Yoan Moncada’s obsession with luxury cars and Twinkies probably says more about his age — he’ll turn 22 on May 27 — than anything to fret over, Jose Abreu said.
Moncada, the fast and powerful White Sox infield prospect from Cuba, purchased 10 luxury cars after the Red Sox signed him to a record $31.5 million bonus two years ago. And his love of Twinkies has come to light, too. He is said to have consumed 200 a week after coming to the United States.
On a more reassuring note, Moncada has a bodybuilder’s physique and a work ethic that will serve him well, Abreu said.
‘‘It is really, really tough for everybody who comes from Cuba and has to deal with all of the opportunities here,’’ said Abreu, who came to the Sox from Cuba in late 2013. ‘‘All of the new things, the new life, it’s very tough to face all that at once.’’
That’s one reason Moncada’s spring-training locker was positioned next to Abreu’s at Camelback Ranch. Abreu, 30, has dealt with much off the field, including separation from his young son and recently having to testify against a trainer and agent who would be convicted of illegally smuggling Cuban players to the United States.
‘‘The key is to try to be around good people, people you can trust who can help you,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘That’s what we try to do here with him. That’s why I’m here — to give him advice and help him in that process.
‘‘He’s a really nice kid, and every day when we’re out here, I try to talk to him about things. Not just about baseball but about life.’’
This spring, Moncada batted .317 with three home runs and 13 RBI (second to Abreu) despite getting optioned to Class AAA Charlotte with eight games left. Fans won’t see the second-ranked prospect in baseball on Opening Day, but Moncada is expected to get called up this season, perhaps as early as mid-May.
‘‘It’s going to be soon,’’ Abreu said. “He just has to let things happen, and he’s going to be here. He’s an outstanding player, an outstanding talent.’’
Abreu, a study in routine, detail and hard work, has seen Moncada work, and he’s impressed.
‘‘He’s a hard worker,’’ Abreu said. ‘‘He’s very obsessed with his routine. He knows what he has to do in the cage and the gym. He’s a young kid, but he knows what he has to do to be good.
‘‘When we sent him down, I told him, ‘Hey, this is a process, and you have to keep doing what you do, believe in yourself, believe in your routine, and you will be here sooner rather than later. Keep working hard.’ ’’
NOTES: Former outfielder Scott Podsednik is joining Comcast SportsNet’s Sox pregame and postgame team, starting Monday.
Podsednik, 40, who hit a walk-off homer in Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, is expected to work alongside Chuck Garfien and Bill Melton for about 20 to 25 games.
Podsednik was a guest minor-league instructor at Sox spring training. He has broadcast-booth experience as a fill-in for TV analyst Steve Stone.
• The Sox were one of many teams represented at a showcase Thursday in the Dominican Republic for highly touted 19-year-old
Cuban outfield prospect Luis Robert.
The Astros and Sox reportedly have separate private workouts scheduled with Robert next week.
• The Sox play exhibitions against the Brewers on Friday (7:10 p.m., 890-AM) and Saturday (1:10 p.m., CSN) in Milwaukee.
James Shields, lined up second in the rotation behind Jose Quintana, starts Friday, and Derek Holland, lined up third, will go Saturday.
The Sox will work out Sunday morning at Guaranteed Rate Field in advance of their regular-season opener Monday against the Tigers at 3:10 p.m.
Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.
Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com
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