Versatile Garcia a lifesaver for banged-up White Sox
When Eloy Jimenez went on the injured list late in spring training, Leury Garcia wound up starting the season opener in left field for the White Sox.
When Luis Robert went on the IL in early May, Garcia helped fill that gaping hole by playing center field.
Garcia has also played right in place of Adam Eaton, who is also down with an injury, and he's played a combined 20 games at second base, shortstop and third for the Sox.
With all of the injuries through the first half of the season, it's not a stretch to say the versatile Garcia has been the White Sox's MVP.
"He's one of those guys, it would be unfair to not call him a regular," manager Tony La Russa said. "He just is a regular at different positions. Keep him healthy and there are a lot of ways he can help you win a game."
Garcia - the longest-tenured Sox player after coming over from Texas in a 2013 trade for outfielder Alex Rios - has stayed relatively healthy.
He sat out three of the four games at Houston last week with a sore knee but was back in the White Sox's lineup at Pittsburgh. In Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Pirates, he homered and made a standout defensive play at second base.
"Much better, the trainer has done a great job," the 30-year-old Garcia said. "You're never 100%. You have to learn how to play with some soreness and to just keep grinding."
Garcia has done just that throughout his nine-year run with the Sox.
"This guy is a really good player, a really good player wherever you play him, wherever you hit him," La Russa said. "He really is kind of amazing how he bounces around the outfield, a good outfielder, infielder, hits from both sides, can start a rally."
In 59 games this season, Garcia is hitting .249/.305/.326 with 1 home run and 25 RBI.
Full capacity:
When the White Sox play the Mariners Friday night, there will be 100% capacity at Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since the 2019 season.
Parking lots open two hours before the game and tailgating is permitted in the C and D lots.
Gates to the ballpark open 90 minutes before the game.