Leury Garcia making a name for himself with Chicago White Sox
Over the first month of the season, he has been lost in a sea of Garcias.
Avisail Garcia has deservedly received the most attention for the Chicago White Sox. The right fielder leads the American League with a .373 batting average and was tied for third with 17 RBI heading into Thursday's play.
Before joining the Sox two weeks ago when Melky Cabrera left for three games on paternity leave, outfielder Willy Garcia hit .533 with 2 home runs, 4 RBI and 9 runs scored for Class AAA Charlotte while being voted the International League's first Batter of the Week.
Avisail and Willy have been opening eyes, but don't sleep on Leury Garcia.
"It was a matter of time," he said. "Once you start getting more game time, more at-bats, you are feeling more comfortable with your approach and you are getting to know your team and what you have to do during the games. For me, that has been the key, the playing time, the at-bats, the repetition. And that's good."
Acquired from Texas on Aug. 11, 2013 in a trade for Alex Rios, Garcia never showed much with the White Sox over the past four seasons while slashing .188/.222/.239.
Then again, he didn't get many opportunities. Garcia played in just 130 games after the Rangers trade, mostly as a late-inning defensive specialist.
The 26-year-old Garcia has a solid glove at second base, shortstop and third, but he's versatile enough to play all three outfield spots.
With Sox rookie Jacob May off to a 1-for-30 start at the plate, Garcia has gotten a shot to play, and he has been in the starting lineup five straight games in center field.
Not only has he shown good defensive range, Garcia is 8-for-18 with 1 home run and 5 RBI during his extended stretch of play.
"Obviously, he's getting on base," manager Rick Renteria said. "He's getting on whether through a hit or hustling down the line. He's making some plays in the outfield. Just his overall game is kind of coming together a little bit.
"I think it's part of who he is, and it's nice to see."
In 256 at-bats with the White Sox from 2013-16, the switch-hitting Garcia struck out 86 times. This season he's cut that down to 4 strikeouts in 47 at-bats.
"I have just been trying to make contact with the ball, to swing at pitches that are in the strike zone," he said. "That has been my approach. I changed my approach and the results have been there."
White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park
TV: WGN Friday and Sunday; Comcast SportsNet Saturday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox's Mike Pelfrey (0-1) vs. Matthew Boyd (2-1) Friday at 6:10 p.m.; Derek Holland (2-2) vs. Michael Fulmer (2-1) Saturday at 12:10 p.m.; Miguel Gonzalez (3-0) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (2-1) Sunday at 12:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox head into Detroit with a four-game winning streak. They swept the Royals in a three-game series to end their homestand, outscoring Kansas City 27-8. Pelfrey makes his second start for the Sox, and he faces his old team. The Tigers released Pelfrey at the end of spring training despite owing the big right-hander $8 million this season. Jose Abreu left Wednesday's game vs. K.C. with a strained groin, but he hopes to be ready for the Detroit series. Abreu has 8 hits in his last 15 at-bats. The first baseman is still looking for his first home run of the season.
Next: Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor