Anderson, Saladino looking forward to working with Rollins
GLENDALE, Ariz. - One way or another, Jimmy Rollins is going to help the White Sox.
It could be with his bat and glove, or it could be with his experience.
Signed to a minor league contract on Monday, Rollins is going to make a relative paltry $2 million if he breaks camp with the Sox.
Maybe there is still some life in the 37-year-old Rollins' bat, although the swing was noticably slow last season when he slashed .224/.285/.358 with 13 homers and 41 RBI in 144 games with the Dodgers.
As for the glove, Rollins is still a standout shortstop and he'd be a positive add to the White Sox' defense.
No matter how his time in Chicago plays out, Rollins is just a stopgap at shortstop, and that's where his experience comes into play.
When he reports to spring training on Thursday, Rollins is immediately going to become a mentor to top prospect Tim Anderson and Tyler Saladino, who entered camp as the Sox' starter at short.
"Just watching him growing up, he was one of the guys I looked up to," said Anderson, who is slated to open the season with Class AAA Charlotte. "He was just a great overall player. It's cool. I may get star-struck when I see him. It's a guy I look up to, and I'm really looking forward to working with him."
Saladino is likely moving from starting shortstop to utility infielder, but he's also looking forward to learning from Rollins, who has played 16 major-league seasons.
"I don't know the ins and outs of what it took to get him over here or what's going on," Saladino said. "But a guy like him, his experience and the level he has played at for so long, it's going to be an honor to be out there working with him. I'm excited to just learn from him."
Proving ground:
Avisail Garcia checked into camp on Tuesday and participated in the White Sox' first full-squad workout of spring training.
Coming off a disastrous 2015, when he totaled just 32 extra-base hits in 601 plate appearances, Garcia was rumored to be in danger of losing his starting job in right field this off-season.
"I don't pay attention to all that stuff," Garcia said. "I just do what I can to prepare myself to be ready and to be focused for this year and do my best."
In an attempt to hit for more power this season, Garcia worked with hitting coach Todd Steverson in Miami in January and changed his stance. He's going to stand taller in the batter's box.
"I feel comfortable and trust what I'm doing and trust what they say to me," the 24-year-old Garcia said.
Common language:
Rick Renteria is the Sox' new bench coach, and he is already making a positive impact on Jose Abreu. While Abreu is still trying to get comfortable speaking English, Renteria is now the lone Sox coach that speaks fluent Spanish.
"First, I have to give thanks to the White Sox organization for bringing him in," Abreu said through an interpreter.
"For us, it's something very important.
"It's special to have that kind of guy in the coaching staff because you feel more comfortable when you have to communicate with them. I think that he's a very good coach, a great person."