Johnson a promising work in progress for White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — You have to look pretty hard for White Sox highlights from Monday's season-opening 10-1 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

As the final score indicates, the Sox were outplayed in every phase of the game and strongly resembled the flawed teams they fielded the past two years.

Upon further review, however, Micah Johnson did some very good things in his big-league debut.

The 24-year-old second baseman also did some bad things, which is to be expected of a rookie.

Let's start with the good.

In his first at-bat, Johnson battled Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura and saw 13 pitches before flying out to center field.

“Micah's first at-bat was a great one,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I think that's part of what you really like seeing out of him. There's more of that to come. He did a lot of that in spring training. I know it caught the attention of a lot of people, but that's what we expect out of him and I know he expects that out of himself.”

Before exiting the game in the seventh inning with a right thumb cramp, Yordano Ventura was tough on Sox hitters.

But Johnson quickly showed he's no pushover.

“(Ventura) didn't give in,” Johnson said. “He was getting frustrated and we were just battling. It was awesome. He just kept pounding me in and throwing strikes. I didn't want to cheat and have him throw me an off-speed pitch and be out in front. I just stayed with my approach and he stuck with his.”

Johnson got his first major-league hit in his next trip to the plate, a sharp single to center.

But showing he still needs to grow and learn as a player, Johnson was picked off first base.

Defensively, let's just say Johnson is no Gordon Beckham. Few second basemen are.

It was just one game, but Johnson was slow on a pivot and throw to second base and he should have charged an Alex Gordon slow roller instead of letting shortstop Alexei Ramirez cut across and try to make a difficult play.

“I was able to make the required plays,” Johnson said. “We're going to go back and talk about that play with Alex Gordon up the middle. That was a tough play but other than that, it was good.”

With his standout athletic ability, blazing speed and willingness to work, the White Sox think Johnson is going to be a very good second baseman this season and well beyond.

“We first and foremost wanted him to come in healthy after what he had last August (strained hamstring),” general manager Rick Hahn said. “And we wanted to make sure he was comfortable with the speed of the game from a defensive standpoint. There will be growing pains. That's part of the reason he's hitting ninth and we have options defensively to mix in and play certain matchups with. But we view him as the type of guy who can grow with this young group and be an important part the next several years.”