Thomas sees good things for ex-teammate Rios

During Sunday's workout at U.S. Cellular Field, retired White Sox slugger Frank Thomas raved about how good Alex Rios was when the two played together for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007-08.

"This kid could be a five-tool superstar any day of the week," said Thomas, who is working as an analyst for Comcast SportsNet during Sox home games this season.

Rios appeared to have maybe one rusty tool when he batted .199 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 41 games with the White Sox after being claimed off wavers from the Jays last August.

Rios did bounce back with a great spring and the momentum carried over into the season opener Monday.

Batting sixth, Rios was robbed of a hit by Cleveland Indians slick-fielding shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera in the first inning. But the 29-year-old center fielder did draw a walk in the fifth and he homered over the center-field fence in the eighth inning.

The topper came in the ninth when Rios charged to his right and made a diving catch on Travis Hafner's sinking line drive to end the game.

"I think the catch felt better (than the HR)," Rios said. "That was the first time I made a catch to end of a game like that. It was pretty nice."

Rios said he is much more comfortable now than he was last summer after joining the Sox in the middle of a pennant race.

"Last year when I got traded I didn't know many of the guys," Rios said. "I knew them but not as family. But now that I started the year with them I got to know them better and it feels like home."

Captain Paul Konerko is happy to have Rios.

"He's going to have a good year; he's got way too much talent not to," Konerko said. "I think last year was just kind of a whirlwind for him and he just kind of got sped up there and couldn't slow it down. Now he's had a chance to kind of come in, he's had a great spring, I mean he's killing the ball.

"You've got to remember this guy has had some good big-league years. He's not a rookie who hasn't done it at this level."

Good to go: Mark Buehrle had ice on his left shin after kicking Lou Marson's line drive and making a highlight defensive play. There was some initial concern he was seriously injured, but Buehrle stayed in the game.

"It's just a bruise," Buehrle said. "They did X-rays and everything came back fine. I wouldn't have thought it was broken, but they did it precautionary."

Krause in the fold: Former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause got his start as a scout with the White Sox.

Krause is back with the organization, and he will concentrate on scouting players in Latin America for the Sox.

"He's a very smart man," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He gambled by trading for me (from the San Diego Padres in 1984) and he won.

"I think this man is a very, very brilliant guy. He's going to be overlooking Latin America. I hope he finds another Ozzie Guillen there. We need him."