Moncada's fast start draws attention

Moncada’s fast start draws attention

White Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada rounds the bases after hitting a home run during spring training. (Associated Press file photo)

White Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada is off to a hot start at Class AAA Charlotte.

The 21-year-old second baseman went 3-for-6 with a walk and two runs scored in his season debut Thursday for the Knights. He followed that performance with four more singles (and a strikeout) Friday, raising his average to .636 in two games.

It didn’t take long for Moncada’s minor-league reports to reach Sox manager Rick Renteria.

‘‘We keep track of all that stuff,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘There are a lot of things that we keep our eye on. Obviously, we try to make sure we’re focused on what we’re doing here. But we keep an eye on what’s going on down there, how guys are pitching, how guys are taking their at-bats, how they’re defending.’’

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez allowed two earned runs in three innings in his debut at Charlotte. Meanwhile, 2016 first-round pick Zack Collins went 3-for-4 with two doubles Thursday and went 0-for-3 with a walk Friday at Class A Winston-Salem.

Renteria downplayed a question about whether Moncada’s fast start made him more eager to see the talented switch hitter called up to the majors.

‘‘I’m glad that he got three hits,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘I’m glad that he’s moving forward. I think for me to start thinking that far ahead wouldn’t be prudent. I think it doesn’t serve me in any way, shape or form at this particular time with what we’re trying to do with the guys that are here.’’

Moncada said he felt good after his first game at Charlotte.

‘‘I felt really good with my bat, with my swing,’’ Moncada said through an interpreter. ‘‘I hit the ball with authority throughout the whole field.’’

Different view

Rookie Jacob May embraced a bench role Friday after making back-to-back starts in center field to open the season.

‘‘It’s a little bit different,’’ said May, 25, who played 359 games in the minors before making his major-league debut Tuesday. ‘‘You’ve got to stay loose and keep your legs warm.

‘‘I got a little bit of experience [coming off the bench] this spring, so that helped a lot — just getting used to staying in the game mentally and in between innings making sure you are stretching and stuff like that.

‘‘Throughout my career, I’ve pretty much started. But I’ll do anything to help the team win.’’

Leury Garcia started in center field against the Twins.

Obviously, you’re not a golfer

Several hours before the first pitch, third baseman Matt Davidson stopped in front of the clubhouse television and watched a couple of minutes of the Dodgers-Rockies game.

Why not watch the Masters tournament?

‘‘Some of them like to watch it,’’ Davidson said of his teammates. ‘‘I don’t watch golf. That thing bores me to death.’’

Davidson smiled when he was asked for a pick to win the tournament.

‘‘I couldn’t even tell you who’s leading the Masters right now,’’ he said.

Here’s a hint: It’s not Davidson.

‘‘I play golf about once a year, and I shoot about 150,’’ he said.

Davidson, who homered and tripled in his only start at DH on Thursday, was is the starting lineup Saturday against Twins lefty Adalberto Mejia.

Follow me on Twitter @tcmusick.