Healthy De Aza should really produce for White Sox
It looks like Alejandro De Aza has arrived — finally.
The obvious question is: What took so long?
Well, there are multiple answers.
While trying to make a name for himself as a minor-leaguer with the Dodgers and Marlins, De Aza could not stay healthy.
He always was able to hit, but a 2006 wrist injury sidelined the outfielder for almost three months.
In 2007, a right ankle injury sidelined De Aza for four months.
And in ’08, a left ankle injury knocked out De Aza for the entire season.
Injury issues haven taken a heavy toll, but De Aza stayed after it and finally caught a break with the White Sox last season.
When the Sox dropped out of contention is September, De Aza got a long look and batted .329 while playing all three outfield spots.
“I really liked the way he handled himself and prepared himself to play,” said manager Robin Ventura. “I saw the same thing from him in the minor leagues.”
While Ventura was serving as a special advisor last summer, he saw De Aza play at Class AAA Charlotte and was impressed with the 27-year-old outfielder.
When left fielder Juan Pierre exited the White Sox as a free agent at the end of the season, a full-time spot opened in the outfield.
De Aza has the job, and it is his to lose.
At the plate:
De Aza is going to replace Pierre in the leadoff spot, and he’ll be a good one if he picks up where he left off in 2011.
In addition to batting .329, De Aza had a .400 on-base percentage and stole 12 bases in 17 attempts.
After reporting to training camp in late February, De Aza was taking nothing for granted.
“I just want to play,” he said. “If they want to use me (in the leadoff spot), I’ll try to do the best I can and stay in the lineup.”
De Aza does not bunt as well as Pierre, but he is a better contact hitter and has power. After hitting 9 HRs in 99 games at Charlotte, De Aza had 4 HRs in 54 games with the Sox.
If De Aza wants to stay in the leadoff spot, he’s got to pick it up a bit against left-handed pitchers. He hit .263 vs. lefties last season compared to .338 vs. right-handers.
In the field:
De Aza is a good athlete and can play anywhere in the outfield.
He’s at his best in center, and it looks like that’s going to be his full-time spot.
Ventura thinks Alex Rios can be more productive playing right field, so he’s moving over from center.
Dayan Viciedo is switching from right to left, opening up the middle for De Aza.
While he doesn’t have an overpowering arm and occasionally misses the cutoff man, De Aza has the speed to play center field and is particularly effective going back and tracking down flyballs hit over his head.
Other options:
The Sox can always switch up the outfield again and put Rios back in center field, but that’s not likely. De Aza should get full-time duty in center, and Kosuke Fukudome is set as the primary backup.
Brent Lillibridge — who else? — should get some playing time in center field as well.
Jared Mitchell is having a solid spring and could get a call from the minor leagues later in the season if he continues to show improvement.
sgregor@dailyherald.com