White Sox tab Vizquel to manage Class A Winston-Salem
Late in the 2010 season, his first of two as an aging infielder playing for the Chicago White Sox, the subject came up.
Omar Vizquel was asked if he wanted to manage when his playing days ended.
"I do," he said. "I think that's one of my goals after I retire. I want to apply all the knowledge that I have about the game. I think there are a lot of guys that play a lot of years in the big leagues that have the same feeling of wanting to have the final word to make a decision.
"To change a pitcher or make a play, and have the power to decide. A lot of us know a lot about the game, and we know how important it is to make a decision at the right time."
Vizquel played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 before calling it a career.
He moved right into coaching, spending the 2013 season as the Los Angeles Angels' minor-league roving infield instructor. From 2014-17, Vizquel was the Detroit Tigers' first base/infield/baserunning coach.
He also managed Team Venezuela in last spring's World Baseball Classic.
While it has not been confirmed yet, the 50-year-old Vizquel is back in the White Sox's organization and he'll manage high Class A Winston-Salem next season.
With top prospects Luis Robert, Jake Burger, Blake Rutherford and Dylan Cease likely to spend time with Winston-Salem in 2018, Vizquel has a chance to make a major impact.
Vizquel replaces former Sox outfielder Willie Harris, who was 56-84 in his lone season as Winston-Salem manager.
Roster moves:
Needing to adjust the roster by Monday evening to protect qualified players from being exposed to the upcoming Rule 5 draft, the White Sox purchased the contracts of five players - outfielders Eloy Jimenez, Micker Adolfo and Luis Basabe, infielder Casey Gillaspie and left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin.
Jimenez is the Sox's top prospect. Acquired from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade, the 20-year-old outfielder batted a combined .312 with 22 doubles, 19 home runs and 65 RBI in 89 games with Class AA Birmingham and A Winston-Salem in the White Sox's system and A Myrtle Beach in the Cubs' organization.
The Sox outrighted pitchers Tyler Danish and Chris Beck to Class AAA Charlotte.
Hall-eligible:
For the first time, Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel are eligible for Hall of Fame induction. Both players spent the majority of their careers with the Cleveland Indians before joining the White Sox.
In four seasons with the Sox (2006-09), Thome batted .265 with 134 home runs and 369 RBI in 529 games. The left-handed slugger has been a special assistant to White Sox general manager Rick Hahn since midway through the 2013 season.
Vizquel played two seasons for the Sox (2010-11) and batted .268 in 166 games.