Yoan Moncada finishing season strong for White Sox

By Toni Ginnetti

Avisail Garcia (left) is greeted by Yoan Moncada after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning against the Royals on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
| David Banks/Getty Images

White Sox rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada has been improving steadily, hitting safely in 12 of his last 14 games with a .338 average, five home runs and 11 RBI in that span.

Whatever the Sox’ season record turns out to be, Moncada has proved he has the talent and tools to be a productive major-leaguer.

‘‘His at-bats are really good; he’s obviously got a good eye,’’ manager Rick Renteria said after the Sox’ 8-1 victory Sunday against the Royals.

‘‘One of the things he’s been focusing on is trying to see and learn how pitchers are attacking him, how they’re trying to get him out. I think he’s staying on more pitches now. It’s something we were hoping and anticipating would happen.’’

Rookie right-hander Lucas Giolito will be another plus for the future. He showed top-of-the-rotation ability in his fifth quality start.

‘‘I see much more confidence in him,’’ Renteria said after Giolito allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. ‘‘We’re really happy with the way he’s progressed.’’

Moncada, 22, and Giolito, 23, are in their first extended stays in the majors after brief call-ups with their previous teams.

‘‘My confidence is there,’’ said Giolito, whom the Sox acquired from the Nationals in the deal for outfielder Adam Eaton. ‘‘‘I trust myself and my pitches. I still have things to work on, things I’m talking to [pitching coach Don Cooper] on, but [my] confidence is right where it needs to be.’’

Moncada, whom the Sox obtained from the Red Sox in the deal for left-hander Chris Sale, acknowledged he has grown more comfortable with more playing time.

‘‘I’ve been doing the same work I’ve been doing since the year started, working in the cage, [following] the same routine, trying to do what I can do,’’ Moncada said through a translator. ‘‘Lately, the results have been there.’’

Mentor and fellow Cuban Jose Abreu has helped, he said.

‘‘I have my own routine, but playing with him every day, you pick up things that he does,’’ Moncada said. ‘‘You always are trying to improve and adjust your routine to get the best results you can.’’

Moncada was 1-for-4 with a double and scored ahead of Avisail Garcia’s 18th home run in the first inning. He is hitting

.237 overall, up from .179 two weeks ago.

‘‘It’s very important for me to have this [major-league] experience because projecting what I can do in the future, especially next year, has a lot of value,’’ Moncada said. ‘‘To have this kind of confidence, this kind of experience here, I’ve been able to get to know the league, the pitchers and how the players here do their routines.’’

Renteria said he thinks Moncada’s growth can continue.

‘‘We have the last eight or nine days [of the season] that he’ll be able to take advantage of and then transition into winter, feel good about how he’s continued to improve, continue to work and then come into next spring and get ready for the season,’’ Renteria said.

Follow me on Twitter @toniginnetti.