Mendick, Garcia ready to step up at second base for White Sox
When Eloy Jimenez went down in spring training, Andrew Vaughn stepped up in left field for the White Sox.
When Luis Robert went down in early May, Leury Garcia, Billy Hamilton and now Adam Engel took turns stepping up in center.
With Thursday's news that Nick Madrigal is out for at least six weeks - and possibly the season - with a torn hamstring, Danny Mendick and Garcia are preparing to step up at second base.
"I think you never wish an injury upon anybody, especially a guy like Nick, a competitor like that," said Mendick, who started at second against Toronto Thursday and at Detroit Friday night. "I guess the whole team kind of looks at it as the next man up. You can look at the injuries with Luis Robert and Eloy, it's about being the next man up and helping this team win a World Series, that's the ultimate goal.
"Yes, this is an opportunity and I'm going to go out there and try to do everything I can to help this team win."
While he doesn't have Madrigal's bat, few do, Mendick is a polished second baseman. After playing 28 games at the position last season, he was a Gold Glove finalist.
"Defensively, nothing every changes," said Mendick, the Sox's 22nd-round draft pick in 2015. "I try to go out there and make every single play. No matter where the ball is hit, I'm going to try to go get it and make a play. That's just the way I've always been. I mean, I love defense, I thoroughly enjoy that when I get out there."
Like Mendick, Garcia understands the significance of losing Madrigal but he also knows injuries are part of the game.
"It's not good for us, but it is what it is," said the versatile Garcia, who has spent most of the season playing all three outfield spots. "We're going to miss Nicky, what kind of player he is and what he does for the team. I don't know if I'm going to play more second base than I've played the last two months. Right now, I'm always taking groundballs at second, always taking ground balls at short, so we'll see."