This White Sox duo is tabbed for 2B battle come spring
This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin’s White Sox Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
CHICAGO — Chris Getz edged out Jayson Nix, Brent Lillibridge and Gordon Beckham throughout a 2009 Spring Training competitors to grow to be the White Sox beginning second baseman.
So, Chicago’s vp/participant growth holds some useful recommendation the place Cactus League roster battles are involved.
“Focus on what your strengths are and what you are capable of doing, and the competition is with yourself, not anyone else,” Getz informed MLB.com. “If you begin specializing in the successes or failures of one other participant in Spring Training to your personal well-being, then you’ll experience a rollercoaster.
“It’s just not a healthy head space to be in. You go out there and have quality at-bats, making your plays defensively, making smart decisions, baserunning and really taking on a leadership role. Being a positive influence in the clubhouse. All of those aspects matter. They really do and they are important in being part of a successful championship-type team.”
Oscar Colas, the No. 2 White Sox prospect per MLB Pipeline, will attempt to earn a beginning position in proper discipline by Opening Day, however the main 2023 place competitors falls between Romy Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa at second base. Veteran Leury Garcia can even be within the combine for taking part in time, however normal supervisor Rick Hahn already has made clear that Garcia’s worth is taking part in everywhere in the discipline.
Gonzalez, 26, was Chicago’s 18th-round decide within the 2018 MLB Draft. He completed with a slash line of .238/.257/.352 over 109 plate appearances and 32 video games in ’22 after his season at Triple-A Charlotte was shortened by tonsillitis that led to his tonsils being eliminated.
“He’s got real power. He’s got zone awareness,” Getz mentioned. “I do know that we’ve talked about it, and Romy has spoken about bettering his contact throughout the zone.
“When he does make contact, he can drive the baseball. He’s a very good athlete. He can run the bases. He can make plays defensively. It’s just a matter of consistency in all those different areas. If he improves on the consistency side of things, he has a chance to be an impactful Major League player and help us win.”
Sosa, 22, is Chicago’s No. 4 prospect and figures to be a step behind Gonzalez coming into Spring Training. He completed 4-for-35 with one double and one residence run over 11 video games with the White Sox in a 2022 season that was hampered by sporadic taking part in time and isn’t any approach indicative of Sosa’s potential.
Over 483 at-bats between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte in 2022, Sosa slashed .315/.369/.511 with 23 homers, 22 doubles and 79 RBIs.
“You certainly can’t ignore what he accomplished last year at Double-A and Triple-A,” Getz mentioned. “[As far as] the alternatives within the huge leagues, I feel he was definitely attempting to do an excessive amount of. What we noticed up with the Major League membership was not one thing that we have been used to seeing previously, which I feel ultimately bodes properly for his future.
“Once he gets comfortable … just getting a taste of that last year should put him in a position to get a head-start this year. Also being in Major League camp, being around the players and staff, will be a nice opportunity to help on the comfort front.”
Jose Rodriguez, the No. 7 White Sox prospect, is a participant to observe in regard to huge league second-base potential from inside because the season progresses, and Hahn and his employees definitely may add one other candidate by way of commerce. But for Gonzalez and Sosa, Getz reiterates a deal with what they will do and never evaluating themselves to others.
“There wasn’t a spring that I wasn’t competing for a position on a Major League club throughout my career, whether it be with the White Sox, Royals or Blue Jays,” Getz mentioned. “So, I’m very familiar with the feeling. There were some springs that I cared more. I probably cared more than I needed to in regard to other players’ performances.”
