White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez is motivated to prove his critics wrong

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Left fielder Eloy Jimenez sets his alarm for 4:50 every morning. He arrives at the White Sox’ spring-training complex before 5:30.

There is work to be done. Fitness, weights, weighted balls, sweat, all of it part of his new regular routine before the Arizona sun comes up.

“Every single day,” Jimenez said Wednesday morning. “The first couple of days, when the alarm went off, I was like, ‘Ohhhh.’ But after I got used to it, it’s easy. Sometimes now I don’t even need it. I just wake up.”

It helps that Jimenez hits the sack at 8 p.m. This is not the picture of a 23-year-old with a $43 million contract who feels like he has it made and is mailing it in. Coming off a season in which he led major-league rookies with 31 home runs, Jimenez is determined to become a complete player.

Jimenez’s defense is below average, and he has heard the naysayers who view him as a future designated hitter. At best, they say he’s a left fielder who should be replaced by a defensive upgrade in the late innings if the Sox are protecting a lead.

“I use that as motivation,” Jimenez said. “I look forward to the future when I can say, ‘You said that I couldn’t play the outfield, but I showed you I can play.’ I can do whatever I set my mind out to do.’’

To that end, Jimenez is working with outfield coach Daryl Boston this spring. But the most valuable time spent, he said, is taking his position in left, getting reads off balls during batting practice and making plays.

And so it was worth noting that Jimenez made a sliding catch going back and to his left on a line drive Tuesday against the Giants.

“That’s what you want to do when you’re out there — make plays,” he said. “Make plays to help you win games.”

On Sunday against the Reds in Goodyear, Jimenez called off shortstop Tim Anderson on a short fly in left with a yell that could be heard in Glendale. That wouldn’t have happened last spring, but Jimenez is not a rookie anymore.

“So far he’s showing more aggressiveness and more confidence,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It’s going to continue to play itself out. It could be just one play, but I get extremely excited about how these guys are going about doing their business, and I’m glad to see what he’s doing right now.”

Renteria challenged Jimenez early in camp, asking him if he wanted to be substituted for a defensive replacement late in games.

The answer, of course, was no.

“I want to play nine innings,” Jimenez said. “That’s why I need to keep working hard, so I can be available to play nine.”

Having rookie Luis Robert, who covers more ground, next door in center field, is a two-fold plus, Jimenez said. One, his range shortens Jimenez’s area of responsibility, and, two, his talent is inspiring.

“He motivates me to keep working hard and be the best duo we can be,” Jimenez said, “because he’s good. He’s one of the best outfielders I’ve ever seen. When you see those kinds of guys play, you want to play like him.”

Jimenez said Robert, the Sox’ new next-best thing, will take some of the spotlight off him, which he welcomes.

“Last year, it was a little bit tough for me because I had too much pressure in my mind,” Jimenez said. “I tried to do too much. This year is going to be better because now I have one year in the big leagues.

“I know what I can do and what I need to work on. And the eyes are not going to be on me; the eyes are going to be on Luis Robert. I feel more comfortable this year. So let’s see.”