch.”

Youkilis said he has always skipped games that have conflicted with the holiday.

“I haven’t played,” Youkilis said. “It’s been one of those things. I’ve played the night after.”