Jimenez 'too anxious' in MLB debut with Chicago White Sox

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Chicago White Sox fans have seemingly been waiting to see Eloy Jimenez in a major-league uniform since July 13, 2017.

That was the day the sweet-swinging outfielder was acquired from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana trade.

Jimenez was more anxious than any ticket holder, but the day finally arrived Thursday.

Playing left field and batting fifth for the Sox, Jimenez made his major-league debut in a 5-3 loss to the Royals.

"I just want to say thank you to God first," the 22-year-old outfielder said. "I feel so excited for this moment. It's a dream come true."

For the majority of his first game with the White Sox, it was more like a nightmare.

Facing a steady diet of sliders, Jimenez struck out his first two times and grounded out to second base on his third to the plate.

In his final at-bat, Jimenez came up in the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out. The Sox were trailing Kansas City 5-0, and Jimenez ended the shutout bid after being hit by a pitch from reliever Jake Diekman.

"I never thought that, but I'll take it," Jimenez said after being hit on the left foot for his first RBI in the big leagues.

The Royals' strategy against Jimenez was obvious from the start of the rain-delayed game.

"Eloy took some hacks, saw they're not going to be giving into him very easily," manager Rick Renteria said. "I think today was a great learning experience for him to know they're not going to just give him cookies. He's going to have to look, as a big-league hitter does, look for mistakes out over and when they don't want to give into him, he's going to have to take his (walks).

"First game at the major-league level, so he'll have plenty of them left to continue to improve. He's a pretty good hitter, and I think the maturity factor that he brings to the table will allow him to hopefully make adjustments as he goes at-bat to at-bat, game to game."

Jimenez saw 17 pitches from K.C. starter Brad Keller and Diekman and 13 were sliders.

"Today was the first game and I think that's why I was swinging at too many balls in the dirt," Jimenez said. "It was tough because I was too anxious. But I'm going to control that and I'm going to adjust."