ap17076847068189.jpg

Chicago White Sox’s Tyler Saladino hits during a spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, March 17, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tyler Saladino averted major scare in minors game

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Tyler Saladino played second base and led off the first inning of the White Sox’ Cactus League finale Wednesday with a home run to center, two days after getting a scare in a minor-league game.

Saladino was hit on the left wrist by a pitch Monday. That’s always a danger area for broken bones.

‘‘Luckily, when it hit, it was all meat,’’ Saladino said. ‘‘When I went in [for X-rays], I was like, ‘Please, there is only one answer I need from you right now.’ ’’

Saladino got the negative X-ray result he wanted, but he might think twice now about playing in a minor-league game to ‘‘make sure you’re dialed.’’

Saladino said he wasn’t sure who the prospect was.

‘‘He shook [off] the catcher five times, and then I saw the catcher scooting in,’’ Saladino said. ‘‘I could tell from the delivery he was trying to throw it as hard as he could. It was a five-foot miss.’’

Saladino figures to get the lion’s share of work at second and to move around as a backup at all the infield positions. He also has played left field and is the Sox’ emergency catcher.

‘‘I’m going to use him at second base a significant amount of time,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘With all of the [flexible] guys we have . . . it allows us to rest, keep them fresh, maneuver them around the diamond and use the DH slot as a roving position for any number of guys.’’

Leury Garcia and Yolmer Sanchez can play second, short and third, and Garcia can play center field, too. Matt Davidson can play both corner-infield spots, and Cody Asche can play left field, first and third.

Eye on the Burdi

When 2016 first-round draft pick Zack Burdi struck out the side Tuesday against the Royals, including Salvador Perez on three pitches with a runner on third, it likely gave him a boost before he heads to Class AAA Charlotte to open the season.

‘‘Crazy,’’ Burdi said. ‘‘I remember watching Perez in the ’14 World Series and thinking to myself how great of a catcher he was and how great of a hitter he was. Just to hear his name and to hear that he’s coming up and facing me.’’

Naperville Central graduate Nicky Lopez, ‘‘a kid I played with since I was 12, was [pinch-running] on first base,’’ said Burdi, a Downers Grove South grad. ‘‘It was kind of like you had the best of both worlds there.’’

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

RELATED STORIES

Rick Renteria says White Sox fans ‘should be excited’

White Sox conclude Cactus League season with 9-9 tie

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.