The White Sox’ offense hasn’t done much lately, but slugger Jose Abreu is showing signs of life.
After a quiet April and May in which Abreu batted just .242 with a .304 on-base percentage, the first baseman had his sixth multihit game in June in the Sox’ 4-1 loss to the Royals on Saturday. Abreu singled in the first and third innings, raising his June batting average to .371.
“He’s started to swing it better, and that’s the positive signs that we’re seeing,” manager Robin Ventura said. “His hands are working better, his bat’s coming through the zone. You expect to see that go up with the conditions that we’re starting to experience here. I think when it’s blowing out, he’s going to hit some more homers.”
Rodon will start Sunday
Carlos Rodon will start the series finale against the Royals on Sunday, Ventura said.
The left-hander was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday because of a sore neck and discomfort in his left biceps. Rodon threw a side session Friday and played catch before the game Saturday.
“He said he feels fine,” Ventura said.
Rodon, who has a 4.41 ERA in 11 starts this season, has won just one of his last seven starts.
Welcome to the show
White Sox right-hander Tyler Danish struggled in his big-league debut, allowing a run, three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
After entering with one out in the ninth inning, Danish faced six batters and allowed four to reach. He walked Kendrys Morales and gave up three consecutive singles to Salvador Perez, Paulo Orlando and Cheslor Cuthbert.
The Sox purchased Danish’s contract from Class AA Birmingham on Thursday after designating Mat Latos for assignment.
Feeling the draft
White Sox first-round draft pick Zack Collins demonstrated why he was such a valuable selection Friday, belting a three-run home run in Miami’s NCAA super regional win over Boston College.
Collins, a catcher taken 10th overall by the Sox on Thursday, has hit 14 home runs this season for Miami.
The Sox continued to prioritize college talent on the final day of the draft by, taking right-hander Ian Hamilton out of Washington State with their first pick of the day in the 11th round.
The Sox also drafted a player whose name is familiar to Sox fans: Brandon Bossard, son of head groundskeeper Roger Bossard, who was taken in the 31st round (926th overall pick).
Brandon is a 6-1, 185-pound shortstop out of Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park.
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