White Sox’ Viciedo: This is my year
Say what you want about former White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin, who was traded to the San Diego Padres on New Year’s Eve.
Call Quentin crazy for failing to move out of the line of fire while consistently ranking among major-league leaders in being hit by pitches.
Call him odd for playing the marathon game of baseball with a short-track mentality more often seen in football.
And call Quentin brittle, considering he was on the field an average of 119 games during his four years with the Sox.
Do say this about Quentin — he was a proven run producer. Despite his limited playing time, Quentin averaged 80 RBI per season and his departure leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the White Sox’ lineup.
It is up to Dayan Viciedo to fill the void.
Far and away the Sox’ top minor-league prospect last season, Viciedo toiled away at Class AAA Charlotte and tore up International League pitching, batting .296 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI in 119 games.
While teammates like Alejandro De Aza and Tyler Flowers got earlier invites to join the White Sox, Viciedo kept his mouth shut and kept on swinging.
“I feel wherever they put me, that’s where I’m supposed to be,” Viciedo said on a conference call Tuesday through translator Jackson Miranda, the Sox’ manager of cultural development.
“I feel like (last) year wasn’t my time. This is my year and I’m just going to do my best and take advantage of it.”
Barring an unexpected development, Viciedo enters the upcoming season as the White Sox’ full-time right fielder. The promotion was set in motion the minute after Quentin was traded, but Viciedo is taking nothing for granted after waiting so long to get a shot last year.
“I was not coming into spring training thinking that my job was penciled in,” Viciedo said. “I was coming into spring training to fight for a position.”
Viciedo is also going to have to fight a battle of high expectations this season.
He was called up from Charlotte on Aug. 27 after Quentin went down with a shoulder injury and went 2-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBI in his first game.
But the 23-year-old outfielder struggled in September, batting .213 with no home runs and 2 RBI.
The 5-foot-11, 230-pounder said he’ll make the necessary adjustments this season and do what he’s always done.
“My expectations are pretty much the same every year,” Viciedo said. “Work hard in the off-season and get into spring training and be ready to be called upon. As far as the pressure to do what Carlos has done, I don’t feel any pressure because for the most part, I’m going to go out there and do what I’ve been training to do.
“I feel very comfortable and I feel this is going to be a great year for me.”
As for the possibility of two more premier Cuban players — outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and pitcher Jorge Soler — joining Viciedo and shortstop Alexei Ramirez on the White Sox, don’t get your hopes up.
Cespedes is line for a deal that could hit $50 million, and Soler also figures to attract a bidding war.
The Sox have been scaling the payroll back since last July, but Viciedo still has his hopes up.
“I have reached out to both of their camps, Soler and Cespedes, and put in a good word,” Viciedo said. “I told them how great the organization is and that they would be a good fit if they both came over to join us.”