White Sox have come out swinging
Home runs are back in major-league baseball.
Way back.
Last season, 6,105 balls cleared the fences, easily surpassing the record 5,693 homers hit in 2000.
The Chicago White Sox ranked 25th out of 30 major-league teams with 186 home runs last year and, outside of catcher Welington Castillo, they have the same lineup this season.
Through the first week of play, however, Sox hitters have been putting on an impressive power show and they led the majors with 14 home runs through Thursday's play.
"I can't say that's what I walked into the season thinking we were going to do, but I'm all right with home runs," White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson said. "Obviously, they're runs. You want to score runs and the guys are putting good swings on the ball and hitting them out of the ballpark.
"But all in all, we can't rely on them. I think about 80 percent of our runs have been off homers (through the first five games). The good part is they haven't all been solos. It'll balance itself out, but to be able to put a run up on the board with one swing is always nice."
The Sox set the longball tone early, tying a major-league record with 6 home runs in the March 29 season opener at Kansas City. Matt Davidson also matched a record with 3 homers in that 14-7 win over the Royals.
Heading into Friday, Davidson and the Twins' Brian Dozier were tied for the American League lead with 4 home runs.
Tim Anderson was tied for third with 3 homers and Castillo and Jose Abreu had 2 each.
"The more runs we score, the better," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "We're definitely in favor of (home runs). We do have some offensive firepower, starting at the top with (Yoan Moncada). Playing half of our games in this ballpark (Guaranteed Rate Field), it's an important element of any successful part of an offense in this park.
"At the same time, I like the way guys are grinding out at-bats."
Playing Thursday's home opener in cold, snowy weather, the Sox didn't hit a home run in a 9-7 loss to the Tigers in 10 innings. But they did manufacture more than enough offense to win, led by Yolmer Sanchez's 2 triples and 3 RBI.
"Certainly, when you're looking at it, the home run ball can help you," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "You're not going to be able to do it with the home run ball every single time; you're going to have to manufacture runs at times. But certainly the home run has been a help for us."
In the minors, Eloy Jimenez is the top power-hitting prospect in baseball, and he should be fully recovered from a strained pectoral muscle next week. Jimenez is scheduled to play some games in extended spring training before joining Class AA Birmingham.
If the 21-year-old outfielder, who was acquired from the Cubs last July in the Jose Quintana trade, picks up where he left off in 2017, the Sox could have another home run threat in the lineup by August or September.
In 89 combined games with high Class A Myrtle Beach (Cubs), high A Winston-Salem and Birmingham (White Sox) last year, Jimenez hit 19 homers.
"I can't tell you that a guy goes up there trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Renteria said. "I think he goes up there trying to get a pitch to handle and put on the best swing he possibly can. If he's able to drive the ball, these guys with the strength that they have are able to hit the ball out of the ballpark."
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