Palka could be attractive long term for Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox of the future don't all have to be first-round picks and international superstars.

There should be ample room on the roster for comparatively nondescript players, guys such as Daniel Palka.

"We have no biases as far as who winds up being the 25 guys that help us win a championship," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said.

While he might not have the expected off-the-chart skills of future players such as Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert and Nick Madrigal, Palka and his booming bat are making a case to stick with the White Sox for the long haul.

Claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins in November, Palka didn't have to wait long to get an opportunity. He came up from Class AAA Charlotte in late April after right fielder Avisail Garcia went down with a serious hamstring injury that kept him out two months.

Still on the Sox's roster, Palka was a defensive liability in right but has shown improvement after being switched to left field.

He has yet to play first base with the White Sox, but Palka played 188 games at the position in the minor leagues.

"Whatever role is open, I'm down to compete for it," the 26-year-old Palka said.

Contending teams typically have strong benches, and Palka has shown he might be a future fit as a pinch hitter and reserve outfielder/designated hitter.

Heading into Tuesday's play, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder ranked second among American League rookies with 17 home runs and third with 44 RBI. The left-hander also has tied a franchise record with 3 pinch-hit homers.

"He's shown the ability to do that," manager Rick Renteria said of Palka being a weapon off the bench. "He gets in there, he's certainly not scared of the moment. His approach is, I don't want to say it's really simple, but it's pretty basic. He gets to the ball cleanly.

"I do think he just concentrates on trying to put a good swing on a pitch out over the plate. If he gets it, he's able to do what he needs to do."

Palka is usually able to drive the ball far over the fence, and he has been a nice find for the White Sox.

"He was one of the guys they targeted and that they liked, and our scouts liked somewhere in the past and put in good reports," Renteria said. "It wasn't by accident. He became available and the organization had a history of following him and said, 'If we can get him let's bring him in.'

"We knew he had pop. He's showing us that, yeah, you guys took a flier on me and I'm trying to prove you guys right. He's just driven."