NEW YORK — Eloy Jimenez’ memorable evening at Yankee Stadium Friday – the prized rookie slugger hit the primary two homers of his profession in consecutive at-bats – was the spotlight of the White Sox’ younger season. But you may not have identified it judging by supervisor Rick Renteria’s response after the sport.
Renteria form of ho-hummed the feat, placing him within the firm of 1 within the stadium.
“No, I was really excited,” Renteria mentioned Saturday morning.
Really? Could have fooled us.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: Eloy Jimenez #74 of the Chicago White Sox watches the ball fly after hitting a house run in the course of the fifth inning of the sport towards the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 12, 2019 within the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775308664
“A lot of times people get giddy when you start to see validations of what a guy is projected to be,” Renteria mentioned. “If I think he’s going to be what he’s going to be, there’s nothing for me to get too overly excited about. I’ll get more excited about a consistency over an extended period of time. Talk to me in two or three months.”
The Sox signed Jimenez to a six-year, $43 million contract earlier than he noticed a serious league pitch, so these are the sorts of performances they anticipate. He had one additional base hit earlier than Friday, although.
“Do I see him having some bumps and bruises? Absolutely,” Renteria mentioned. “Do I believe he’ll be a implausible hitter? Yeah. But I’m on the lookout for consistency. And how they rise to the event within the moments they’ve. My giddiness will come when the White Sox put a crown on that door as a champion. That’s the objective.
When all of it comes collectively it will likely be good to see.”
Jimenez had a gaggle of 25 household and kin, together with his mother and father, readily available to witness his first homers. Many of them reside in New York.
Moncada’s place
Yoan Moncada had 449 of his 649 plate appearances in 2019 within the leadoff spot, which was by design to get him as many at-bats as attainable in his first full season. This season, Moncada has led off as soon as, batted second seven instances and fifth 5 instances.
As Moncada’s profession unfolds, Renteria envisions the 23-year-old swap hitter batting anyplace from second to fifth, with the roster round him serving to to dictate the place he would possibly settle in.
“He’s showing really good signs with his right-handed swing to put him in a consistent slot,” Renteria mentioned. “He has the power of a No. 4 hitter and the ability to take an extra base like a leadoff hitter.”
Rodon appears for bounce again
Opening Day starter Carlos Rodon appears to bounce again from his uneven begin towards the Rays wherein he allowed 4 runs over four 1/Three innings. He struck out 9 however walked 5.
“It definitely is frustrating,” mentioned Rodon, who was wonderful in six innings with no earned runs, one stroll and 9 strikeouts towards the Indians in his earlier begin.
Rodon (1-2, 3.38 ERA) mentioned he has grow to be slightly too reliant on his premium slider in his first three begins however mentioned he’ll get again to utilizing his changeup extra.
“It will make the whole reportoire better,” he mentioned. “Early contact on changeups will help the pitch count. And when I throw more changeups it helps the fastball command.”
Rodon has the stuff to be an ace, however he is aware of which means consistency that comes from getting deep into video games on days he doesn’t have his finest stuff.
“When you watch the best guys you don’t even know they’re having an off day, right?” he mentioned.
“You have days like that where you just have to grind.”