Learning on the job: Sox catcher McCann willing, able to mentor Collins
Zack Collins wasted little time showing off one of his best attributes.
Making his major-league debut Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, the White Sox's 24-year-old catcher came to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and drew a walk against Cubs reliever Steve Cishek.
"My eye has kind of carried me the last couple of years with the walks and the on-base (percentage)," Collins said.
Collins, who joined the Sox from Class AAA Charlotte on Tuesday after Welington Castillo went on the disabled list with an oblique strain, ranked fifth in the International League in walks when his contract was purchased.
Last season, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2016 draft led the Southern League in walks while playing for Class AA Birmingham.
Being selective allows Collins to wait for his pitch, and the left-handed hitter has the power to put a charge into the baseball.
He will eventually show that attribute as well, but that doesn't mean Collins is a finished product.
While the White Sox believe he can catch in the major leagues, Collins started playing first base for Charlotte this year, and he also fits the designated hitter profile.
Collins has a good arm, he threw out 33 percent (9 of 27) base stealers at Triple-A, but passed balls are still a problem and he also has to learn the nuances of calling a game.
Fortunately, Collins can lean on No. 1 catcher James McCann again. The two were inseparable in spring training.
"It was amazing," Collins said. "We went out every morning for early work and stuff. He taught me a lot. He got me a lot better in that month we were there together, and I look forward to the rest of the season here, hopefully.
"I'm going to try to learn as much as I can from McCann. He's obviously done a great job this year with the team and I'm going to learn as much as I can from him and kind of take it into my hands and try to do my best."
Rather than be threatened by a hot shot rookie trying to take his job, McCann is happy to help a key player for the White Sox's future.
"I can sit down and talk to him and show everything, and that's what I'm going to do," McCann said. "I'm going to teach him how I prepare, I'm going to teach him how to look at video, I'm going to teach him everything that goes into preparing for a series. But at the end of the day, it's going to be him making mistakes. It's going to be him having successes where a year from now, two years, three years from now, he can draw back on those experiences."
A much better hitter against right-handed pitching, Collins was not in the starting lineup against the Cubs, who started lefties Cole Hamels and Jon Lester.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder should get his first start this weekend at Texas, which has three right-handed starting pitchers lined up.
"I think that's pretty much why I (pinch) hit, to try to get as many butterflies out as we can before hopefully I make a start in Texas," Collins said. "I definitely had some butterflies."