SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As soon as a prized Cuban prospect who made the White Sox’ Opening Day roster in 2023, Oscor Colas’ trajectory to the most important leagues has gone off track.
He was despatched again to the minor leagues for extra seasoning, with a mandate to get again to the fundamentals.
After hitting .216/.257/.314 and struggling in proper area in 2023, Colas performed 163 extra video games at Triple-A Charlotte the final two seasons. In 23 video games final season, he batted .273/.368/.273 with no extra-base hits.
“I’m in an excellent place proper now to compete,” Colas, 26, mentioned via a translator Tuesday.
“I additionally assume that that is going to be my finest season but. This one goes to be my third yr on the 40-man roster, main league roster, and I haven’t been in a position to set up myself as a minor leaguer however I feel this yr goes to be the yr.”
Colas finds himself in a crowded outfield image, nonetheless, that features Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Benintendi, Mike Tauchman, Michael A. Taylor, Austin Slater, Dominic Fletcher and first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo.
As soon as often called “the Cuban Ohtani” due to his two-way expertise, the left-handed Colas can be seeing time at first base.
“The primary factor is I need to earn a spot and I need to assist the staff,” he mentioned. “To me, it doesn’t matter what place I play. I may even play shortstop in the event that they want me too.”
As for pitching, Colas mentioned he doesn’t miss it.
“However I do know it’s there,” he mentioned.
The Sox will accept a mean defensive outfielder.
Within the Sox’ Cactus League opener on the Cubs on Saturday, it was extra of the blended bag: A double off the middle area wall and, within the area, a fly ball on the wall that caromed off his head for a double.
Martin sharp
Davis Martin had a short second of panic when he arrived at Salt River Subject earlier than his begin in opposition to the Rockies. He acquired there 10 minutes earlier than anybody else and feared the sport was in Shock, not Scottsdale.
“Please be [a White Sox player],” he thought to himself when the clubhouse door opened.
Martin was in the best spot and he hit his spots from the mound, throwing 13 of 18 pitches for strikes in an environment friendly pair of scoreless innings.
“Simply being aggressive within the zone,” Martin mentioned.
Jonathan Cannon, Martin Perez and Martin are choices for Opening Day.
“It’d be an excellent honor and that might be superior,” Martin mentioned. “However my job is to maintain my enterprise at some point at a time. It’s 33 begins.”
Jerry’s birthday
First yr supervisor Will Venable acquired phrase that it was Jerry Reinsdorf’s birthday Tuesday. He was additionally knowledgeable that the chairman doesn’t love birthday needs, so he knew what to do. Or relatively, what to not do.
“Yeah, I’ve been intentional about not making {that a} [big] deal,” Venable mentioned.
“However it’s Jerry’s birthday, so completely satisfied birthday to Jerry.”
Venable mentioned his interactions with Reinsdorf, 89, have “been nice.”
“As we’ve had completely different occasions, we’ve talked baseball, we’ve talked about life,” Venable mentioned. “Definitely in all probability talked to him essentially the most in the course of the interview course of, had a while with him there. Actually good to get some perception into his plan for this, how he views the sport.”
Leasure threw an ideal inning in opposition to the Rangers in his first outing of the spring Monday.
Vaughn is also embracing a management function getting into his fifth season within the majors.
The Sox completed their dismal season with a major-league-low 133 residence runs regardless of enjoying half their video games in hitter-friendly Price Subject.
5 of his pitches have been clocked at 97.8 mph or quicker, and Taylor mentioned this was the primary time his fastball was clocked quicker than 100 mph.
