White Sox’ Avisail Garcia laying off bad pitches, keeps K’s to minimum

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Avisail Garcia is having a big spring, batting .400 with only one strikeout in 12 games and reaching base safely in every game. The numbers are nice, but he says they don’t matter – not in March, anyway.

But they do mean something, especially that low strikeout total which points to the right fielder’s attention to better plate discipline.

“I’m just trying to have very good at-bats, I don’t care about the hits,’’ said Garcia, who was 1-for-3 in the White Sox 13-4 Cactus League loss to the Brewers Sunday. “Just trying to swing at good pitches and work the counts.’’

Garcia, who has 14 hits in 35 at-bats, hit .244/.305/.413 with 44 strikeouts over 46 games and 190 plate appearances during his injury-shortened 2014 season. Chasing pitches out of the zone took points off his average and on-base, and he knows it.

His focus in Cactus League games seems is sound. Simply put “not swinging at bad pitches is the main point because if you swing at good pitches you have a better chance to hit the ball,’’ Garcia said.

“That’s why I’m hitting the ball good, taking a walk now and then.’’

Garcia came to camp considerably lighter, and so far, so good with that, too.

“My legs feel really good,’’ he said. “Nothing hurts, just a little tight sometimes, which is normal, but I feel great.’’