MINNEAPOLIS — Adam Eaton was back with the White Sox, floating on air after becoming a father for the first time and eager to jump back into what has been a good start for the leadoff man.
Eaton’s wife, Katie, was due on April 25 but went into labor early Saturday morning. She gave birth to son Brayden Saturday night.
“It’s a feeling like I’ve never had before,” Eaton, a 27-year-old first-time father said before Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. “Something special, for sure. I don’t want to be cliché but it definitely puts life in perspective.”Eaton was getting an eye full of his new son on his phone, sitting at his locker in the Target Field visitors clubhouse before Monday’s game.The birth came early but the timing couldn’t have been better, Eaton said, because most of the Eaton family was in Chicago for Opening Day. Because of Sunday’s rainout, Eaton — who is allowed three days for paternity leave — was given another free day to be with his wife and son and only missed one game.“Brayden said, ‘You know what? I feel like coming right now.’ To be honest with you, it couldn’t have worked out more perfect,” Eaton said. “My mom and dad were there, her mom and dad there. Her brother, her sister. All family, except for my brother, who is stationed in [the military in] Nebraska.“It was perfect timing. And with the rainout yesterday, me only missing one game was awesome. We are thrilled.”Eaton went into Monday’s game batting .450 (9-for-20) after becoming the first Sox since Nellie Fox in 1955 to open the season with four consecutive multi-hit games. His consecutive games streak, of reaching base (dating to last season) came to a halt at 26 Friday in the home opener against the Cleveland Indians.Rotation flip-flopBecause of Sunday’s rained out home game against the Cleveland Indians, and Tuesday’s off day here, No. 1 starter Chris Sale will move ahead of No. 5 John Danks and pitch Friday at the Tampa Bay Rays, with Danks pitching Saturday, manager Robin Ventura said. Jose Quintana starts against the Twins today, followed by Carlos Rodon Wednesday and Mat Latos Thursday.So far, so goodThe Sox’ 4-2 while averaging four runs a game. They hadn’t scored during the first two innings.“We’re playing all right,” Ventura said, “and I like the grit and the fight we have. If we go down, we’re able to fight our way back and get some runs. When you can get some runs late, it’s something about the fiber of what’s in here. That’s a credit to the guys who are in here and what they’ve started in spring training. Some of it’s chemistry. You can have that, but you have to win games to really cultivate that, and they’ve done that. That’s the part they really hold on to and gain from.”