White Sox’ Leury Garcia versatile, valuable

The 28-year-old has carved out a role as the Sox’ regular leadoff hitter this season while making starts at all three outfield spots, second base and shortstop.

SHARE White Sox’ Leury Garcia versatile, valuable
The Sox’ Leury Garcia has started at all three outfield positions, second base and short this season.

The Sox’ Leury Garcia (shown celebrating after scoring a run in the first inning Thursday) has started at all three outfield positions, second base and short this season.

Matt Marton/AP

The White Sox traded outfielder Alex Rios to the Rangers late in the 2013 season for a player to be named.

Make that an everyday player to be named.

‘‘I didn’t know what to expect,’’ said Leury Garcia, a little-known utility player who was sent to the Sox two days after Rios was dealt to the Rangers. ‘‘You come to the big leagues, you don’t know what’s going to happen. The only thing that you can control is do your thing. Give 100 percent.’’

Garcia’s persistence paid dividends. The 28-year-old has carved out a role as the Sox’ regular leadoff hitter this season while making starts at all three outfield spots, second base and shortstop.

After going 0-for-4 in the Sox’ 10-2 loss Friday to the Blue Jays, Garcia is hitting .284 with one home run, 14 RBI and six stolen bases in 38 games, including 35 starts. He is on pace to start 132 games this season, which would shatter his previous high of 78 starts in 2017.

Garcia has six multihit games in his last 13 contests.

‘‘It always feels good, especially when you play,’’ Garcia said. ‘‘It’s different when you’re on the bench and then you play every day. I feel great. I love playing here. I just want to keep doing it.’’

Rotation intrigue

The Sox have a couple of days to figure out who will start Monday against the Astros after putting left-hander Manny Banuelos on the 10-day injured list because of a strained pitching shoulder.

Banuelos exited his most recent start after four-plus innings Tuesday because of the injury. He had hoped to avoid the IL but reported soreness after playing catch Thursday.

‘‘Hopefully, I can come back soon,’’ Banuelos said through an interpreter. ‘‘Obviously, I’ll lose my next outing, but probably that’s the only one.

‘‘Right after the game, they performed an MRI on my shoulder, and everything came back clean. That gave me the confidence that it’s nothing really serious or bad. Right now, I think it’s just inflammation. We’re working on it.’’

Banuelos is 2-3 with a 7.26 ERA in nine games (five starts) this season.

The Sox recalled right-hander Jose Ruiz from Class AAA Charlotte to provide bullpen depth.

Who will start in Banuelos’ spot Monday?

‘‘We’ll figure it out by the time we get there,’’ manager Rick Renteria said.

Healthy and happy

Outfielder Charlie Tilson rather would forget the long list of injuries that limited him to 42 games in the previous three seasons. Instead, the New Trier graduate is focused on the present.

Tilson, who went 1-for-4 against the Blue Jays, has reached base in nine of 11 games since returning to the Sox this month. He is hitting .317 and has three stolen bases.

‘‘I feel good,’’ Tilson said. ‘‘It’s a challenge coming up from Triple-A, but I’m really confident in my approach right now. . . .

‘‘That was a tough couple of years, but I definitely feel like I’ve moved beyond it. I’m really confident in my body right now. It’s been a fortunate year so far.’’

The Latest
The man was found unresponsive in an alley in the 10700 block of South Lowe Avenue, police said.
The man suffered head trauma and was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
Another federal judge in Chicago who also has dismissed gun cases based on the same Supreme Court ruling says the high court’s decision in what’s known as the Bruen case will “inevitably lead to more gun violence, more dead citizens and more devastated communities.”
Women make up just 10% of those in careers such as green infrastructure and clean and renewable energy, a leader from Openlands writes. Apprenticeships and other training opportunities are some of the ways to get more women into this growing job sector.
Chatterbox doesn’t seem aware that it’s courteous to ask questions, seek others’ opinions.