MINNEAPOLIS — Yolmer Sanchez was 16 when he signed with the White Sox as an international free agent in 2009. What sometimes feels like a lifetime later, the 27-year-old Venezuelan infielder looks back on that day with gratitude.
‘‘This has been, like, my only team, my baseball family,’’ he said. ‘‘They [gave] me an opportunity to be a professional baseball player, to make it to the big leagues. I’ve been here when we’re winning games, and I’ve been here when we’re losing 100 games. But I always love the Chicago White Sox.’’
When Sanchez arrived in the majors, midway through the 2014 season, he took a look around the clubhouse and wanted to squeeze into his locker and hide.
‘‘I was like a scared child,’’ he said. ‘‘I see Paulie Konerko, Adam Dunn, Jordan Danks, all those big, huge guys. I [didn’t] speak up at all, just [sat] at my locker with my head down. Respect for those guys but, at the same time, so shy.’’
Five seasons later, his is the loudest voice in the clubhouse. He might not be the most revered Sox player — he certainly isn’t the most talented — but we’re being literal here. No one jokes, yells and cackles more loudly off or on the field than the man who used to go by Carlos and is known for emptying Gatorade buckets over his own head.
With the Sox, he’s at home. But for how long?
It’s conceivable Sanchez will opt to re-sign with the Sox at a lower price than his current $4.6 million salary, but it’s expected he’ll seek a raise into the $6 million range in arbitration.
The harsh truth: The Sox pretty easily can make the case they no longer need him. Second baseman Nick Madrigal is in the pipeline. There are franchise building blocks on the left side of the infield. Though Sanchez offers defensive versatility and veteran leadership, he doesn’t offer power and has a career on-base percentage of .299.
Just thinking about being dumped by the Sox bums him out, but he’s trying to get used to the idea.
‘‘I know I have to understand that I don’t control that, that this is a business,’’ he said. ‘‘One day, you’re here; next day, you’re gone.
‘‘It makes me sad, man, because I know this team is going to be really good in the future and I love this team. I definitely want to be part of this. I know everybody here; everybody knows me. I don’t want to leave.’’
Sanchez has a supporter in manager Rick Renteria, who probably sees a bit of himself in the undersized, scrappy veteran. Renteria mentions Sanchez’s high energy, bunting ability and situational awareness, things any manager likes to have on his team.
‘‘He’s just a winning player,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘There’s something about him. He’s got a little something to him, and we’re glad that we have him.’’
But for how long? That’s on Sanchez’s mind these days, and it isn’t much fun at all.
‘‘When I was a little kid, I wanted to play baseball because I loved it,’’ he said. ‘‘I still love it. I played for fun then, and I play for fun now. But I play for the Chicago White Sox. I’ve tried to enjoy every day I’ve spent here. I hope there are a lot more days.’’
