Tommy Kahnle’s not a bad teammate — just a loud one, White Sox say

ANAHEIM, Calif. — White Sox players say Tommy Kahnle isn’t a bad teammate.

He can be a bit boisterous at times, with a boyish demeanor that makes manager Rick Renteria’s “Tommy Boy” references seem spot on.

But new Twins broadcaster LaTroy Hawkins said Kahnle was a bad teammate when they were together with the Rockies.

“One of the worst teammates I’ve ever had in my life,’’ Hawkins said Tuesday night.

Hawkins, who pitched 21 seasons in the majors, also said that he and Kahnle got into a fight while they were teammates with the Rockies in 2014, Kahnle’s rookie season.

Kahnle, 27, didn’t fight back when he was asked about Hawkins’ blind-side left hook Wednesday.

“I really have nothing on it,’’ Kahnle said. “I put it way in the past. I’m over it.

“I mean, yeah, it’s weird [that Hawkins shared his opinion on the air]. But stuff happened in the past. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. That’s really all I’ve got. I don’t take it to heart or anything.’’

Kahnle said he heard about what Hawkins said from his friends’ texts.

“It didn’t bother me. I just laughed it off. Oh well. It’s not going to affect me or anybody, so we’re all good here.’’

Kahnle has made more significant news by having the best pitching stretch of his career. He entered the game against the Angels on Wednesday with a 1.80 ERA in 15 innings.

“No he’s not a bad teammate,’’ fellow reliever David Robertson said. “He’s by far the loudest teammate I’ve had. But he’s not a bad guy. He’s just loud. Kind of like a kid trapped inside a 250-pound muscular body.’’

Kahnle, answering questions while teammates — many of them grinning and knowing the line of questioning — looked on, was asked if he considers himself a good teammate.

“Yeah, I would,’’ he said.

Moncada goes on DL

Prized second base prospect Yoan Moncada, who has been bothered by a bruised left thumb at Class AAA Charlotte, will go on the seven-day disabled list Wednesday, the Sox said.

His MRI and X-rays were clean, but the Sox want to give Moncada time off to get over the nagging discomfort.

The top-ranked prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, is batting .331 with four homers and 15 RBI.

Renteria on the bunt

Renteria has demonstrated his affection for the bunt, both in sacrifice and safety-squeeze situations.

“When it is used appropriately in a certain moment, it can give you an advantage,’’ he said. “Sometimes you’re just trying to put a guy in scoring position. Most times . . . everybody can kind of read the strategies, but if I can get a guy in scoring position and you’re looking just to score the one run, that’s the value of it.’’

Renteria said he gets the metrics, which say giving up an out at the cost of possible multiple runs is counterproductive strategy.

“If you can increase your chance of scoring the one run you need, I don’t mind using it,’’ he said.

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

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