Minnie Minoso meant a lot to Jose Abreu

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Slugger Jose Abreu, whose sorrow over the death of Minnie Minoso precluded him from talking about it until Tuesday, said the White Sox great was ‘‘an incredible person’’ who taught him a lot in the time he knew him during his first season with the team.

‘‘It’s something that’s very painful for all of the Cubans that are here and for the fans of the White Sox, the organization and everyone,’’ Abreu said through a translator. ‘‘It’s something that’s very difficult. He was an incredible person. I learned so much from him.’’

Abreu called this a difficult time for him.

‘‘He was always there for us,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘He said so much. But one thing I’ll always remember and something he always said was to respect the organization you are with. We talked a lot, and he would always tell me that every day.’’

The kids are all right

In addition to outfielder Trayce Thompson (two hits, including an opposite-field home run) and second baseman Micah Johnson (three hits, two stolen bases), shortstop Tim Anderson also had a good day. He was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the intrasquad game.

Thompson is the brother of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who scored an NBA-record 37 points in a quarter this season. Their father is Mychal Thompson, who was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft in 1978.

‘‘I bet you that everyone in here is probably the big deal in their families,’’ Thompson said, looking around the clubhouse. ‘‘But I bet you for the rest of my life that will never be the case in my family. But I hope it is. Hopefully, I am better than all of them.’’

Thompson, a second-round pick in 2009, said he knows it’s time to make his mark. He’ll be 24 on March 15.

‘‘I’m not going to say this is make-or-break, but I’ve been around for a while, and the organization is expecting me to take a step,’’ he said.

Contracts finalized

The Sox agreed to terms on 2015 contracts with 24 players, including outfielder Adam Eaton, third baseman Conor Gillaspie, outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitchers Zach Putnam, Daniel Webb, Dan Jennings and Jake Petricka. The entire 40-man roster is under contract.

Also signed were pitchers Maikel Cleto, Raul Fernandez, Onelki Garcia, Erik Johnson, Frankie Montas, Eric Surkamp and Michael Ynoa, catchers Rob Brantly, Adrian Nieto and Kevan Smith, infielders Matt Davidson, Leury Garcia, Tyler Saladino, Carlos Sanchez and Andy Wilkins and outfielders J.B. Shuck and Thompson.

All will receive the major-league minimum of $507,500, except for Eaton ($560,000) and Gillaspie ($555,000).

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com

Twitter: @CST_soxvan

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