White Sox's Garcia can hit in clutch, but is that enough?
We've pointed out the many negatives with Avisail Garcia the last few seasons.
Garcia doesn't hit for power. He doesn't hit for average. He can't play defense. He's a terrible baserunner. He's wasting rare tools.
For a change of pace, let's look at some of Garcia's positives.
In 2016, Garcia batted .415 (17-for-41) with runners in scoring position and two outs, the highest average in the major leagues.
Garcia also tied for fourth in the American League with a .355 (33-for-93) average with runners in scoring position.
"In those situations, he didn't try to do too much," Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Garcia's stunning success with RISP. "If he ended up hitting, getting an extra-base hit in those situations, great. But if he didn't, it wasn't anything he concerned himself with.
"I think we are just trying to make sure he focuses on honing in and simplifying what he wants to do in terms of approaches. Hopefully, that can lead to him being more effective without runners on base."
While spending most of last season as the White Sox's designated hitter, Garcia posted an overall .245/.307/.385 hitting line with 12 home runs and 51 RBI.
That is a negative slash line, and Garcia also struck out 115 times in 453 plate appearances.
Back with the Sox on a one-year, $3 million contract this season, Garcia is looking forward to returning to right field on a full-time basis.
"That's my regular position and I know I can do my job there, a really good job," the 25-year-old Garcia said. "(Designated hitter) is not my position, but last year I tried to handle that situation. I did my best, but I think my real position is in the outfield. I feel better there."
If Garcia can do a better job hitting when runners are not in scoring position this year, if the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder can exploit his size and hit more home runs, and if he can make better decisions in right field, maybe he still can be a part of the White Sox's future.
"I'm looking to see if Avi can settle into right field," Renteria said. "He's another individual that we would use in that DH slot in the swing role. But I hope that we can get him more playing time in right and see if he's able to go ahead and perform the way everybody hopes and he was expected to previously."
Even if Garcia again fails to meet expectations, he still is likely to be a regular in the starting lineup.
Last season Adam Eaton was the White Sox's starter in right field and Austin Jackson was in center.
Eaton was traded to the Washington Nationals, and Jackson is now with the Cleveland Indians on a minor-league contract.
If Leury Garcia breaks camp with the Sox, he could emerge as Garcia's backup. Garcia played three games in right field for the White Sox in 2014.
Peter Bourjos played 115 games in right for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, but the veteran outfielder is expected to see more time in center as Charlie Tilson recovers from a stress reaction in his right foot.