Garcia working to right the ship with Chicago White Sox
During his four seasons in the dugout, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura has rarely, if ever, criticized one of his players when talking to the media.
Late last season, Ventura didn't exactly bury slumping right fielder Avisail Garcia, but he openly wondered why a guy that stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 240 pounds was seemingly content hitting the ball on the ground while trying to leg out singles.
In 148 games with the Sox last season, Garcia managed 13 home runs — and only 32 extra-base hits — in 601 plate appearances.
For a corner outfielder, especially one with impressive size and strength, that's not nearly good enough.
Many thought Garcia's poor showing in 2015 was going to cost him his starting job this year, but the White Sox are giving the 24-year-old Venezuelan another shot.
“He knows the position he's in right now,” Ventura said at the start of spring training. “Talent-wise, he's a pretty good young player. He knows what's out in front of him and what's been said about him. He gets all that. As far as coming here to work, he has changed some things and he looks good.
“You watch him running around out there or taking swings, you can see some little adjustments he has made that I think are going to help him. He's still a young player, and there's some talent in there that needs to come out.”
In attempt to hit for more power, Garcia worked with Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson in Miami in early January. The crouched stance is out, and Garcia is now standing taller at the plate.
“Last year, it was a little bit tough for me and they put me right,” Garcia said. “I have to get working and trust what I'm doing and what they think, and let's see what happens.”
Great things have been happening for Garcia and his new stance in Cactus League play.
In his first 5 exhibition games, Garcia was batting .500 (7-for-14) with 1 home runs and a team-high 7 RBI.
“We have to do it right now,” Garcia told reporters at the White Sox' training camp earlier this week. “We have to start now and for me, it's important to win right now. Once you start winning, you have the feeling, you can trust the other guys. We have to work and have fun. We have to be ready for the season.”
If Garcia gets off to another slow start this year, the Sox have replacement options.
They signed free-agent Austin Jackson on Sunday, and the veteran can take over in center field, with Adam Eaton moving to right.
“With Avi Garcia being 24 years old and with a world of talent, we still believe he's going to be able to convert on that talent and we expect him to have the opportunity to blossom into the player many people feel he can become,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said after signing Jackson to a one-year, $5 million contract. “The move with Jackson provides us with another alternative to have in the outfield, whether it's because of under performance or injury to any of the outfielders or at the DH spot. We simply felt this was a move that gave us more versatility and depth and improved us overall.”
Scot Gregor ranks the top American League right fielders:
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
2. Nelson Cruz, Mariners
3. J.D. Martinez, Tigers
13. Avisail Garcia, WHITE SOX