Chicago White Sox pitcher Tyler Danish: I'm very lucky to be alive
GLENDALE, Ariz. - He wasn't happy about being taken off the Chicago White Sox's 40-man roster in November.
But as he prepared to hit the practice fields on a bright Sunday morning at Camelback Ranch, Tyler Danish knew what was really important.
"I'm very lucky to be alive," the 23-year-old pitcher said.
After wrapping up last season with Class AAA Charlotte, Danish was driving his Nissan Altima back home to Riverview, Florida.
Near Jacksonville, he slowed down for an accident and checked the rearview mirror.
"I heard loud bangs and looked back and saw a semi(truck) taking cars out," Danish said. "I was in the far left lane and I tried to pull to the middle to avoid it. Next thing I know, I was 95 feet from where I was. I got hit in the back driver's side and the impact shot me across the road. I didn't realize how hard I got hit until I saw the car.
"It changes you. You see how fast everything can be taken away from you just like that. It was a scary experience, but one I'll never forget."
Fortunately for the right-handed Danish, he was able to walk away with a dislocated left shoulder. When he reached to open the door and get out of the car, the shoulder actually popped back in.
"Live every day the best possible way because you just never know how fast it can be gone," Danish said. "I think it actually helped me with baseball as well, understanding that each day is a big day."
Danish spent most of last season with Charlotte, but the 2013 second-round draft pick made 1 start for the White Sox on May 27. Facing the Detroit Tigers, he pitched 5 scoreless innings and had 6 strikeouts and 6 walks.
To improve his command this season, Danish is going to pitch out of the stretch.
"I struggled last year getting my arm in the right place, keeping the ball over the plate," he said. "I did a mechanical change, just to eliminate movement before the ball is thrown."
New blood:
Top outfield prospects Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert reported to camp Sunday and took part in batting practice.
Neither player is going to make the White Sox's 25-man roster out of spring training, but they're big parts of the future.
"There are a lot of imposing bodies out there," manager Rick Renteria said. "They're very well put together and obviously have a tremendous skill set.
"I don't think it's hard to contain ourselves in terms of how quickly we want to make sure that they get here with us. We understand that we're going to continue to follow a process to make sure we make the right decision in a particular moment to give them the best chance to have success when they get to the big leagues."
Roster move:
The White Sox outrighted right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey to Class AAA Charlotte on Sunday, reducing the 40-man roster to 39.
A Rule 5 addition from Oakland after the 2016 season, Covey was 0-7 with a 7.71 ERA in 18 games (12 start) with the Sox last year.