The Chicago White Sox have a brand new supervisor and added a Gold Glover to the outfield. But they are going to be examined with out first baseman José Abreu’s presence within the lineup and clubhouse.
Those are among the adjustments as pitchers and catchers report back to spring coaching Wednesday.
Here’s a better take a look at what’s new because the Sox put together for the season in Glendale, Ariz.
1. The dugout
Pedro Grifol thought of managing whereas taking part in within the Minnesota Twins minor-league system. He remembers asking a scout in 1994 concerning the steps essential to turning into a skipper.
“He said, ‘First of all, you’ve got to play five more years,’” Grifol mentioned in November. “Because again within the day, for those who didn’t have no less than important years within the minor leagues, it will be onerous so that you can get a managing job.
“And I did. I played five more years.”
When his taking part in profession ended, Grifol turned to scouting. He labored his method up via varied roles with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals organizations and is starting his first season managing within the majors with the Sox.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long, long time,” the 53-year-old Grifol mentioned. “But at the same time, I wasn’t in a hurry to get here because the way I was brought up is don’t be in a hurry to get there. Just make sure that when you get there that you’re ready, as opposed to getting there and not being ready and you’re here and gone in a couple years.”
Grifol has confused communication.
“Right around when he was signed, I talked with him for about 20 to 30 minutes,” Sox starter Dylan Cease mentioned final month throughout a video convention, “and he launched himself and let me understand how he likes to do issues and the way he likes to construct relationships. And communication is big with him, which is de facto essential for his job.
“I even had a guy come up to me where I train and he spoke extremely highly of him. He basically said: ‘I was hoping we were going to hire him as a manager. We all love that guy.’ He comes with a lot of positives being said about him.”
Bench coach Charlie Montoyo, hitting coach José Castro, third base coach Eddie Rodríguez, major-league area coordinator Mike Tosar and senior director of sports activities efficiency Geoff Head are also new to the group, whereas assistant hitting coach Chris Johnson joins the workers from Triple-A Charlotte.
2. First base
Abreu performed no less than 109 video games at first for the Sox each season since he was a rookie in 2014 — except the pandemic-shortened 2020 marketing campaign, when he performed 56 of the 60 video games there.
The veteran with six 100-RBI seasons discovered a brand new dwelling in November, signing a three-year cope with the Houston Astros.
The Sox will flip to Andrew Vaughn, who was drafted as a primary baseman in 2019 however spent most of his first two seasons within the majors within the outfield.
When it involves overcoming the lack of Abreu’s manufacturing, the Sox understand it’s not on just one particular person or place.
“Obviously we’ll see a lot of Vaughn at first base, which is his natural position,” basic supervisor Rick Hahn mentioned in the course of the winter conferences in December. “So by way of a bodily alternative, now we have that. But the manufacturing issues. We anticipate Andrew goes to proceed to progress and that’s going to enhance not simply his manufacturing however the remainder of the membership.
“But there’s still going to be a void when we’re talking about José’s absence, both from an offensive standpoint and in the clubhouse. Some of our young guys are obviously going to be older, more experienced, and a lot of our guys are going to be entering ‘23 with something to prove. And I think they’re going to respond well to that.”
The Sox received’t have to attend lengthy to see Abreu once more. They open the common season March 30 in Houston.
3. Left area
The Sox didn’t make many strikes in the course of the offseason, however their greatest become the biggest contract in franchise historical past once they signed left fielder Andrew Benintendi to a five-year, $75 million deal.
AJ Pollock made essentially the most begins in left final season for the Sox. He declined a participant choice in November and signed with the Mariners.
Vaughn began 40 video games in left and Eloy Jiménez made 30 begins there. Jiménez spent extra time because the designated hitter after coming back from damage final season and is the likeliest option to DH this season. He mentioned he has labored some in proper area this offseason and is making ready to play extra video games within the outfield than at DH.
The left-handed-hitting Benintendi brings some stability to the lineup and an improve within the area. He received the American League Gold Glove Award for left area in 2021 and made the All-Star workforce for the primary time final season, when he completed sixth within the AL with a .304 batting common.
The No. 7 choose within the 2015 draft, Benintendi performed 5 seasons for the Boston Red Sox earlier than being despatched to the Royals as a part of a three-team commerce earlier than the 2021 season.
The Royals traded him to the New York Yankees in July. He returns to the AL Central and reunites with Grifol, who was his bench coach in Kansas City.
“From what I saw from afar, the injury bug kind of got everybody over here,” Benintendi mentioned in early January. “The talent’s insane, so I’m definitely excited to be a part of that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com