PHOENIX — On a again box, underneath the glare of the morning solar and with out a lot of an target audience, new White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal confirmed that he’ll do no matter it takes each time he can.
Grandal, received as a big-ticket unfastened agent this iciness, used to be seeing his first sport motion upon getting off to a sluggish get started this spring as a result of a light left calf pressure. That his look got here in a B sport in opposition to a majority of minor-leaguers didn’t diminish his effort.
There used to be his paintings at the back of the plate for 3 innings in a sport that used to be began by way of Steve Cishek. And there used to be an indication of his hitting prowess with a double in his first at-bat in opposition to a Reds crew that had former Sox infielder Willie Harris training in the beginning base.
But Grandal additionally had the risk to turn his willingness to make use of the little issues to his benefit. With the Reds in a pronounced defensive shift after his double, Grandal went forward and stole 3rd. He has respectable pace for a catcher, however steals are a long way from his hidden skill. He most effective has 11 in his major-league occupation.
With his pitch-framing abilities, his paintings with proficient pitching staffs in Los Angeles and Milwaukee the final 5 seasons and his no-nonsense management skills, Grandal has proven he can also be the whole package deal.
It’s precisely what the Sox had been searching for once they signed him to a four-year, $73 million deal in November, lengthy prior to baseball’s offseason transaction rush started.
“You’re talking about just smart baseball play,” supervisor Rick Renteria mentioned. “Recklessness is something you’re not looking for, [but]he doesn’t do a reckless job. He’s a smart baserunner, a smart baseball player. He tries to get every edge you can. It’s really nice to have that.”
With a mixture of veterans and budding elite skill, the Sox will take all the lead-by-example performs they may be able to get, whether or not it’s in entrance of 45,000 or fewer than 450, like Wednesday.
“Hopefully, it’s something we as a team and organization can take advantage of, and everybody starts kind of learning from it and continues to build,” Renteria mentioned.
More of Grandal’s team-first manner got here after his 3 innings and two at-bats (he additionally struck out). He declined an instantaneous interview request with a view to get his day-to-day paintings executed within the instructor’s room and within the weight room.
Hitting a median of 25.three house runs and riding in 68.eight runs in his final 4 seasons within the National League, to not point out a .347 on-base proportion and a .467 slugging proportion, isn’t one thing that occurs by chance.
A transfer hitter, either one of Grandal’s at-bats in opposition to the Reds got here from the left facet. Trying to make the most of the at ease nature of the B sport, he waited round awhile to look if the Reds would use a left-hander so he may just get some right-handed at-bats, but it surely by no means came about, and he known as it an afternoon.
Based on how Grandal feels after this sport, the plan is to have him play in his first Cactus League sport Friday in Mesa in opposition to the Cubs.
The Sox nonetheless have 3 weeks of spring-training video games to get able prior to Opening Day on March 26 at house in opposition to the Royals. Those right-handed at-bats for Grandal will come.
“Obviously, he wants to get his baseball legs back underneath him and continue to progress,” Renteria mentioned.