Eloy on first major-league hit: 'It feels amazing'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In his second major-league game Saturday, White Sox rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez was not at all happy with home-plate umpire Ron Kulpa after twice being called out on strikes.
The second time, Jimenez waved his hand at Kulpa on his way back to the dugout after taking a called strike on a low pitch in the eighth inning.
"It was a little bit off the plate, but it's OK," Jimenez said.
When the 22-year-old outfielder looks back on the game, he probably won't remember the strikeouts, or the Sox's 8-6 loss to the Royals.
He will definitely recall getting his first major-league hit, a single to right-center field in the second inning.
"I hit it on the end (of the bat) and I didn't think it was going to be a base hit," Jimenez said. "But it's happening. I feel good. It feels amazing. It's one of the feelings you're never going to forget. Yes, it was really good."
Jimenez added another single in the sixth inning and finished the day 2-for-4. He felt much better than Thursday's season opener, when he was 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts while being much too aggressive against a heavy dose of sliders.
"I felt much better," Jimenez said. "Still a little bit anxious, but it was much better than the first game."
Jimenez did get hit by a pitch with the bases loaded on Opening Day, and he has the ball from his first RBI. He also has the ball from his first hit, which came off Royals starter Jakob Junis.
"I'm going to put it in my room and I'm going to see it every day," Jimenez said.
Second chance:
Most starting pitchers that post the highest ERA in the majors and most walks in the league in the same season probably aren't asked back for another year.
Lucas Giolito appreciates the White Sox's vote of confidence.
"Getting the opportunities I've gotten has been huge for me," he said. "The organization, the coaching staff, my teammates sticking with me when I was putting up not great numbers, having some starts when I'm not giving the team a chance to win at all, just having the clubhouse behind me, all these people in my corner wanting to see me successful, it just helps.
"It helps give you more confidence in the work you're putting in to improve as a player. I'm looking forward to showing off some of that work this year and putting together much more consistent starts and numbers overall."
After going 10-13 with a 6.13 ERA and issuing 90 walks in 2018 - his first full major-league season - the 24-year-old Giolito gets the ball for the first time of the new year Sunday afternoon against the Royals.
"I feel really good," Giolito said. "Getting that full year of experience, making a full season worth of starts in the big leagues, it's invaluable stuff."
Weather woes:
The White Sox and Royals had a 1:46 rain delay in Thursday's season opener.
There was a 30-minute rain delay Saturday, and the wind chill was 26 degrees when the game started.
Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez never adapted to the winterlike weather, which is not that surprising.
"I think it's harder to play baseball in the cold in general," Lucas Giolito said. "Guys don't like hitting in the cold, guys don't like pitching in the cold, guys don't like fielding in the cold. It's just part of the game early in the year when you play in a division like this.
"Everyone's on that level playing field. You just find ways to battle the elements if you need to. Layer up a little bit more and that's that. It's still baseball."